VZCZCXRO4580
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #1227/01 1930948
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 110948Z JUL 08
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2102
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 7201
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4186
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 4039
RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 5537
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 3955
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2520
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 001227
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 (7/11): FAYYAD'S PRACTICAL IDEAS
FOR GOVERNANCE
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Main Stories:
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The visit of Palestinian Authority Premier Fayyad to the West Bank
communities of Nablus city and Ni'lin village on July 10 attracts
front page coverage in the three dailies. During his visit to
Nablus, Fayyad emphasized that all Israeli actions against
Palestinian institutions in Nablus are illegal and violate previous
agreements and commitments and are therefore, "invalid." Fayyad
also condemned the "escalation" of Israeli settlement activities and
the construction of the separation barrier, while praising the
steadfastness of villages affected negatively by the barrier. In
related coverage, Al-Ayyam reports that 17 demonstrators were
injured when Israeli soldiers dispersed a peaceful march protesting
the separation barrier in Ni'lin village on July 10. Al-Quds leads
with a photo of armed Israeli soldiers disbursing the foreign and
Palestinian protestors.
Front pages highlight that the, "Palestinian leadership is studying
the possibility of halting communication with Israel until
settlement activities stop." The comment was made by Yasir
Abd-Rabbuh, Secretary of the Executive Committee of the PLO at a
press conference on July 10. Abd-Rabbuh added that a decision to
halt communications would be implemented upon the return of
Palestinian Authority President Abbas from Paris.
Front page headlines announce the first killing of a Palestinian by
Israeli soldiers since the start of the Israel/Hamas truce in the
Gaza Strip. The incident took place next to Kisofim crossing in the
northern Strip on July 10. In response, Al-Aqsa Brigades fired
rockets at Sderot "settlement" (city) in southern Israel. In
contrast, Hamas arrested three Hamas activists who fired rockets at
Sderot on July 10, the papers report.
In an exclusive interview with Al- Quds on July 10, Hamas leader
Musa Abu Marzuq announced that Cairo will soon host closed-door
negotiations between Israel and Hamas regarding a prisoners exchange
deal that could include the release of Israeli soldier Shalit.
On an inside page, Al-Quds reports that three Palestinian Fulbright
students, "who wish to benefit from a scholarship to the United
States, despite Israeli actions that are preventing them from
traveling," met on July 10 with U.S. Consulate officials at the Erez
crossing point for visa interviews. The article is accompanied by a
photo showing the three students waiting to cross the checkpoint to
meet with U.S. officials on the Israeli side of the crossing.
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BLOCK QUOTES:
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1. Independent Al-Quds runs its daily editorial entitled: "Dr.
Fayyad's ideas to end division are practical and constructive"
(7/11): "...out of a feeling of deep responsibility towards his
people and the cause of his homeland, [Palestinian Authority
Premier] Dr. Fayyad has laid out some constructive and practical
ideas to end division between the West Bank and Gaza Strip. These
ideas have two main elements: First, the formation of a national,
non-factional caretaker government to run the country's affairs and
prepare for legitimate, presidential elections. Second, Arab
assistance in re-establishing Palestinian security capacities that
are professional and would provide [interim] security for the Gaza
Strip... Fayyad's ideas are practical, constructive, and realistic
JERUSALEM 00001227 002 OF 002
which is why all Palestinian factions should happily accept and
support them. Especially, since these ideas meet the needs of the
Palestinian people, provide security, and pave the way for
legitimate, presidential elections..."
2. Independent Al-Ayyam runs an editorial by former Palestinian
National Council member, Azmi Al-Khawaja, entitled: "Settlement
activities and the 'racist separation wall' are killing the peace
process" (7/11): "... [Israeli] settlement activities continue as
does the construction of the barrier that is swallowing up land.
All this is happening in the absence of decision makers - mere
condemnations are useless. If we compare the situation in 1996 to
the current one, we find that there is a big difference in the [rate
of] settlement expansion and the construction of the barrier. What
[Palestinians] want is: a) reunification of the West Bank and Gaza
Strip...b) a national unity government with an active Palestinian
Legislative Council... c) an active PLO... d) a halt to negotiations
with [Israeli leaders] Olmert and Livni because they are useless and
because there can be no Palestinian state or guarantee of rights
without the return of refugees, without Jerusalem, and without a
complete Israeli withdrawal to the borders of 1967..."
Walles