VZCZCXRO9508
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #0869/01 1421032
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 211032Z MAY 08
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1591
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEADWD/DA WASHINGTON DC//DAS-ZD/DACS-ZK//
RUEAHQA/CSAF WASHINGTON DC//POLAD//
RHMFIUU/CMC WASHINGTON DC
RUENAAA/CNO WASHINGTON DC//POLAD//
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 7126
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4113
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 3966
RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 5464
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 3882
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2444
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000869
SIPDIS
STATE PASS BBG
STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA, NEA/PPD
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE, SIT ROOM
NSC FOR ABRAMS
CMC WASHINGTON DC FOR POLAD
JERUSALEM ALSO FOR ICD
LONDON FOR HKANONA AND POL - TSOU
PARIS ALSO FOR POL
ROME FOR MFO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KMDR KPAL KWBG KPAO IS
SUBJECT: JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (5/21): "THE TWO-STATE SOLUTION:
EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY"
-------------
Main Stories:
-------------
Front and inside pages of all dailies are blanketed with positive
reports of the Palestine Investment Conference. Al-Quds opens with
Palestinian Prime Minster Fayyad stating that, "having President
Abbas open the conference is a success in and of itself," adding,
"this is an opportunity for us to show the real face of Palestine
and to tell the world that we are able to deliver." The dailies
highlight coverage on American participation at the conference.
Al-Quds runs a Reuter's story entitled, "The US is optimistic about
the Bethlehem conference." The story quotes Robert Kimmitt, Deputy
Secretary of the US Treasury stating that the goal of the conference
was to get the attention of investors for investment opportunities
through several specific projects. Official daily Al-Hayat
Al-Jadida opens its economic page with a quote by US Consul General
Walles stating, "the US is committed to supporting the Palestinian
economy." On-line Palestinian news outlets Ma'an, PNN and Ihbariat
also carry comments by the Consul General regarding US participation
and optimism on the eve of the conference.
The dailies report that four people were killed in Gaza following an
Israeli airstrike on May 20. Related coverage of a possible truce
between Hamas and the Israelis includes comments by an Egyptian
official that, "Israel has agreed to the Egyptian version of a truce
agreement in Gaza."
The dailies extensively cover the participation of Palestinian
President Abbas at the May 20 opening of the "right to return"
monument in Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem. Abbas said, "We are
determined to say to the world in each and every speech, that the
right to return is a holy right that will not be delayed or
postponed."
Al-Quds' front page highlights Israeli-Palestinian negotiations with
statements by Israeli diplomatic sources confirming that
negotiations are continuing and focused on the issues of borders,
refugees and security. The report adds that there are talks about
a, "delayed agreement." In related news, a May 20 telephone call
between Palestinian President Abbas and Secretary Rice receives
front page coverage in all dailies. The dailies highlight that
Abbas briefed Rice on the latest developments in the peace process.
------------
BLOCK QUOTES:
------------
1. Independent Al-Ayyam runs an editorial entitled, "The Torah
speech of Bush at the Knesset and the secularism of the American
State," by Muhammad Shaker Abdullah (5/21): "The United States was
established... by groups who were escaping religious persecution in
Europe in the seventeenth century. They found, in the American
land, the only shelter from religious persecution that was
available... the American Revolution of 1776 resulted in the
creation of a constitution that protects freedom of expression and
secularism... The constitution was based on secularism by
separating religion from the state and by giving full rights to
everyone ... the comments by George W. Bush clearly reflect the
Christian-Judeo tradition. This does not reflect the nature of his
country or American society. Bush's first priority as president
should be to fairly and without bias represent the United States,
even if he happens to have been born or inherited certain beliefs or
traditions..."
JERUSALEM 00000869 002 OF 002
2. Official daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida carries an op-ed entitled,
"Talk about resignation!" By Yahya Rabah (5/21): "...we have been
hearing rumors lately about the resignation of President Abbas...
these rumors are bad, and they constitute an open invitation to
everyone to get depressed. It looks like President Abbas is blaming
himself... for a failure that wasn't his fault, but rather the fault
of others. Let us assume that 2008 ends without reaching the
desired solution for the establishment of a Palestinian state...
then the failure will be Bush's and his republican government's that
declared his two-state solution in Annapolis. Bush is the one who
has assistants who feed him with regular and accurate reports about
Israeli behavior: settlements, security and military operations
that are destroying the two-state solution... If the negotiations
with the Israelis that are headed up by President Abbas encounter
difficulties... that will not only have a negative effect on the
Palestinians. The whole region will suffer the consequences...
including Israel. Therefore, the responsibility [for success in
negotiations] belongs to everyone... "
WALLES