An man was killed on Thursday by a Palestinian missile during the visit of EU high representative for foreign affairs Catherine Ashton. Although Ashton's objective was to further peace negotiations, peace is a long way off, writes the left-liberal daily Süddeutsche Zeitung: "The longer the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians goes on, the more destructive it will become for the tissue of the two societies in conflict. In Israel the internal conflict is played out for the most part within the framework of widespread democracy. But the Jewish state has experience with settlers' violence and domestic terror, up to and including the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Palestinian society, on the other hand, increasingly threatens to fall apart - also as a result of violence. Because it's not only the moderate Fatah and the radical Hamas that are locked in combat. Primarily in the Gaza Strip even more extreme groups are vying for power, movements that are no longer bound by Palestinian national interests and see themselves as part of the Jihad International. ... That's a challenge for Hamas and it will be a major danger to the world if al-Qaeda sets up shop in Gaza." (19/03/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Europe, » Israel

Israel's most recent affront should should have consequences, writes the left-liberal daily De Volkskrant: "The one rogue state, Iran, is being threatened with sanctions for failing to cooperate. Meanwhile the other rogue state, Israel, continues with its land-robbing policy with impunity. It believes that it is protected by international law and couldn't care less about UN resolutions. … The state of Israel is increasingly becoming a millstone round our neck. Its annexationist collision course has poisoned our relations with the Islam world. Our interest in candid relations with the latter goes much further than Israel's obsession because it affects our own security, and because the tolerance of Israel's bad conduct is stirring up more hatred of the West in the Middle East, which finds its expression in terrorist attacks from Madrid to London." (19/03/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » U.S., » Middle East, » Israel
All available articles from » Thomas van der Dunk

Although the Middle East peace process is once more on the rocks hopes that the US government will step in are in vain because the Israel lobby has too much clout, writes the daily The Independent: "Power lies in the perception of power, and no organisation in Washington is perceived to wield more power than AIPAC, the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee. For proof, look no further than January 2009, when most of the rest of the world was horrified at the Israeli offensive in Gaza. At that moment the US House of Representatives, by a vote of 390 to five, chose to blame the entire crisis on Hamas. Now the lobby is working to defuse the present row, naturally on Israel's terms. ...The settlements in East Jerusalem will go ahead whatever the US thinks. The proximity talks, even if they do proceed, are doomed in advance." (19/03/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » U.S., » Middle East, » Israel
All available articles from » Rupert Cornwell

The Middle East conflict escalated on Thursday when the Israeli air force responded to a missile fired by radical Palestinians by bombarding certain sections of the Gaza Strip. Israeli author Abraham B. Jehoschua calls on his country to listen to the advice of the US in the liberal paper La Stampa: "The message of the US is unequivocal. The settlements threaten not just peace but harm Israel itself most of all, with its ideal of a Jewish and democratic state which Israel never misses an opportunity to proclaim. … Instead of emphasising the importance of the strategic military alliance the Israeli leadership would do well to listen to the new tone of moral resolve with which the US is addressing Israel." (19/03/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Israel
All available articles from » Abraham B. Jehoschua

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou has demanded a quick decision on financial aid from the European heads of state and government, indicating he will not hesitate to turn to the International Monetary Fund if need be. The daily Delo writes that the countries of the Eurozone should rescue Greece: "Never in the eleven-year history of the Eurozone has a member state needed the help of the other states. For that reason the ultimatum of Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou constitutes the first major test for the 16 members - probably even more trying than the enormous pressure from the stock markets several years ago when the common currency lost almost half its initial value within a few months. ... This time the euro is in even greater danger because Greece is no isolated island of financial instability. For that reason rescue action is direly needed." (19/03/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Fiscal Policy, » Greece
All available articles from » Bozo Masanovic

The countries of Europe need to cooperate more and Germany must lead them forward in doing so, writes the left-liberal daily El País, lamenting that German Chancellor has failed to show the required resolve here: "More than ever, and given the mediocrity of certain leaders of national governments, Europe needs a leader who is capable of helping the EU overcome its current loss of strength. And as Europe's economic motor Germany should be the country to produce this leader. But there is a problem: for the time being Angela Merkel doesn't want to steer Europe's locomotive. For reasons of domestic politics she prefers - as Newsweek put it - to act 'in slow motion'. And neither Europe nor the rest of the world can afford to wait any longer." (19/03/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Domestic Policy, » Economic Policy, » Germany, » Europe
All available articles from » Carlos Mendo

Brussels is examining whether the Polish-Russian gas contract violates EU laws because Poland is thus giving the Russian energy group Gazprom a monopoly over the transit of natural gas through its territory. But for the daily Polska the inquiry won't help Poland with its gas problem: "You can't expect the German [energy commissioner Günther Oettinger] to solve our gas problems arising from dependency on Gazprom with a wave of his magic wand. He won't heal us because he lacks the instruments to do so. The Lisbon Treaty contains regulations governing the principles of energy solidarity, but the Union has no common policy in this area. So there is no foundation on which to base accusations that for example Gazprom is monopolising the gas market (Only if a single company mines, sells and is also responsible for the transport of the raw material would the use of the word monopoly be justified)."  (19/03/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Energy, » Economic Policy, » Poland
All available articles from » Agaton Koziński

