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Cablegate: Jerusalem Media Reaction (11/03): Un Obligations; Us

Published: Mon 3 Nov 2008 12:24 PM
VZCZCXRO1654
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #1986/01 3081224
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 031224Z NOV 08
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3161
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC
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RUEAHQA/CSAF WASHINGTON DC//POLAD//
RHMFIUU/CMC WASHINGTON DC
RUENAAA/CNO WASHINGTON DC//POLAD//
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 7384
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4364
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 4217
RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 5711
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 4133
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2698
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 001986
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 (11/03): UN Obligations; US
Politics
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Main Stories:
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Al Quds leads with reports on preparations for the Palestinian
dialogue in Cairo, revealing that Hamas has demanded several
amendments to the Egyptian paper for Palestinian reconciliation.
These include clarification on Palestinian Authority (PA)
President's term in office and his powers to negotiate with Israel.
The three papers front-page comments made by President Abbas during
his November 2 meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah that no peace
agreement would be signed this year and that the PA will not sign
any incomplete agreement with Israel. All papers report that Abbas
and Ahmed Qurei'ya will attend the Middle East Quartet meeting in
Egypt, to be held on November 9.
Al Ayyam and Al Hayat Al Jadida lead with news that Israeli security
officials have warned of the possibility of political assassinations
of Israeli leaders by right-wing Israelis intent on sabotaging a
peace agreement with Palestinians. The warning is based on calls
for violence by Israeli settlers. Al Quds reports on its front page
that the Israeli government has decided to stop funding for
settlement outposts in the West Bank in response to increased
settler violence against the Israeli military.
Al Quds carries an article from the Israeli Haaretz newspaper
stating that Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak favors finalizing
a prisoners swap agreement with the PA before the end of this year.
According to the report, Barak fears an internal Palestinian crisis
that would hinder negotiations when Abbas's term in office ends.
All papers carry a report that the Arab League condemned Israeli
"aggression" and poor treatment of Palestinians and the destruction
of an Islamic graveyard in Jerusalem. In related reporting, all
papers report on Palestinian protests over closures in Hebron and
carry photographs of Palestinian children facing Israeli soldiers on
November 2 in a public protest to lift the Israeli closure on the
West Bank city of Hebron. On its inside pages, Al Quds reports that
Israel is preventing Palestinian doctors from entering Jerusalem to
work at their clinics.
Al Ayyam reports on its front page that Saudi security averted a
terrorist attack on Los Angeles when they arrested Al Qaeda leader
Ali Faqisi, also known as Abu Bakr.
In coverage of the U.S. presidential election, Al Quds reports on
its front page that a recent CNN poll shows Obama leading 7 points
over McCain in the US elections and publishes a proposed lists of
nominees in a potential Obama administration. The list names Robert
Zoellick as Secretary of State. Al Hayat Al Jadida's front page
reports that Americans fear an elections system shutdown due to
heavy voter turnout, citing a desire to avoid a repeat of the 2000
elections.
All papers report on a poll by Alpha International that 73 percent
of Palestinians living in the Palestinian Territories support the
dissolution of the Palestinian Legislative Council and new
parliamentary elections in 2009. If elections were held today, 48
percent would vote for Fatah and 12 percent for Hamas. Liekwise, 52
percent support holding new presidential elections and 52 percent
support negotiations with Israel. On ending the Palestinian-Israeli
conflict, 56 percent said that this could be accomplished through
JERUSALEM 00001986 002 OF 002
negotiations and 29 percent said its needs armed struggle.
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BLOCK QUOTES:
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1) In its main editorial "UN Responsibilty", Al Quds comments on
statements by Robert Serry, U.N. Middle East envoy, on the
demolition of Palestinian houses. It says: "with respect to the
stand expressed by the UN envoy on the [Israeli] house demolition
policy......it is time for the UN to work in cooperation with the
international community to implement thesQpositions and implement
the international legitimacy relevant to the Palestinian issue, so
that the UN role won't remain confined to the humanitarian role or
to simple criticism."
2) Columnist Hasan Al Batal editorializes in Al Ayyam under the
title "Time for an American change" that "if this young black man
[Obama] wins, despite demonization campaigns against him, the
American voter will finally be matured and select 'change' in
America after the [rest] of the world has changed. The first black
American for President and the first Presidential female candidate
and the first female Vice Presidential candidate, this is the
beginning of change ... It's not important in which direction the
wind of change will blow as winds usually change [direction]."
3) Columnist Talal Okal opines in Al Ayyam under the title "This
interest is strange" that the Arab media interest in the US
elections is odd. He asks: "Is there a change that we expect and
don't know, that can result from the victory of the Democratic
Barack Obama to replace George Bush the Republican?.....by
examination, we might not find any change except personal qualities
of the president, as Obama might add a human touch; as done by
Clinton eight years ago, but with no substantial change in
policies."
Walles
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