Cablegate: Jerusalem Media Reaction (03/13): Palestinians Call On

VZCZCXRO8408
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #0461/01 0720740
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 130740Z MAR 09
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4361
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 7583
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4568
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 4416
RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 5910
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 4332
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2906

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000461

SIPDIS

STATE PASS BBG
STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA, NEA/PPD
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE, SIT ROOM
NSC
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 (03/13): PALESTINIANS CALL ON
"FACTIONS" TO ACT IN CITIZENS' INTEREST

-------------
Main Stories:
-------------
The three dailies lead with "Palestinian dialogue" in Cairo but
differ in their assessments of progress being made in talks. Al
Quds reports that the five dialogue committees have made significant
progress and will continue meetings on March 12. The paper further
quotes "informed sources" revealing that remaining differences will
likely require a few more days of dialogue, despite efforts by the
five dialogue and Higher Steering and Oversight committees. The
paper also notes that Hamas leaders in Israeli detention welcomed
the release by Palestinian Authority (PA) security services of 35
Hamas prisoners in the West Bank as a gesture of good will. Al
Ayyam and Al Hayat Al Jadida, however, reveal that the "marathon
dialogue" faces "real difficulties" and "obstacles" regarding the
"government platform and elections." Meanwhile, Egypt is working
hard to move factions towards a speedy agreement, the papers report.
Al Ayyam quotes "sources participating in the dialogue" including
Azam Al Ahmad of Fatah, confirming that it is difficult to speak of
a breakthrough, as things are not progressing. The sources add that
Fatah is demanding a "non-factional government" that would abide by
PLO commitments, whereas, Hamas wants a "factional government" with
the same platform as the unity government formed after the Mecca
agreement in 2007. Further, Hamas has reservations about
presidential and legislative elections in January, and would
consider postponing elections in return for an extension of PA
President Abbas' term, according to coverage.
The three papers front page a report, citing Israeli daily Yedeot
Aharanot, that Israel has returned hundreds of confiscated arms to
the Palestinian Authority police, following Secretary Clinton's
visit. The report quotes an Israeli source stating that the timing
of the return of arms taken during operation Defense Shield in 2002
was not a coincidence.

Al Quds' front page cites AFP in reporting that President Obama has
banned the export of cluster bombs, "a weapon that harms
civilians."
Al Quds and Al Hayat Al Jadida report on inside pages about the
visit of a U.S. Consulate General, Jerusalem delegation to the
Nablus Chamber of Commerce on March 12. The delegation included
members from the economic team and USAID-funded Palestinian Trade
Facilitation Project. Chamber head Basil Kanaan praised the
positive results of Palestinian Authority district law enforcement
in creating a security environment that allowed exports to increase
and unemployment to drop, despite Israeli restrictions on movement
of people and goods, "hampering normal life in the city."
Al Ayyam runs an inside report on a U.S. Consulate General,
Jerusalem visit to a Janin refugee camp on March 12. The report
notes that it was the first visit of its kind to the camp, and that
the delegation included the Consulate's regional coordinator for
refugees affairs, coordinator for MEPI. Senior UNRWA officials also
accompanied the group, according to reporting. The delegation
toured the camp and announced funding for the camp's health center
and plans to strengthen camp infrastructure and implement youth
programs in the near future.
Al Quds runs front page coverage of a Palestinian Authority cabinet
report stating that last month, Israeli military forces carried out
877 incursions into the West Bank and Gaza and, "continued human
rights violations, including violations that can be classified as
war crimes under international humanitarian law."
All papers provide front page coverage of the trial of an Israeli
who killed a Palestinian taxi driver and confessed in court that he
killed him, "just like I would kill an animal since Arabs don't have
souls like humans." The court ruled that the perpetrator is not

JERUSALEM 00000461 002 OF 002

mentally fit for trial and placed him in psychiatric care. The
papers voice popular anger over the ruling and quote Arab Knesset
members Sani and Sarsur and other Palestinian Jerusalemites,
referring to the ruling as, "expected, the usual, and
racist."--------------
BLOCK QUOTES:
--------------

1) Independent daily Al Quds' editorial is titled, "We need
agreement on a truce in Gaza" (03/13): "[Palestinian] factions
should act out of a sense of commitment to the interests of all
citizens, shielding decisions from time pressures, improvisation and
miscalculations. The [Gaza]truce is a top demand of Palestinians in
general and of Gazans in particular."
2) Mohamad Yaghi opines in independent daily Al Ayyam under the
title, "Cairo Dialogue: Reality moves everyone forward"(03/13):
"[An Israeli government led by] Netanyahu highlights the paramount
importance of Palestinian unity, even if it means that Arab states
must force Palestinians to unite. Arabs will... find it difficult
to assert that peace is possible or that their initiative is still
relevant unless there is effective American pressure on Israel.
Such pressure will only be exerted if Palestinians resolve their
internal issues... the peace process has been moving in circles
without result, but at least it's still moving..."

WALLES

© Scoop Media