A Hebrew daily newspaper Maariv editorial stated, "We all grieve at the terrible murder of yeshiva students. However, the remarks and campaign of revenge in Jabal Mukaber endanger us more than terrorism." The newspaper was referring the protest march of Jews on the home of the Yeshiva Merkaz HaRav terrorist in eastern Jerusalem Arab neighborhood, in which demonstrators threw rocks and foreign objects, resulting in a confrontation with neighborhood residents.

In other editorials, Yediot Aharonot wrote that Israel is "being led by elitist politicians," and needs people like David Ben-Gurion who led with emotion that made him a symbol of the country instead of leading only with logic.