VZCZCXRO3545
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #1208/01 1920826
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 100826Z JUL 08
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2062
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 7199
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4184
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 4037
RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 5535
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 3953
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2518
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 001208
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 (7/10): VANISHING HOPES FOR
PALESTINIAN UNITY
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Main Stories:
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Under banner headlines, the three dailies announce Israeli approval
of the construction of 1,800 settlement units in the East Jerusalem
neighborhood of Jabal Abu Ghunaym (Har Homa). Al-Quds reports that
official spokesperson of the Palestinian Presidency Nabil Abu
Rudayna responded on July 9, by issuing a warning of the possible
negative effects of the action on Palestinian-Israeli negotiations.
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida's lead photo shows ongoing construction "to
expand" the Israeli settlement.
Al-Ayyam's front page reports that Israeli military broke up
demonstrations against the separation barrier in several areas of
the West Bank on July 9. The demonstrations marked the 4th
anniversary of the International Court of Justice ruling that the
separation barrier is illegal under international law. Several
Palestinians were injured in clashes with Israeli Defense Forces,
reporting notes. In related coverage in all papers, Israeli human
rights group B'Tselem said on July 9, that the separation barrier
has not been rerouted in accordance with a 2004 ruling by the
Israeli High Court of Justice. The organization added that the
barrier will include 12% of West Bank land and 60 settlements to be
annexed to Israel. The three dailies also highlight that a
Palestinian tried on July 9 to destroy part of the barrier with a
bulldozer in an area next to Qalandiya, near Ramallah. Israeli
Defense Forces prevented the action, according to the papers.
Palestinian Authority Premier Fayyad's joint press conference with
Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Frattini captures front page
headlines in all dailies. During the July 9 press conference in
Ramallah, Fayyad condemned a recent Israeli military operation in
the West Bank city of Nablus and Israeli settlement activities.
Frattini announced an additional 20 million Euros in assistance to
the Palestinians, the articles report.
Al-Ayyam writes that the Hamas delegation to Cairo delivered a
report to Egyptian officials detailing Israeli violations of the
truce agreement in the Gaza Strip. According to a Hamas leader
interviewed by Al-Ayyam on July 9, Hamas has asked for an urgent
meeting to discuss issues concerning the Rafah crossing point in the
southern Gaza Strip. In related coverage in all papers, Palestinian
Authority President Abbas emphasized during an internal meeting on
July 9, the importance of Egyptian mediation in and subsequent
launch of Palestinian national dialogue.
On an inside page, Al-Quds briefly notes the July 9 visit of General
Fraser to the northern West Bank city of Janin. During his visit,
General Fraser met with the Governor of Janin and the Chief
Commander of the Palestinian Security Forces. The Janin Governor
briefed the Fraser about the general situation, including civil and
economic issues, in Janin Governorate, according to Al Quds.
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BLOCK QUOTES:
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1. Independent Al-Quds prints its daily editorial entitled, "Truce
talks, dialogue, and agreement" (7/10): "...it is obvious that the
possibility of an agreement... or even a meeting [between Fatah and
Hamas] has almost disappeared... The truce [with Israel in the Gaza
Strip] will not last long for one simple and clear reason:
Palestinian and general Arab weakness combined with Israel's ability
to control the military, political and economic spheres. We have to
JERUSALEM 00001208 002 OF 002
face this fact and stop selling... illusions..."
2. Al-Ayyam runs its main editorial under the title, "Why do we
have to wait so long?" (7/10): "[Palestinian Authority President]
Mahmud Abbas stirred the stillness... towards dialogue [with Hamas]
after the Yemen initiative... Five months later, everyone is waiting
for Abbas to... reactivate his proposal... to remove obstacles
preventing dialogue to end Palestinian division... Internal
Palestinian division is a fact, and all parties pretend to reject
it, but their behavior is causing it to deepen. So, can anyone tell
us who is benefiting from this split, other than Israel?
Walles