INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Israel Media Reaction

Published: Fri 5 Sep 2008 10:20 AM
VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHTV #2020/01 2491020
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 051020Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8298
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAHQA/HQ USAF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEADWD/DA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/CNO WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI PRIORITY 4354
RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS PRIORITY 0960
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN PRIORITY 4697
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 5143
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 4350
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 2705
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 5113
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1973
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0194
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT PRIORITY 8956
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 6436
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 1356
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS PRIORITY 5458
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 7419
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM PRIORITY 0386
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHMFISS/COMSOCEUR VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/COMSIXTHFLT PRIORITY
UNCLAS TEL AVIV 002020
STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA, NEA/PPD
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE, SIT ROOM
NSC FOR NEA STAFF
SECDEF WASHDC FOR USDP/ASD-PA/ASD-ISA
HQ USAF FOR XOXX
DA WASHDC FOR SASA
JOINT STAFF WASHDC FOR PA
CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL FOR POLAD/USIA ADVISOR
COMSOCEUR VAIHINGEN GE FOR PAO/POLAD
COMSIXTHFLT FOR 019
JERUSALEM ALSO ICD
LONDON ALSO FOR HKANONA AND POL
PARIS ALSO FOR POL
ROME FOR MFO
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR IS
SUBJECT: ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION
--------------------------------
SUBJECTS COVERED IN THIS REPORT:
--------------------------------
Mideast
-------------------------
Key stories in the media:
-------------------------
The Jerusalem Post reported that Israeli diplomatic officials viewed
the four-way summit in Damascus among the leaders of Syria, France,
Turkey, and Qatar yesterday with some frustration, saying Syrian
President Bashar Assad had effectively broken out of his
international isolation without having given anything in return.
Maariv reported that Israeli diplomatic sources are blaming PM Ehud
Olmert for this turn of events. Referring to Assad's comment that
the reason for the stall in the indirect, Turkish-mediated talks
with Israel is the resignation of PM Ehud Olmert's chief of staff
Yoram Turbowicz, various media quoted a source in the Prime
Minister's Office as saying that the terms of Turbowicz's employment
would be worked out in a matter of days. The Jerusalem Post quoted
Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan as saying yesterday that the process
was continuing "in a positive manner." Leading media reported that
the bureaus of PM Olmert and Turkish PM Erdogan agreed that a fifth
round of talks would be held in Turkey on September 18-19. The
Jerusalem Post and Ha'aretz quoted Assad as saying that his country
had given Turkish mediators an outline of general proposals for
peace with Israel and was waiting for Jerusalem's response before
holding any face-to-face negotiations. Assad was quoted as saying
that the document was intended to serve as the basis for direct
talks and that he was waiting for a similar document laying out
Israel's starting position. The Jerusalem Post quoted Israeli
officials who said they were unaware of any such document, while
Turkish sources confirmed that Assad gave Erdogan a document on
Thursday to pass to the Israelis. The Turkish source, who said he
didn't know what six points were included in the paper, said it was
probably a crystallization of ideas that had been discussed in the
previous four rounds of talks. Leading media reported that, in an
interview with Hizbullah's Al-Manar-TV yesterday, Assad stressed
that "Syria has no interest in relinquishing its ties with the
Islamist group. The Syrian stance towards Hizbullah remains
unchanged." "Our attitude toward the resistance is clear wherever
it may be; against the occupation in Iraq, Lebanon or Palestine,"
Assad was quoted as saying. Maariv bannered Assad's comment that
direct negotiations with Israel will take place only after President
Bush and PM Olmert leave office.
Israel Radio quoted DM Ehud Barak as saying yesterday that he views
agreements with all of Israel's neighbors as important, as long as
they do not harm Israel's security and other vital interests.
Israel Radio reported that yesterday in Como, Italy, President
Shimon Peres met with PA President Mahmoud Abbas, and that the two
discussed developments in the negotiations.
