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Cablegate: Jerusalem Media Reaction (08/26): Prime Minister Outlines

Published: Wed 26 Aug 2009 09:59 AM
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TAGS: PREL KMDR KPAL KWBG KPAO IS
SUBJECT: JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (08/26): Prime Minister outlines
the path to statehood
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Main Stories:
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All front pages report on Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam
Fayyad announcing in a press conference in Ramallah on August 25 the
government's plan for ending the occupation and building an
independent Palestinian state in the next two years. The program
included Fayyad's vision for building strong institutions that are
capable of fulfilling the people's needs. He called on the
international community to help end the occupation so that this
vision can be implemented. Fayyad also said that legislative and
presidential elections should take place in January 2010 as
scheduled. Fayyad is quoted in all dailies saying "we will not
accept that the transitional period lasts forever and will announce
the establishment of our state whatever the obstacles."
Al-Ayyam runs front page news citing Maan and quoting senior US
officials saying that Israel and the US are very close to reaching
an agreement concerning a freeze in settlement construction in the
West Bank. A senior US official is quoted in Israeli daily Haaretz
saying "we stated right from the outset what we want regarding the
settlements, and we are getting close to getting this from Israel."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's August 25 meeting with
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in London receives front page
coverage in the local press. Netanyahu is reported as saying that he
will not accept limits on sovereignty over Jerusalem and reiterated
that he would not halt settlement construction in East Jerusalem.
Netanyahu reportedly stated, "Jerusalem is not a settlement. It is
the sovereign capital of the State of Israel. We have been building
in Jerusalem for 3,000 years."
Al-Quds runs front page news that Egypt has postponed the national
dialogue originally scheduled for August 25 until after Ramadan due
to the lack of consensus between Hamas and Fatah on several issues.
Hamas and Fatah continue to trade blame regarding the fate of
political prisoners, and also disagree about the date for the
upcoming presidential and legislative elections.-------------
BLOCK QUOTES:
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1) Al-Quds independent daily runs an editorial under the title,
"Netanyahu-Mitchell meeting is only an Israel step to gain more
time" (08/26): "Netanyahu's first and last concern is to continue
settlement construction regardless of any other statements that he
makes ... We hope that the US understands this and is firm with him.
We hope that Mitchell conveys a clear message that Jerusalem is
occupied territory and the settlements are illegal and must stop".
2) Hamada Farana opines in Al-Ayyam independent daily under the
headline "Fatah's conference and Salam Fayyad's government" (08/26):
"Salam Fayyad has a national program that addresses security,
development, policy, and the economy. He is no longer a planner or
an accountant, but is highly professional and highly credible, the
characteristics that have gained him the trust of the international
community ... His words about establishing an independent
Palestinian state emerge from his beliefs that national unity must
eventually triumph over any conflicts."
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