World news digest: Security problems in the South and the Gaza Strip

ISRAEL

Ha’aretz, Tel Aviv, March 3: The security problems in the South and the Gaza Strip, and the shakiness of the relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, are drawing attention away from everyday civil issues, which also have serious implications. As in other places in the world where waste is transferred from wealthy countries to developing countries, Israel too disposes of waste scandalously, in areas of the West Bank. Every day trucks carry large quantities of building waste, including toxic substances that endanger the environment and public health, to pirate sites near Palestinian villages.

The transfer of waste is carried out contrary to the government’s policy, but until now it has been convenient for the government to turn a blind eye and not to invest resources in dealing with the problem.

Health threat

However, this approach must be changed, since the problem of building waste, like other environmental problems, constitutes a direct threat to the health of both Palestinians and Israelis. The waste is ruining the landscape precious to all the inhabitants of this land, and is endangering the water sources on which both peoples depend.

Given that a significant part of the waste is being smuggled beyond the Green Line, there is an economic threat to the supervised sites. If these are shut down, the problem of dealing with the waste will be exacerbated and a large part of it will end up not only beyond the Green Line but will also be discarded in Israeli territory, which is already happening in many places.

JAPAN

The Asahi Shimbun, Tokyo, March 5: Sunday’s presidential election in Russia went exactly according to a scenario scripted by the incumbent Vladimir Putin. Dmitri Medvedev, handpicked by Putin, won a landslide victory as widely expected, making it look as if Putin gave himself the right to name his successor.

The election outcome was almost clear even before ballots were cast. The question now is how Putin will try to maintain his power and influence after Medvedev takes office in May.

After the resounding victory of the ruling party backing Putin in parliamentary elections in December, he named Medvedev, the first deputy prime minister, as his successor. Putin then pledged to serve as Medvedev’s prime minister if he was elected president.

Limited administrative experience

The 42-year-old Medvedev has only limited administrative experience. He has vowed to keep Russia on the path set by his political mentor. But if he simply upholds Putin’s policies, he will be criticized as a puppet leader whose strings are pulled by Putin. If, on the other hand, he seeks independence from Putin and tries to chart a new course for the nation, the tandem arrangement will collapse.

Who will be the ultimate power holder? Unless this becomes clear, Russian politics will enter a period of instability, despite high expectations of continued stability among the people.

LEBANON

Daily Star, March 5: Several parts of the Middle East are locked in crisis, the core cause remains the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the resultant complications have pitted world and regional powers against one another.

Despite myriad complications, one country deals with virtually all other players in the region but has yet to realize its potential as moderating force: Turkey, whose good relations with seemingly apposite forces was clearly demonstrated when its recent campaign against Kurdish rebels inside Iraq was supported by both Iran and Syria on one hand, and America on the other.

Muslim country

Turkey is a mostly Muslim country in a mostly Muslim region, but it also has a secular and democratic government in an area where most regimes manifestly lack such pedigrees. In addition, it maintains a close relationship with Israel and has done much to earn the Jewish state’s trust.

Officially, the lead sponsor in any peace process is likely to remain America, but even the tatters of Washington’s credibility as a fair broker have gone up in smoke because of its unconditional support for Israel. Having the Turks take a major supporting role could therefore do much to protect the interests of the Palestinians — as well as to gain the trust of Arabs and Muslims in a process that will be difficult.

BRITAIN

The Times, London, March 5: Any country that has recently seen its unemployment rate fall to the lowest for 30 years, has enjoyed a growth rate of around 3.8 per cent and has witnessed an unprecedented housing and construction boom would count itself lucky. But Spain, which over the past 20 years has had an extraordinary sustained rise in living standards matched in Europe only by Ireland, is gripped by anxiety. Spaniards fear that the good times are ending. As a result, the economy has dominated the election campaign.

A bad-tempered debate between Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the Socialist Prime Minister, and Mariano Rajoy, his Popular Party (PP) challenger, this week turned largely on opposition accusations that the Government was “ignoring reality” over the downturn. The figures are certainly worrying. ... Rising interest rates, the international credit squeeze, the slowdown in the building industry and mounting debt have taken their toll on consumer confidence.

Immigrant population

In this deteriorating atmosphere, the argument has sharpened on other issues worrying voters: the large number of immigrants, especially from Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe, and lingering fears of Islamist terrorism; the collapse of negotiations with Basque separatists after the Madrid airport bombing in 2006 and the continuing sporadic violence by Eta terrorists; and the backlash, especially among older voters, to liberal legislation on same-sex marriage, abortion and easier divorce.

Mr. Rajoy’s attacks, however, have failed to make inroads. The latest opinion polls — the last that can be published before the election — showed Mr. Zapatero finally pulling ahead, with a lead of four percentage points.

But on the single main irritant in Anglo-Spanish relations, Gibraltar, the Socialists’ pragmatism and readiness for tripartite talks have considerably eased relations. Despite the current pessimism, Spain — which has overtaken Italy in economic standing — will play a larger role in Europe and the world. Pragmatism, for the British as they deal with the Rock, and for the Spanish facing a stony road ahead, is more important than party.