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Cablegate: Jerusalem Media Reaction (11/6): Palestinians Disappointed

Published: Fri 6 Nov 2009 07:19 AM
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TAGS: PREL KMDR KPAL KWBG KPAO IS
SUBJECT: JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (11/6): Palestinians disappointed
in President Abbas's announcement that he will not run in the next
presidential elections
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Main Stories:
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The three dailies lead with news on Palestinian Authority President
Mahmoud Abbas's speech last night announcing that he will not run in
the next presidential election. A headline in Al-Quds quotes Abbas
saying "We were surprised to see the US favoring the Israeli
position- it's time to put an end to the longest misery in our
modern history." Al-Quds and Al-Ayyam front page news on the White
House reaction to Abbas's statements, saying "President Abbas has
always been a real partner" to the US.
Al-Quds runs separate front page coverage on the Palestinian
Liberation Organization (PLO) Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat
reiterating that Abbas's position is not a ploy or negotiating
tactic. He stated that Abbas believes that "It is hard to coexist
with the settlements and Israeli measures in Jerusalem."
The three dailies report on large marches that took place in West
Bank cities after Abbas's announcement to urge him to change his
position and consider running. The coverage also notes that the PLO
Central Committee and Executive Committee members stressed that
Abbas remains the sole candidate for president.
Al-Ayyam front pages news on Fatah Foreign Affairs Commissioner
Nabil Shaath noting that the US retreat on its policy regarding
settlement activity has created a "serious political crisis."
Hamas newspaper Al-Resalah reports that the US is not worried that
Abbas will not run in the next election, saying that they would
prefer someone like PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad or Fatah leader
Mohammed Dahlan. The report notes that US officials held strategic
meetings with Fayyad and Dahlan at the White House to explore this
possibility.
The UN General Assembly's endorsement of a resolution that calls on
the Palestinians and Israelis to conduct "credible" investigations
regarding the allegations of war crimes during the last conflict in
Gaza received coverage in all three dailies. The report notes that
the US voted against the resolution.
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BLOCK QUOTES:
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Al-Quds independent daily runs an editorial under the title "Abu
Mazen's Message..." (11/6): "President Abbas is extremely
disappointed in the change in President Obama's position and the US
adoption of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's position regarding
the situation... The only thing that may make Abu Mazen change his
mind is to achieve real progress in the peace process and to see the
US impose greater pressure on Israel regarding settlements and
Jerusalem."
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Cartoons of the week:
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This cartoon appeared in Al-Quds on November 4. Prime Minister
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Netanyahu thinks about the US proposal for negotiations without
preconditions, which allows for the construction of 3000 new
settlement units, natural growth, demolishing homes in Beit Hanina,
and evacuating residents from the their homes in Sheikh Jarrah.
This cartoon appeared in Al-Ayyam on November 2. Prime Minister
Netanyahu appears driving a bulldozer to represent continued
settlement construction, while President Obama is saying he can't do
anything to stop it.
RUBINSTEIN
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