VZCZCXRO2792
PP RUEHFK
DE RUEHKO #2774 1710320
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 200320Z JUN 07 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4666
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N541// PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY
RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY
RUALSFJ/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA PRIORITY
INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 1632
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 5207
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 7508
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1740
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 3559
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 4676
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 002774
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: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - HAMAS-FATAH CLASH
1. LEAD STORIES: Wednesday morning's Yomiuri
front-paged
Assistant Secretary of State Hill's meeting with his
Japanese counterpart Tuesday evening at MOFA to discuss
North Korea's nuclear program and other issues.
2. "Greater Efforts Should Be Made for Palestinian
Reconciliation" The liberal Asahi editorialized (6/20):
"The Palestinian Authority (PA) is on the brink of
collapse as a result of the armed struggle between
Hamas and Fatah. Palestinian President Abbas declared a
state of emergency and fired Prime Minister Haniyeh, a
member of Hamas, further worsening the situation....
The US and EU expressed support for Abbas by lifting
sanctions and pledging a resumption of assistance for
the PA, a move intended to welcome the removal of
Hamas. Nonetheless, this move by the West could make
the Hamas-Fatah split permanent, deepening the crisis.
It is anticipated that Fatah, backed by the US and EU,
will step up moves to expel Hamas from the West Bank,
raising the possibility of clashes there. If the Hamas-
dominated Gaza strip is isolated, a humanitarian
crisis, including starvation, may arise, likely
inflaming anti-American sentiment across the Muslim
world.... The Palestinian issue is the root of conflict
in the Middle East, and chaos in the Palestinian
territories would have a negative impact on the entire
region and the Muslim world in general. A protracted
crisis would be a boon for al-Qaeda and other radical
groups that hope to sow the seeds of terrorism
throughout the world. We strongly hope that major Arab
nations, such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt, will work for
the reconciliation of the two warring factions."
DONOVAN