The Jerusalem Post writes: "It is intolerable that these [striking unpaid] workers should bear such a disproportionate price for the failures of their higher-ups, both in the local councils and in the central government. It is also intolerable that the entire country can be held economic hostage by strikes that cut off essential services and spread their punishment far beyond the offending institutions... In the short term, it is clear that more failing local governments should be taken over, merged, or forced to accept tighter oversight. Numerous independent commissions have made such recommendations, but their useful proposals have been overcome by the political clout of failing councils, and of mayors who happen to belong to parties in power in Jerusalem...

Citizens have a right to demand that government workers be paid, that bloated bureaucracies be trimmed, and that essential services not be cut off at a whim. The solutions to such problems are well known, awaiting a leadership that will push through common sense reforms that serve the public, regardless of entrenched political interests." 

Yediot Aharonot comments on yesterday's general strike and believes that both sides had good arguments.

Yediot Aharonot, in its second editorial, wonders why Israel is not on US President George Bush's current itinerary. 

Yediot Aharonot, in its third editorial, calls on those who believe that Israel should not release imprisoned Palestinian terrorists to look members of the Shalit family in the eye and tell them that Gilad cannot be released. 

Hatzofeh discusses the controversies over whether Basic Law: President of the State should be amended so as to provide for the election of the president by an open - as opposed to the current closed - Knesset vote and regarding the manner in which President Moshe Katsav will leave office.
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Reproduced by permission from Embassy of Israel, Stockholm
www.israelsambassad.se