INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Israel Media Reaction

Published: Wed 19 Dec 2007 11:33 AM
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TAGS: OPRC KMDR IS
SUBJECT: ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION
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SUBJECTS COVERED IN THIS REPORT:
--------------------------------
1. President Bush's Doctrine
2. Gaza
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Key Stories in the Media:
-------------------------
Ha'aretz reported that U.S. general (ret.) James Jones said in his
meetings on Tuesday with Israeli ministers that he will not serve as
a "judge" and arbitrator of road map progress. According to the
newspaper Jones noted that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
wants him to draft a strategic plan for a stable security
arrangement for the two state solution.
Ha'aretz reported that the Housing Ministry has given the green
light for a new Jewish neighborhood in East Jerusalem. The
neighborhood, if built, would be the largest constructed in that
part of the city since 1967.
All media quoted Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as saying that Israel
shall find all of those responsible for Qassam rocket firing.
Yediot Ahahronot cited different officials from the IDF and the GSS
praising each other for the successful IAF activity on Tuesday.
Maariv reported that PM Olmert called what is happening in the south
as war.
Ha'aretz reported that the Prime Minister's office has established a
task force dedicated only to preparations for President Bush's visit
in January.
Maariv reported, citing Palestinian sources, that the IDF has
started using new anti-tank rockets that are much more accurate and
advanced against missile launchers in the Gaza Strip.
IDF Radio aired an interview Wednesday morning with Transportation
Minister Shaul Mofaz, in which he said that Israel should not rule
out indirect negotiations with Hamas in an effort to halt Qassam
rocket fire at southern Israel
Maariv reported that Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and her
Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov have agreed to visa free travel
between the two countries.
Yediot reported that last week the GSS and the security
establishment are establishing a committee of three to approve
retroactively targeted killings of terror organization activists.
Leading media quoted Attorney-General Menachem Mazuz as saying in
his testimony to the Winograd Committee that the IDF acted within
international law during the Second Lebanon War.
Yediot reported that General Gadi Shamni, Head of the Central
Command, is warning that stopping the work on the separation fence
might lead to terror attacks.
Kul Al Arab reveals an outline developed among extremist right
leaders and few Kadima MKs to deport Muslims from the Galilee to the
Naqab, while keeping the Christians and Druze, in order to implement
the 'Jewish State' project as part of a future plan to exchange
southern [Israeli] lands with the Palestinians.
Both Kul Al Arab and Assennara reported that the Israeli government
has finally recognized Bishop Theophilous as the Greek Orthodox
Patriarch of Jerusalem after more than two years of opposition.
-----------------------------
1. President Bush's Doctrine:
-----------------------------
Summary:
--------
Columnist Michael Freund wrote in the conservative, independent
Jerusalem Post: "It is not that the Bush Doctrine is dead -- it most
certainly isn't. But the way things are going of late, it sure
seems to be in need of resuscitation."
Conservative contributor Menachem Ben wrote in the popular,
pluralist Maariv: "George Bush junior will be listed in history as
one of the greatest presidents that America and the world has ever
had."
Block Quotes:
-------------
I. "Introducing George W. Clinton"
Columnist Michael Freund wrote in the conservative, independent
Jerusalem Post (19/12): "Will the real George W. please stand up?
After seven years of fearlessly confronting evil, both rhetorically
and militarily, the Bush administration seems to have faded away,
replaced instead by a meek shadow of its former self. Firm resolve
has given way to disappointing frailty, as the shape and direction
of US foreign policy increasingly resembles something taken straight
out of Bill Clinton's playbook. Across the board, on nearly every
major issue of the day, from Iran to Syria to North Korea, the Bush
administration is in retreat, abandoning the principled stands of
yesteryear and replacing them with the unscrupulous and inexplicable
policies now being pursued by the Department of State.... The result
has effectively been a quiet coup, as George W. Clinton replaces
Bush. And that spells trouble, big trouble, in the War on Terror --
not only for Israel, but for America too. It is not that the Bush
Doctrine is dead -- it most certainly isn't. But the way things are
going of late, it sure seems to be in need of resuscitation."
II. "The Greatest of Them All"
Conservative contributor Menachem Ben wrote in the popular,
pluralist Maariv (19/12): "George Bush junior will be listed in
history as one of the greatest presidents that America and the world
has ever had... Bush is much more then can be seen, even if all he
has is rare courage and common sense, both a rare commodity in our
political days, in Israel and all over the world.... Israel does not
have or ever had such a marvelous friend as George Bush Jr..... That
is why we better try to achieve in his term a creative peace with
all our enemies."
--------
2. Gaza:
--------
Summary:
--------
Senior military correspondent and analyst Alex Fishman wrote in the
mass-circulation, pluralist Yediot Ahahronot: "You don't have to be
a security cabinet member to realize that if the State of Israel
wants to see President Bush here early next month -- this visit
should not be accompanied by 200-300 Palestinians killed in an
Israeli ground operation in the Gaza Strip."
Economic editor Nehemia Shtrasler wrote in the independent,
left-leaning Ha'aretz: "There is a lot of talk here about the
withdrawal from Gaza, but nobody mentions that Gaza is surrounded
and starved.... It is clear that in a situation like this, hatred
wins out and the desire to avenge is the only hope. But here, all
they are talking about is the suffering of Sderot."
Block Quotes:
-------------
I. "Measured and Calculated Actions"
Senior military correspondent and analyst Alex Fishman wrote in the
mass-circulation, pluralist Yediot Ahahronot (12/19): "You don't
have to be a security cabinet member to realize that if the State of
Israel wants to see President Bush here early next month -- this
visit should not be accompanied by 200-300 Palestinians killed in an
Israeli ground operation in the Gaza Strip. Just as the army went
into lower gear before the Annapolis conference, it will likely also
let up on the gas pedal on the eve of Bush's visit... But in the
meantime, between the conference and the visit, the Israeli
political echelon has to show, after all, that it is doing something
to counter the continuous Kassam rocket fire. So the military
echelon is cautiously raising the bar against the terror from Gaza.
In the meantime, no problems are being solved, rather the height of
the flames is being played with. This is playing with fire -- while
trying to buy time.... Neither does the IDF want, at the present
stage, an all-out clash.... And therefore, the targeted killings are
also not a sign of things to come. They are meant to buy time.
That's why these actions are measured and calculated. Nobody is yet
attacking the political leadership of Hamas, nor even Islamic
Jihad's political leaders.... In short: no step is being taken that
could deteriorate the situation in Gaza at a timing inconvenient for
Israel."
II. "The Suffering in Gaza"
Economic editor Nehemia Shtrasler wrote in the independent,
left-leaning Ha'aretz (19/12): "There is a lot of talk here about
the withdrawal from Gaza, but nobody mentions that Gaza is
surrounded and starved. The situation there has been degenerating
ever since the withdrawal.... Israel recently reduced the transfer
of goods, including food, and the supply of fuel to the Gaza Strip.
All this is leading to extreme shortage, tremendous despair and a
feeling that there is nothing to lose. It is clear that in a
situation like this, hatred wins out and the desire to avenge is the
only hope. But here, all they are talking about is the suffering of
Sderot."
JONES
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