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O 020736Z OCT 09
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6194
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
RHMFIUU/CNO WASHINGTON DC//POLAD//
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 7878
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4850
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 4700
RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 6191
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 4617
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3205
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 001758
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 (10/02): Palestinians believe the
international community needs to remain strong against Israeli
positions
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Main Stories:
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News on the US-Iranian talks in Geneva receives front page coverage
in the local dailies. The reports quote President Obama calling the
first official meeting between the US and Iranian officials in more
than 30 years "constructive," but urged Iran to follow this with
tangible actions on the ground. In related news, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida
posts a report citing Reuters that the Israeli government will
reconsider its policy on Iran in light of yesterday's meeting.
The local press highlights news on the national reconciliation
efforts. Jibril Al-Rjoub, Vice Secretary of the Palestinian
Liberation Organization Central Committee, noted that Egypt will
extend invitations to Fatah, Hamas and the other Palestinian
factions for the reconciliation agreement signing ceremony scheduled
for October 22. The report notes that Egypt will revise their plan
based on the Palestinian factions' feedback, finalizing it this
week.
News on the release of 20 Palestinian female prisoners from Israeli
jails today also receives prominent coverage in the dailies. The
reports note that the Palestinian Authority (PA) Minister of
Prisoners Affairs Issa Qaraqe' will welcome the released prisoners
at the Ofer checkpoint in Ramallah. The reports also note that the
Israeli Supreme Court rejected an appeal by an extremist Jewish
organization to stop the release.
Al-Ayyam carries front pages news quoting PA presidency spokesperson
Nabil Abu Rudeina saying that the gap between the Palestinian and
Israeli positions is huge. Abu Rudeina also noted that any more
delays to end the conflict will result in negative consequences for
the entire region.
Israeli reactions to the Goldstone report still receive prominent
coverage in the Palestinian press. The reports quote Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urging the UN not to refer the report to
the Security Council, saying that this step would have negative
implications on the peace process.
The dailies report that the Israeli authorities have imposed a
strict closure on the West Bank starting October 1 in observance of
the Jewish holiday Succoth. The closure will remain in effect until
October 10.
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BLOCK QUOTES:
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1) Al-Quds Editorial states under the title "The Arab and
International Silence towards Israeli Stubbornness" (10/02): "Modern
history has not witnessed a similar case where a state occupies the
land of another people and continues its occupation for more than
four decades ... Obama, the EU, Russia and all the powers that
believe in justice and peace should stand courageously to achieve
it. The Palestinians who chose peace as a way to achieve their goals
expect more from the Arab states and the international community
than just statements and remarks that don't change Israeli
positions."
2) Sameeh Shbeeb opines in Al Ayyam independent daily under
the headline "Negotiations and Settlements" (10/02):"The
Palestinians are disappointed. After fighting a battle to halt
JERUSALEM 00001758 002 OF 002
settlement activities as a necessary condition to return to
negotiations, they [Palestinians] believe that the American retreat
has weakened their position in a clear political battle ... what
happened in the battle to halt settlement activities is a repeat of
the previous American administrations that started out opposing
Israeli policies, but at the end of the day changed to agree with
the Israeli positions."
RUBINSTEIN