Israel Radio quoted Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah as
saying yesterday that his group will not give up its weapons even
after Israel withdraws from the Sheba Farms. Yediot quoted him as
saying that the revenge for the assassination of Imad Mughniyah
would be carried out "in the next few weeks."
Maariv and Israel Radio reported that over the past week Jordan has
transferred around 1,000 Kalashnikov rifles and 10,000 bullets to
the PA with Israel's assent.
The Jerusalem Post quoted intelligence writer Ronen Bergman as
saying in his latest book that Israeli commandoes who carried out
the attack on the alleged Syrian nuclear reactor last September were
nearly exposed.
Major media reported that French President Nicolas Sarkozy, visiting
Assad in Damascus yesterday, brought with him a letter from Noam
Shalit to his son Gilad Shalit. Assad is expected to transfer the
letter to Hamad bin Khalifa, the Emir of Qatar, who will then
transfer it to the Hamas leadership in Gaza. Israel Radio quoted a
Qatari newspaper as saying that Hamas's political leader Khaled
Mashal received the letter and that he promised to transmit it to
Gilad Shalit.
Leading media reported that yesterday a military court in Tel Aviv's
IDF headquarters sentenced Louis Balut, the IDF's first Christian
tracker, who was convicted of spying for Hizbullah, to 11 years in
prison.
A Ha'aretz reader wrote that, and an interview published last week
with Naftali Spitzer, Tzipi Livni's husband, who said that his wife
has views to the right of Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as Shaul
Mofaz's right-wing views, will ensure that Kadima voters will end up
with right-wing leadership. Maariv (Ben Caspit) reported that
American writer Jerome Corsi, who wrote a book about Sen. John Kerry
and the Swift Boat controversy, is now attacking Barack Obama and
Tzipi Livni. Caspit hints that American security sources may be
behind the criticism.
Maariv reported that next week in Istanbul, Palestinian public
figures will debate the Geneva Initiative with a group of minor Shas
activists and journalists. The Geneva Initiative organizers are
sponsoring the meeting. The newspaper reported that this is the
third encounter of its kind.
Ha'aretz reported that yesterday the High Court of Justice
instructed the state to formulate a plan that would allow right-wing
activists to march through the northern Israeli-Arab town of Umm
al-Fahm.
Yediot reported that the Yitzhak Rabin Center for Israel Studies
will grant master's degrees in political leadership.
In its lead story, Ha'aretz reported that Maj. Gen. (res.) Moshe
Ivri-Sukenik, who resigned as commander of the IDF's Northern Corps
earlier this year, has sharply criticized army training. He was
quoted as saying that troops are not being prepared for future
challenges.
Makor Rishon-Hatzofe reported that State Comptroller Micha
LindeQtrauss may reconsider the issue of the transfer of the
"Sergey Compound" in West Jerusalem'sQssianQompound to the
Russian government. The paper writes that it now turns out that the
actual owners of the compound are Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of
Edinburgh.
Ha'aretz and The Jerusalem Post reported that the American open
source software system giant and Linux operating software vendor Red
Hat announced yesterday that it was purchasing the Israeli start-up
Qumranet for about $115 million.
In an interview with Yediot, Michael Downing, deputy chief of the
Los Angeles Police Department, who participated in the indictment of
the Israeli Abergil brothers, was quoted as saying that "Israeli
organized crime has a very violent potential."
--------
Mideast:
--------
Summary:
--------
Diplomatic correspondent Herb Keinon wrote in the conservative,
independent Jerusalem Post: "Neither Livni nor Abbas is keen on
coming up with a document in the next couple of weeks charting where
the sides agree.... If nothing else, the U.S. wants to have at least
[General Jones' security document] on the table for the next
administration to use when it begins tasking on our issues."
Military correspondent Amir Rappaport and security and intelligence
affairs commentator Amit Cohen wrote in the popular, pluralist
Maariv: "Seemingly, Abu Mazen may agree to hold elections in January
2009, with Hamas participation, but the risks are too great."
The independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized: "Are [Kadima's
candidates for prime minister] thinking about continuing the process
begun by Olmert? Can Israeli citizens expect a future of positive
diplomatic results that will end the long war against Syria and its
partners in Lebanon? The answer to both these questions needs to be
affirmative if the Kadima and Labor candidates want the public's
support."
Block Quotes:
-------------
I. "Missing the Deadline"
Diplomatic correspondent Herb Keinon wrote in the conservative,
independent Jerusalem Post (9/5): "Neither Livni nor Abbas is keen
on coming up with a document in the next couple of weeks charting
where the sides agree. While that type of document would be good
for U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, because it would show
that her work over the last few months has produced at least some
fruit, it would be bad for Livni, because it would show what she had
agreed to cede, and bad for Abbas, for it would illustrate to his
constituency how far he is from getting what it wants.... U.S. Army
General James Jones ... is expected to issue a report to Rice in
about a month that will go a long way in determining the U.S.
position on what are Israel's legitimate security requirements -- to
ensure that a future Palestinian state is not a threat.... While
there probably won't be an interim agreement in two months, or even
a shelf agreement by the end of December, the Jones document --
according to diplomatic officials -- will be presented to Rice in
the coming weeks, or at least by the end of the Bush administration.
If nothing else, the U.S. wants to have at least that on the table
for the next administration to use when it begins tasking on our
issues."
II. "Write Down January 9, 2009 in Your Diary; Abu Mazen Ends his
Terms -- After Him, a Black Hole"
Military correspondent Amir Rappaport and security and intelligence
affairs commentator Amit Cohen wrote in the popular, pluralist
Maariv (9/5): "Israeli security sources despise Abu Mazen -- they
dub him a lame duck -- a grey politician lacking charisma, who finds
it hard to rule on the ground and lead the Palestinian people....
Hamas continues to scorn the Rais's capacities and views him as a
weak figure.... The defense establishment believes that the options
at Abu Mazen's disposal don't look promising: Seemingly, Abu Mazen
may agree to hold elections in January 2009, with Hamas
participation, but the risks are too great. Hamas can certainly win
the elections and gain the presidency; the international community
and Israel would face an insoluble problem: there will be no other
choice than talking with the movement that calls for the
annihilation of Israel. On the other hand, the option of holding
elections without allowing Hamas to take part in them, under the
pretext that the organization does not recognize the Oslo Accords
under which the Palestinian Authority was established, is not
realistic."
III. "An Israeli Partner Is Needed"
The independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized (9/5):
"Yesterday's four-way summit in Damascus was one of this region's
most important diplomatic events for some time.... But this time
Israel cannot be angry with the French. After all, it did an
about-face as well when it began an indirect dialogue with Syria,
which is meant to turn into direct talks at a later stage. In this
Israel diverged from the normal framework, under which its relations
with the countries in the region are coordinated with the United
States. This is even more blatant in the case of Syria, as Israeli
lobbying significantly affected American attitudes toward Damascus.
However, beyond the settling of scores between Jerusalem, Washington
and Paris, the dialogue with Syria has opened a serious new window
of opportunity.... Of course, the concerns and suspicions raised by
the opponents of dialogue with Syria should not be ignored. Most
importantly, it is important to evaluate the price Israel will have
to pay for an agreement with Syria. But there will be time for this
when the direct negotiations begin and the Israeli public, which
recognizes that Israel will have to withdraw from the Golan Heights,
learns what it will get in return. In the meantime, it seems that
if there is an obstacle to the talks, it comes from the Israeli
side.... Are [Kadima's candidates for prime minister] thinking about
continuing the process begun by Olmert? Can Israeli citizens expect
a future of positive diplomatic results that will end the long war
against Syria and its partners in Lebanon? The answer to both these
questions needs to be affirmative if the Kadima and Labor candidates
want the public's support."
CUNNINGHAM
View as: DESKTOP | MOBILE © Scoop Media