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FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2938
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RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
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RUEAHQA/CSAF WASHINGTON DC//POLAD//
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INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 7346
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4326
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 4179
RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 5673
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 4095
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2660
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 001833
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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: CORRECTED COPY - JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (10/03): THE
FUTURE OF THE PEACE PROCESS: OBAMA VS. MCCAIN
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Main Stories:
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Al Quds and Al Ayyam continue reporting on Palestinian Authority
President Abbas' visit to the White House. The front page stories
highlight statements by Abbas that, "the last meeting with the U.S.
President was positive." Abbas continues, "[Bush] expressed his
wish to establish a Palestinian state by the end of this year... If
the conditions for peace are present, an agreement can be reached
with Israel in two days... We hope that the latest statements by the
Israeli Premier will be considered a down-payment for [progress in
negotiations with] the incoming Israeli Government." Al Ayyam also
reports that PLO negotiator Sa'eb Erekat confirmed that President
Bush will not blame any party if an agreement is not reached between
Israel and the Palestinians by the end of the year.
The upcoming Quartet meeting is front page news in the dailies.
Reports note that the Quartet will meet with representatives of the
Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams to discuss the status of
peace talks. The papers also highlight the Quartet announcement
that a peace conference will be held in Moscow next spring.
The U.S. provision of F35 fighter jets to Israel makes headlines in
Al Quds and the on-line Maan network. Quoting Israeli daily Maariv,
reporting includes statements from the Pentagon calling the deal an
important step in safeguarding American national interests and
sustaining Israeli supremacy. The U.S. Department of Defense is
also quoted confirming that it will prohibit the sale of cluster
bombs. Al Quds comments that similar statements were made by the
U.S. military after 14 civilians in Lebanon were killed by cluster
bombs during the first Lebanon war. The paper also reminds readers
that the Israeli military has previously asserted that the use of
cluster bombs allowed under international law and that cluster bombs
were used in the second Lebanon war.
Al Quds' Washington correspondent writes a front page story about
the financial crisis in the United States. The story outlines
actions taken by Congress and presidential hopefuls. The reporter
comments that the bail-out plan is not popular among average
Americans who believe that it aims to rescue companies whose greed
and unchecked misbehavior contributed to the current catastrophe in
the American economy. Americans also believe that the plan does not
directly address the problems of Americans who have lost their homes
or are facing foreclosure, the article concludes.
Al Ayyam newspaper and Wafa report that Palestinian Authority (PA)
President Abbas is satisfied with Egyptian efforts to achieve
internal Palestinian reconciliation. Al Ayyam's front page story
also quotes PA Presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudayna stating
that, "President Abbas and the Palestinian leadership trust Egyptian
efforts aimed at achieving Palestinian national unity by ensuring a
sustained calm, an end to the siege on the Palestinian people, and
support for the Palestinian pursuit of legitimate rights to
statehood based on the 1967 [borders]." Wafa quotes chief
Palestinian negotiator Ahmad Quray denying recent reports that he
questioned the success of Egyptian efforts and accused some Arab
parties of causing the Palestinian rift. Quray is quoted as saying
that he trusts the sincere Egyptian efforts to support Palestinian
rights and unity.
Hamas warnings of a severe fuel shortage in Gaza grab front page
headlines in Al Quds. The paper quotes Ahmad Ali of the Hamas
"Palestinian Petroleum Department" in Gaza stating that this winter
could see a severe fuel shortage when demand will increase for fuel.
JERUSALEM 00001833 002.2 OF 002
Ahmad is quoted stating, "although the Israelis have allowed for a
very slight increase in the fuel supply to Gaza, the citizens will
suffer because of the increased demand... current quantities of fuel
supplied to Gaza constitute only one third of the actual needs for
fuel for citizens."
Israeli warnings of a rise in violence perpetrated by Israeli
settlers are front page news in Al Ayyam. Quoting Israeli daily
Haaretz, the paper publishes comments by the head of the Israeli
Defense Forces' Central Command confirming the increase in violence
and warning that it threatens the Israeli military's ability to
conduct operations in the West Bank. The official calls the
increase a "dangerous phenomenon" that is causing significant damage
to the image of the IDF and the state of Israel.
Al Ayyam's front page highlights comments by Israeli university
professor Sternhell who was injured last week by a bomb planted at
his home. The paper reports that Sternhell addressed a group of
supporters who were staging a rally in front of his home against
violence perpetrated by right-wing Israeli groups. The report
highlights his comment that violence by Israelis against
Palestinians will eventually be answered with violence against
Israelis.
Headlines note that French Foreign Minister Kouchner will visit the
Palestinian Territories on October 3 to discuss the status of peace
talks with Israel.
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BLOCK QUOTES:
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1. Regular columnist Mohamad Yaghy opined in Al Ayyam under the
title, "The peace process in the American elections" (10/03):
"[T]he differences between the positions of the American
presidential candidates regarding the [Palestinian-Israeli] peace
process is somewhat unclear ....both of them have expressed more
than once, their strong support of Israel and their belief that
Jerusalem must remain the united capital of Israel.....although the
differences are not clear, Obama's policies seem to be more defined
and ready to deal with the Israeli-Arab conflict. We see this from
his list of advisors... McCain's policy, on the other hand, is not
defined and is more likely to [halt] the peace process, which would
even mean a break with President Bush's policy ... Nonetheless,
there are Arabs who support McCain, why? Firstly, because some
Arabs... are more racist than many Americans and would prefer to
receive instructions from a white American leader... Secondly,
McCain has promised some Arabs, or so they think, that he will wage
war against Iran and rid them of the deadly Shiite danger..."
2. Columnist Rajab Abu Sarraya opined in Al Ayyam under the title:
"Reconciliation is better"(10/02): "[T]he Arab League should not be
alone in raising its finger against those obstructing national
unity, national personalities should also. It is high time to
loudly speak out against oppressive Palestinian powers, especially
ones that are shielded behind arms, their weapons trained on the
heads and chests of Palestinians... anyone who cannot find a place
in their political program for difference [of opinion] will not find
a place among Palestinians and possibly not even among Arabs and
regional states... He who does not have legitimacy should worry...
military might will fade away."
Walles