The Jerusalem Post comments on the agreement by Hamas and the Islamic Jihad to join the PLO: "It is abundantly clear that neither Hamas nor the even more radical Islamic Jihad will undergo a process of moderation as a result of being incorporated in the PLO. It is much more likely that the changes the PLO underwent to shed its terrorist organization status and garner international recognition will be rolled back by Hamas. PA President Mahmoud Abbas's support for bringing Hamas into the PLO raises serious questions about his intentions. Under the circumstances, how can we not be pessimistic about the prospects for a negotiated peace any time soon?"

Haaretz comments on the deliberation in the Knesset Education, Culture and Sports Committee on the possibility of officially recognizing the Armenian genocide: "The MKs who hitched a ride on the coattails of the new French law that makes denial of the Armenian genocide a criminal offense appear to be motivated more by political vindictiveness than a genuine desire to right a historical wrong. The approximately 1.5 million Armenians who were murdered or driven out in death marches in 1915 deserve international recognition of the holocaust they suffered. Above all, they deserve Turkey's recognition of this terrible chapter of history. But for Israel to make this recognition at a time that is politically convenient to it, as part of a tit-for-tat and as a means to provoke Turkey, is light years away from the recognition the Armenian people deserve."

Three papers discuss various issues related to the ongoing controversy over discrimination against and exclusion of women in the public sphere, as instigated by certain extreme ultra-orthodox elements:

Yediot Aharonot contends that "The 'extremists' in the ultra-orthodox camp are only the vanguard. The history of the State of Israel teaches that the ultra-orthodox community always lines up behind those who are more stringent. Today's 'excess' becomes tomorrow's norm which cannot be compromised and which the secular must accept." The author calls for existing laws to be strictly enforced and adds, "The time has come to stop looking away."

Ma'ariv dismisses the value of demonstrations, such as that being planned for later today in Beit Shemesh, as long as the political establishment remains the way it is, and reminds its readers that "to every government that has been established in recent decades there was a national and Zionist alternative. But those who have been charged with establishing coalitions have usually preferred narrow, short-term interests over national, long-term interests." Thus, the author says, "There is no reason for demonstrations against the ultra-orthodox. Demonstrations will not make any impression on the ultra-orthodox even if one million women participate because their stems from their control of the coalition." The paper believes that "In order to effect change, it is necessary to change the electoral system," and calls for "a system that cancels the dependence on pressure groups in order to govern."

Yisrael Hayom complains that the ultra-orthodox are a popular target in the secular media. The author asserts, "Every day, over 170 complaints are filed in Israel for murder, severe violence, drugs, robbery, extortion, threats and 'harassment of women'," and adds, "But one rude ultra-orthodox man gets the main headlines."

[Aviad Klineberg, Ben-Dror Yemini and Yeshayahu Horowitz wrote today's articles in Yediot Aharonot, Ma'ariv and Yisrael Hayom, respectively.]