VZCZCXRO0838
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #0938/01 1561059
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 041059Z JUN 08
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1699
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 7146
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4133
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 3986
RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 5484
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 3902
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2464
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000938
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 (6/04): A CALL FOR A ONE-STATE
SOLUTION
-------------
Main Stories:
-------------
Coverage of Israeli Prime Minister Olmert's visit to Washington
dominates all front pages. Reports focus on comments from the June
3 White House daily briefing that, "Bush is not worried about the
future of Olmert." Al-Ayyam leads with, "Bush rewarded his visitor
Olmert with a 'security package' of a sort that America has never
before given to any state." Related coverage in the dailies
highlights that Secretary Rice "is pushing" for a peace agreement as
Olmert begins his visit to Washington. Papers also note Rice's June
3 remarks to AIPAC, especially her assurance that the goal of
reaching an agreement on a Palestinian state," will endure beyond
the current U.S. leadership." Coverage downplays possible positive
outcomes of the visit, focusing instead on the impact of Olmert's
"scandal" which is seen as diminishing his political decision-making
power.
The dailies report that Israeli Premier Olmert has approved the
building of "884 new houses in settlements" in the Jerusalem area.
Related coverage again highlights official Palestinian condemnation
through PLO statements.
Al-Quds reports that the Israeli High Court has criticized Israeli
policies that were preventing Fulbright Gaza students from traveling
abroad for university studies. The daily reports that the Court has
given the Israeli Government two weeks to "revise its policies."
Positive coverage appears in the dailies about the imminent start of
a new security "campaign" by Palestinian security forces in several
cities in the northern West Bank, including Alfara'a, Tulkarim,
Aqaba, Tamun, and Tubas.
A inside page photo of U.S. Consul General Walles and Palestinian
President Abbas introduces an Al Quds' report about the two
officials' June 3 meeting in Ramallah. The article inaccurately
reports that Abbas handed Walles a letter for President Bush. Abbas
and Walles discussed "latest developments" and the results of
Abbas' meeting with Israeli Premier Olmert, according to the
article.
------------
BLOCK QUOTES:
------------
1. Independent daily Al-Ayyam runs an op-ed by veteran columnist
Hani Habib, entitled "Routine or rescue?" (6/04): "As always, when
[Palestinian] President Abbas meets with [Israeli Premier] Olmert,
we hear, read and see comments, criticism and repeated statements
that contain nothing new... Endless, useless meetings... these
talks have become routine and are a mechanism that is allowed to
continue only because both sides have no alternative. Both sides
are biding their time, waiting for a miracle at a time when miracles
no longer exist..."
2. Independent daily Al-Ayyam runs an op-ed by columnist, Majed
Kayali entitled, "The legitimacy of a new Palestinian political
vision" (6/03): "... a group of activists and intellectuals in
Palestinian society have found answers to many questions in
suggesting a, "project for a new political vision," based on what
has been accomplished by Palestinian national movements... this new
vision focuses on three dimensions that are related to the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict: The first is related to the national
JERUSALEM 00000938 002 OF 002
goal of a two-state solution. After being adopted 34 years ago, it
is no longer a practical solution, given Israeli policies on the
ground... the second is a call to return to a one-state solution
with a secular and democratic state... this call gains its
credibility from the failure of 'an independent state solution,' in
light of developments on the ground."
WALLES