Cablegate: Israel Media Reaction

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P 261053Z JUL 07
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RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 3320
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 2552
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 0516
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 3284
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0157
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STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA, NEA/PPD

WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE, SIT ROOM
NSC FOR NEA STAFF

SECDEF WASHDC FOR USDP/ASD-PA/ASD-ISA
HQ USAF FOR XOXX
DA WASHDC FOR SASA
JOINT STAFF WASHDC FOR PA
CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL FOR POLAD/USIA ADVISOR
COMSOCEUR VAIHINGEN GE FOR PAO/POLAD
COMSIXTHFLT FOR 019

JERUSALEM ALSO ICD
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PARIS ALSO FOR POL
ROME FOR MFO

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR IS

SUBJECT: ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

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SUBJECTS COVERED IN THIS REPORT:
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Mideast

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Key Stories in the Media:
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Israel Radio reported that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said
in interview with Radio Sawa that "The President ... was stating
very clearly that Israel's future will rest in Israel, in places
like Galilee and in the Negev, and that the occupation of the West
Bank will have to end and a Palestinian state will need to be
established."

Ha'aretz reported that three weeks ago Israel authorized the
transfer of 1,000 rifles from Jordan to PA security forces in the
West Bank.

Maariv published excerpts from an exclusive interview with PA
President Mahmoud Abbas (the full interview will be published on
Friday). Abbas said that President Bush promised him that a
permanent agreement will be reached within a year. Abbas was also
quoted as saying that he may not run for re-election and voiced
support for Marwan Barghouti should he decide to run.

Ha'aretz cited a senior government source as saying that talks
between Israel and Saudi Arabia have been taking place through a
third party for some time and that a meeting with the Saudis may
happen soon.

Leading media reported that Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdul Ilah
Khatib and Egyptian Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit said in a meeting
with PM Olmert that they hope to bring along other foreign ministers
the next time they visit.

Israel Radio reported that Israel and the Palestinian Authority
announced Wednesday that they are ready once again to renew
coordination of civil administration functions. The media noted that
the swearing-in of Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayad's
government gave a green light to the resumption of cooperation on
both the civil and the security level.

Yediot quoted Hamas senior member, Dr. Ahmed Yosef, as saying to the
Palestinian news agency "Ma'an" that Hamas will eventually take over
the West Bank.

Israel Radio reported that a Hamas militant was killed Thursday
morning by an Israeli Air Force strike east of Khan Yunis in the
Gaza Strip.

All media reported that the general strike that began Wednesday
morning ended when an agreement was reached Wednesday night.

All media reported on violent confrontations between the police and
right-wing activists who attempted to establish an illegal outpost
in Gush Etzion. Thirty activists were arrested and a few were
injured.

All media reported that the High Court of Justice met on Wednesday
to discuss the plea agreement for former President Moshe Katzav.
The court ordered the Attorney General to explain why the court
should not anull plea bargain.

Maariv printed the following results of a TNS/Teleseker Polling
Institute survey: 59 percent of the public believe that the
unilateral disengagement from Gaza was a mistake; 29 percent believe
it was the right decision; 12 were undecided. According to the poll
74 percent are against evacuating settlements from the West Bank
unilaterally, while 18 percent are in favor.

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Mideast:
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Summary:
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Diplomatic correspondent Aluf Benn wrote in the independent,
left-leaning Ha'aretz: "It is dawning on the people around the prime
minister that there is no substitute for an Israeli diplomatic
initiative that will extricate Olmert from his public opinion
troubles and make a mark in the history of the state.... External
events today also tend toward diplomacy."

The nationalist Makor Rishon-Hatzofe editorialized: "There is almost
no doubt that the diplomatic buzz that started with the arrival of
Tony Blair marks the beginning of Ehud Olmert's survival battle....
The danger is that out of every buzz something practical may
emerge."

Block Quotes:
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I. "Solving a Few Problems At Once"

Diplomatic correspondent Aluf Benn wrote in the independent,
left-leaning Ha'aretz (07/26): "Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has a
problem. He is finding it difficult to persuade the Israeli public
and international community that his government seriously intends to
reach a settlement with the Palestinians and is willing to pay the
price of withdrawing from territory and evacuating the
settlements.... It is dawning on the people around the prime
minister that there is no substitute for an Israeli diplomatic
initiative that will extricate Olmert from his public opinion
troubles and make a mark in the history of the state.... External
events today also tend toward diplomacy. After a year and a half of
a diplomatic standstill with the government of Palestinian Authority
Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, there is once again someone to talk to in
the PA.... U.S. President George W. Bush, Quartet envoy Tony Blair,
Egypt and Jordan are willing to extend a hand from the outside, each
for their own reasons. Olmert's proposal of an Agreement of
Principles regarding a Palestinian state solves a number of his
problems. First, he is taking the initiative.... Second, the
initiative underscores the message that Israel wants an agreement
and is not seeking excuses to stay in the territories. Third, it
responds to the international demand to provide a 'diplomatic
horizon' for Palestinian moderates. Fourth, Olmert wants to give up
territory, even unilaterally. If he signs Abbas onto the deal, he
will achieve something for the merchandise he was ready to give away
for free. Fifth, the deal he is proposing focuses on changing
reality in the West Bank and Gaza, and sets aside the refugee
problem ... Sixth, the formulation of the details and the
implementation of the agreement, which involve significant
difficulties for both sides, will wait for the approval of the
Agreement of Principles in Palestinian elections and a Knesset
vote.... Seventh, the prime minister's expected political and
personal advantage should not be ignored.... If he radiates
credibility, he may even improve in the polls, and his declared
intention to run for another term against party leaders Benjamin
Netanyahu and Ehud Barak will seem serious and possible."

II. "Buzz"

The nationalist Makor Rishon-Hatzofe editorialized (07/26): "There
is almost no doubt that the diplomatic buzz that started with the

arrival of Tony Blair marks the beginning of Ehud Olmert's survival
battle.... The danger is that out of every buzz something practical
may emerge. Israel's actions in the strategic, diplomatic reality
are happening in three circles: one, against Iran and its
nuclearatization; second, the attempt to reach a diplomatic solution
with the Palestinians and third, the practical dimension of the war
on terror and achieving deterrence against it.... In the Palestinian
circle, all experts -- even the most moderate ones -- believe that
there is no chance of achieving a meaningful agreement with the
Palestinians."
CRETZ

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