VZCZCXRO4366
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #1908 2930720
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 200720Z OCT 09
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6416
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 7903
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4878
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 4728
RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 6216
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 4647
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3239
UNCLAS JERUSALEM 001908
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 (10/20): Palestinians skeptical
about settlement freeze
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Main Stories:
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Al-Quds leads with news citing Israeli daily Ha'aretz on Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statement that the negotiations
between Israel and the US regarding settlement construction have
concluded, saying "we have solved the issue of settlements with the
US. If you want to know more, you can ask the US." Palestinian
Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas noted that he has not
received any information about such an agreement and clarified that
he won't trust what is published in the Israeli press, but rather he
will wait to hear from the US. Al-Ayyam quotes Palestinian
Liberation Organization Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat saying "If I
see a complete cessation of settlement activity in the Palestinian
territories, including East Jerusalem, then I would say there is a
US plan. As long as we don't see this, then there is no plan." In
related news, the dailies report that Erekat travelled to the US
yesterday to discuss ways to re-start the peace process.
The local press highlights news on Fatah Central Committee member
Muhammad Dahlan accusing Hamas of "being more dishonest than Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu." Dahlan said the Hamas
reservations on the Egyptian proposal are a "new lie" to evade
signing the agreement. Dahlan also accused Al-Jazeera of incitement.
Hamas newspaper Al-Resalah quotes legal experts stating that
President Abbas has no legal or legislative authority to issue a
decree for holding presidential and legislative elections, arguing
that he lost his presidential authority on January 9, 2009.
Al-Quds Hamas radio, airing from Gaza, reports on Secretary General
of the Hamas ministerial cabinet Mouhammad Awad denying news that
the Haniyeh government is facing a financial crisis. However, Awad
asked Arab and Muslim countries to support Hamas as it faces the
challenges and obstacles resulting from the siege.
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BLOCK QUOTES:
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1) Al-Quds independent daily runs an editorial under the title "What
agreement on settlement activity?" (10/20): "No doubt that there is
an agreement between Israel and the US regarding settlement activity
in light of the US reversing their position calling for a complete
settlement freeze. We have been watching the Israelis expand
settlements in Jerusalem and the West Bank without fearing
anything."
2) Rajabu Abu Sirriyeh opines in Al-Ayyam independent daily under
the title "The solution is through the elections" (10/20): "All the
Palestinian factions, except Hamas, will be in favor of holding the
presidential and legislative elections on time because they believe
that this will be the only way to end the current state of
division."
RUBINSTEIN