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Cablegate: Jerusalem Media Reaction (6/23): Israel, Sole Beneficiary

Published: Mon 23 Jun 2008 10:37 AM
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RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 4011
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STATE PASS BBG
STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA, NEA/PPD
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE, SIT ROOM
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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 (6/23): ISRAEL, SOLE BENEFICIARY
OF THE TRUCE
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Main Stories:
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The visit of French President Sarkozy and his wife to Israel and the
Palestinian Territories attracts front page coverage in all dailies.
Al-Quds carries a blue banner headline quoting Sarkozy that, "We
will stand with the Palestinians to build the state that they are
looking for, and that they have the right to." Sarkozy adds, "There
will be no peace without Jerusalem as the capital of the two
states." In an exclusive interview with Al Quds, Sarkozy notes
that, "settlements are the main obstacle." He also praises the work
of Israeli Premier Olmert in the peace process. All dailies
highlight that Sarkozy calls upon Israel to, "take risks for peace."
All dailies also report on the visit of the French interior
minister to the Dome of the Rock and his laying of a wreath at the
grave of Faisal Husseini, former PLO representative in Jerusalem.
Finally, papers note that Palestinian President Abbas is expected to
receive Sarkozy tomorrow in Bethlehem.
The dailies report on the expected meeting between Secretary Rice,
Ahmad Quray, head of the Palestinian negotiation team, and Israeli
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in Berlin on June 24. The leaders will
meet on the margin of the international conference which aims to
help Palestinians create a state through grassroots security
measures. Donor countries are expected to donate 187 million
dollars to be spent on training programs and the establishment of
police centers, prisons, courts, and laboratories, the dailies
report.
According to the lead story in Al-Ayyam, "Israel is satisfied with
Hamas' commitment to the truce." The paper highlights, "a
tremendous increase in the numbers of goods entering Gaza."
Palestinian President Abbas states that, "the truce in Gaza ensures
a better atmosphere for a direct and comprehensive internal dialogue
under Arab sponsorship." Abbas adds that, "we will agree to any
mechanism suggested by the Arabs to implement the Yemeni
initiative," according to the dailies. Meanwhile Al-Hayat Al-Jadida
reports that Hamas has taken over the Gaza house of PLO
representative Abbas Zaki.
Front pages report that Israeli sources claim that Hezbollah is
demanding the release of hundreds of Palestinian political detainees
in exchange for the release of two Israeli soldiers captured during
a cross-border raid in 2006. In news on a prisoner swap with Hamas,
Al- Ayyam reports that Israeli Prime Minister Olmert has decided to
accelerate negotiations on the release of captured Israeli soldier
Shalit, after a, "negotiation session" with Israeli security
officials.
Tensions between Israel and Iran continue to attract front page
coverage in all dailies. According to Al-Quds, Israeli Premier
Olmert met with the, "planner" of the 1981 Israeli attack on an
Iraqi nuclear reactor perhaps in preparation of an attack on Iranian
nuclear facilities. Al-Quds carries a Washington Post story
asserting that Israel would not be able to strike Iran by itself.
According to the story, Israel might "push" the Bush administration
to take action against Iran.
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Weekend stories
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Sunday, June 22, 2008
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Secretary Rice stated that, "the Palestinian track is more important
than the Syrian, and there are chances to reach an agreement before
the end of the year," according to Al-Ayyam's front page that quotes
recent interviews with the Secretary. Related coverage on Al-Quds'
front page carries a German wire story quoting Palestinian
Presidential advisor Yassir Abed Rabbo stating, "the Palestinian
Authority is close to declaring a position on the continuation of
negotiations." Al-Hayat Al-Jadida reports that Abed Rabbo said,
"settlement activities are destroying the peace process."
All dailies lend positive coverage with photos to the graduation
ceremony of Palestinian policemen which took place in Jericho on
June 21. The dailies highlighted that Palestinian Premier Fayyad
attended the ceremony.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Dailies led with reports on the "ongoing truce" between Hamas and
Israel. They highlighted photos of hundreds of Gazan children and
their families "having fun" at the beach. Hamas political leader,
Ismael Haniyyah, stated on June 20, that the blockade imposed on the
Gaza Strip will be "fully lifted in ten days." Haniyyah added that,
"Hamas will not stop smuggling activities in Gaza Strip." President
Abbas renewed his call on all factions to maintain self-control and
keep calm in the Gaza Strip, according to the papers. Finally, the
dailies highlighted that European Union foreign policy chief, Javier
Solana, stated on June 20th that the EU is ready to act as an
observer at the Rafah border terminal if an agreement to open the
crossing is reached.
All dailies report on the message from Palestinian President Abbas
to the UN, delivered by Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of
Palestine to the United Nations. The dailies quoted Abbas saying,
"there can be no peace in the region without solving the Palestinian
issue," adding, "our people have not given up their legitimate
rights." Abbas said in his message that "the refugee problem is a
direct result of Israeli rigidity; Israel has no respect for
international law." Abbas called for a "fair" solution to refugee
issue, according to the coverage.
The front page of Al-Quds reports that PLO negotiator Sa'eb Erekat
asserted that, "Israel is working towards controlling 40% of the
West Bank," Erekat added, "the Israeli decision to confiscate more
land in the [Jordan] valley to build military bases will isolate the
valley."
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BLOCK QUOTES:
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1. Independent Al-Ayyam carries its daily editorial under the
title, "The truce and a slightly reduced siege"(6/23):
Israel needs the rocket attacks to stop and it has achieved that
[goal]. At the same time, it wants to continue its siege (albeit, a
bit less restrictive) of the Gaza Strip. Hamas, however, has
achieved very little of its demands: a halt to Israeli military
attacks... and a loosening of the siege ... Hamas will be the one to
feel the difficulty of the situation and the difficulty [of having
no other good options] to end the siege [since] rocket attacks [have
also failed].
2. Independent Al-Quds runs an editorial by Muhammad Jalal Inayah
entitled, "The Truce is Hamas' Gateway to Politics" (6/23): For
Hamas, the most dangerous matter... is that it is now committed to
JERUSALEM 00001061 003 OF 003
maintaining a ceasefire with Israel... the most radical Palestinian
organizations might now accuse Hamas of the same thing that they
accused Fatah of: protecting Israel. Hamas' request that the
international community reevaluate its attitude towards the [group]
will be met by the international community's demand that Hamas
commit to the Quartet's principles. This is the international
community's world of politics into which Hamas is seeking entry.
Duffy
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