Cablegate: Media Reaction - Gaza Strip Ceasefire - Tokyo

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FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
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UNCLAS TOKYO 006716

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - GAZA STRIP CEASEFIRE - TOKYO

LEAD STORIES: Most Monday morning papers front-paged an
Israel-Palestinian agreement on a ceasefire in the Gaza
Strip.

1. "US Applying Pressure for Resumption of Israel-
Palestinian Dialogue" Riyadh correspondent Kanazawa of
the business-oriented Nihon Keizai commented (11/27):
"The Gaza Strip ceasefire accord that Israel and the
Palestinian Authority reached will likely be the first
step toward resuming Israeli-Palestinian dialogue, which
has been at a standstill since June 2005. The US appears
eager to act as a mediator, a move it hopes will lead to
an improvement of the situation in Iraq. If the US is
successful, the Middle East peace process, which has been
stalled since the formation of the Hamas government, will
be set in motion again.... The US appears to have applied
strong pressure on both Israel and the Palestinian
Authority. President Bush plans to visit Jordan on
Wednesday for talks with King Abdullah and Iraqi Prime
Minister Maliki. There had originally been plans for Bush
to hold a three-way meeting with Israeli Prime Minister
Olmert and Palestinian President Abbas at the same time,
and the chances of this taking place may yet reemerge....
The Bush administration has no choice but to address the
Middle East peace process in order to get support from
Arab moderates and European nations on Iraq and other
issues."

SCHIEFFER

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