VZCZCXRO5806
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #0911/01 1501118
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 291118Z MAY 08
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1658
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 7137
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4124
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 3977
RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 5475
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 3893
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2455
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000911
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 (5/29): WAITING ON AMERICAN AND
ISRAELI "NEWCOMERS"
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Main Stories:
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Israeli Defense Minister Barak's call for Israeli Premier Olmert to
step down leads coverage in all dailies. The papers report that
Olmert "refuses" to resign despite Barak's call and note that Israel
might be heading towards early elections. Reporting includes
official Palestinian reaction with quotes by Palestinian President
Abbas that the corruption scandal is, "an internal Israeli issue,"
and that the PA, "will work with any Israeli government committed to
the peace process." The dailies also quote Abbas' spokesperson Abu
Rudaynah stating that, "our only concern is that any Israeli Premier
be committed to the peace process," adding that, "what is happening
in Israel will negatively influence negotiations." All dailies
highlight that, "the United States reaffirmed its commitment to
Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations," citing an AFP story with
quotes by State Department spokesman Tom Casey. In related news, Al
Ayyam's front page announces that an Israeli plan released by the
Washington-based Middle East Institute, "excludes Jerusalem and
claims 11.5% of West Bank land for Israel."
The May 28 announcement of US assistance to the residents of the
West Bank Governorate Jenin wins prominent and positive front page
coverage in all dailies and on-line news agencies in the West Bank
and Gaza. All coverage highlights Consul General Walles' comments
about US commitment to peace and support of the Palestinian
Authority. Al Quds highlights Walles' comment that Palestinian
President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad are "partners in peace."
The paper continues with quotes from Walles, "that the United States
realizes that the time for the establishment of a Palestinian state
is overdue. As President Bush said in Sharm Al-Sheikh, we stand
beside the Palestinians people who have suffered for decades
[sic]."
The "homecoming" of Palestinian Security Forces to Jericho also wins
front page, positive coverage in all dailies and on-line news
sources. A photo of Palestinian Prime Minister Fayyad dancing with
security forces leads coverage in Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, while Al Quds
places a front page photo of Fayyad reviewing a line of forces
marching in formation. Coverage quotes Fayyad stating that, "the
Palestinian Authority is a home for everyone and the only title
[legitimate representative] for all Palestinians." Fayyad praised
the security forces and stressed that their efforts were crucial to
the, "stability and progress of Palestinians." The security forces
were trained by Jordanian police in Jordan with U.S. government
funding.
Reports about Israeli-Palestinian truce efforts lead coverage in
Al-Quds which highlights that, "there is no connection between the
Palestinian prisoner swap and the Hezbollah prisoner swap with
Israel." Coverage added that the Egyptian side is increasing
diplomatic efforts because of fears of a breach by Palestinians of
the Gaza border. Related coverage in all dailies reports that
Israeli tanks and warplanes killed two Palestinians and injured five
during an incursion into Gaza on May 28.
Al-Quds' front page reveals that sources close to Palestinian
President Abbas deny rumors that there will be a reshuffling of his
cabinet members. According to the sources, Abbas has confirmed that
the rumors are untrue and that he is determined to put a stop to
them.
The visit of Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa to Gaza is
front page news. Speaking in Gaza on May 28, he commented that what
JERUSALEM 00000911 002 OF 002
he had seen is beyond human comprehension and that, "the siege on
the Gaza Strip is illegal and must end immediately." Tutu is
heading a high-level UN fact-finding mission to investigate a
"massacre" committed by the Israeli military in November 2006, in
the town of Beit Hanun, in which 19 Palestinian civilians were
killed.
According to Ma'an news agency, Hamas says that the Palestinian
security forces detained five Hamas activists across the West Bank
on May 27. Activists were arrested in Al-Far'ah refugee camp in the
Tubas Governorate, in the Bethlehem Governorate and the Jenin
village of As-Sila Al-Harthiya.
Online sources reported that Palestinian President Abbas intends to
issue a presidential decree barring torture in the Palestinian
Territory. The statements by Abbas came following a meeting with
the Palestinian Independent Committee for Citizens Rights and after
the release of the 2008 Amnesty International Human Rights report.
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BLOCK QUOTES:
------------
Independent Al-Quds carries its daily editorial entitled, "The
importance and necessity of evaluating the next stage" (5/29): "...
today, we are facing the possibility of new Israeli elections. If
Olmert leaves his position for one reason or another, negotiations
will stop. We are also facing imminent American elections, which
will mean a freeze of serious, external diplomatic activity that
might last for a year... Faced with these realities, the ball is now
in the Palestinian and Arab court. The issues need to be carefully
considered; otherwise we will sit waiting on the newcomers from
Israel and America!"
2. Independent daily Al-Ayyam runs an op-ed by veteran columnist
Dr. Abulmajid Swaylam entitled, "Investment conference in
Bethlehem"(5/29): "... the kind of investment that was proposed at
the Bethlehem conference is problematic from a Palestinian point of
view; but it might be an effective mechanism to expose the strategic
Israeli policies [obstacles] imposed on the ground... Economics is
not the key to political progress. The real key to economic
development is a fair, political solution that will guarantee
security and stability for everyone including the investors
themselves. In any case, investment is very important and we cannot
wait for the end of the occupation to invest. But investment under
occupation is completely different from investment without
occupation."
WALLES