The Swedish parliament's decision to describe the massacre of the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire as genocide remains highly controversial in Sweden. It was taken against the will of the conservative government last week. The daily Svenska Dagbladet warns the parliamentarians against further actions of this nature: "Shortly after Sweden's decision the Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan expressed concern that the decision could harm the fragile process of reconciliation with the Armenians. Yesterday he added fuel to the fire by threatening to deport 100,000 illegal Armenian immigrants working in Turkey. So much for the idea of reconciliation. … No, this was not a successful action [of the Swedish parliament]. The ones it pleased most are probably those who don't want to see Turkey become an EU member. … Here at home we can only hope that the parliament doesn't intend to continue with its new career as a foreign ministers' collective." (19/03/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » EU enlargement, » Sweden, » Europe, » Turkey, » Armenia
All available articles from » Sanna Rayman

Macedonian author Sharko Kuyundjiiski writes that many Macedonians are prejudiced when it comes to Bulgarian culture and slow to appreciate the quality of Bulgarian literary or musical works. Kuyundjiiski puts the blame on both parties in the blog of the Bulgarian weekly Kultura: "This hostile relationship to Bulgarian culture is certainly the complex product of processes upon which not enough light has been shed. Above all it stems from a repeated reaction to Bulgarian frustration ... at the Macedonians' growing sense of independence, which has caused Bulgaria to forfeit many famous personalities, national artworks and historical events. (One only has to remember the provocative statements of a former Bulgarian president who said Macedonians are 'the Romantic part of Bulgarian history' [because of the Macedonian struggle for independence from the Ottoman Empire waged on Bulgarian territory].) This ground is so shaky that even wind waving the grass can cause an earthquake." (19/03/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Bulgaria, » Mazedonien
All available articles from » Sharko Kuyundjiiski

While many have criticised German Chancellor Angela Merkel for suggesting that unreliable countries could be excluded from the Eurozone, not so the business paper Hospodářské noviny: "It's no wonder that Berlin is losing patience. The Germans had to say goodbye to the stable Deutsche Mark because of the euro, and now they're not keen on losing the stable euro. That's the main reason why their suggestions for consolidating Greece's debts are so strict. ... The Greeks for their part are considering turning to the International Monetary Fund for help, although that would give the impression that the Eurozone is no longer able to solve its own problems by itself. But appealing to the IMF is only the second-best option open to Athens as far as the future of the euro is concerned. The best would be to leave the Eurozone." (19/03/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Fiscal Policy, » Germany, » Greece, » Europe
All available articles from » Julie Hrstková

The Latvian authorities have closed down the country's online library after several publishing houses filed lawsuits for copyright violations. Linda Curika criticises this in her blog for Politika magazine: "This is not about authors' rights. People who aren't pensioners, school children or students barely visit traditional libraries nowadays, whether it's because they're too lazy, have no time or because of the inconvenient opening times or lack of parking spaces. They buy books rather than going to the library. But that costs money, and now, in times of crisis, people prefer to read books online, which the publishing houses see as a threat to their business. But does it pose a threat to copyright? The online library is in many respects more effective that a normal library and authors are paid every time a person looks into one of their books, which is only fair. But above all this library offers easy access to the disabled, people with special interests, Latvians living abroad or mothers with babies." (19/03/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Literature, » Public Culture, » Cultural Policy, » Print media, » Online media, » Latvia
All available articles from » Linda Curika

The well-known politician and women's rights advocate Simone Veil has been named to join the prestigious Académie française, widely recognised as the protector of the French language. The conservative daily Le Figaro celebrates Veil as a national symbol: "Far above electoral division, partisan mediocrity and controversy on identity crises Simone Veil embodies France as we all wish to see it, proud and exemplary. Why? she asks. Because Simone Veil has never lied in defending her convictions, in fighting on behalf of her commitments or in expressing her doubts. Simone Veil has always had only one cause, that of progress. For women, that came with the adoption in 1975 of the law on voluntary termination of pregnancy. With her courage she has dried tears and overcome insults and resistance." (19/03/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Cultural Policy, » France
All available articles from » Yves Thréard

Belgium's highest court has suspended a ban on headscarves at schools. The dispute showcases the problems of democracy, writes the daily De Standaard: "A democracy does not tolerate unnecessary restrictions of individual freedom of expression – whether they have to do with religion or not. But it must ensure that the freedoms of one individual do not infringe on the freedoms of another. … And it must also guarantee the right to a free choice of school and to neutral lessons. This wasn't a problem until certain groups portrayed the headscarf as a provocative symbol and thus provided a breeding ground for social tensions. But the reality is much more nuanced. For many girls the headscarf has long since ceased to be a symbol. Many see it as a fashion accessory which is meant to attract (Islamic) boys rather than keep them at a distance. … The simplest solution would be to make the headscarf a generalised fashion accessory. It used to be just that. But that'll never happen." (19/03/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Religion, » Minorities, » Belgium
All available articles from » Guy Tegenbos

The court of appeal in Helsinki has ordered that Johanna Korhonen, editor in chief of local newspaper Lapin Kansa, be paid 80,000 euros in compensation for sexual discrimination. Korhonen was dismissed without notice by her former employer when it was revealed that she lived together with a woman. A victory for labour law, the daily Etelä-Suomen Sanomat comments: "The decision was a matter of principle importance. Many people held the view that a court decision was needed on sexual discrimination. Now they have it. The decision of the court of appeal is a milestone for the labour relations of chief editors. For years there have been recurring examples of chief editors being unlawfully dismissed. Because there is no precedent, the supreme court should examine the case … and lay down guidelines." (19/03/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Print media, » Finland