VZCZCXRO7494
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #2276 3500809
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 160809Z DEC 09
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7013
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 8006
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4973
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 4823
RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 6311
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 4742
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3346
UNCLAS JERUSALEM 002276
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 (12/16): President Abbas
reiterates that the PA will not return to negotiations without a
complete cessation of settlement activity
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Main Stories:
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PLO Central Council Meeting
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The three dailies lead with news on the opening session of the PLO
Central Council Meeting in Ramallah yesterday. Palestinian Authority
(PA) President Mahmoud Abbas is quoted saying that he won't run for
re-election and accused Hamas of obstructing national reconciliation
efforts by not signing the Egyptian proposal. He reiterated that the
Palestinians will not resume negotiations with the Israelis without
a complete cessation in settlement activity. Abbas also stated that
the PA will not accept a Palestinian state with temporary borders,
and noted that they will seek a UNSC resolution that recognizes the
1967 borders as the borders of the Palestinian state.
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Khaled Misha'l in Iran:
-----------------------
PA official daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida and independent Al-Ayyam front
page news on the head of the Hamas Political Bureau Khaled Mishal's
visit to Iran yesterday. During a press conference in Tehran, Mishal
noted that the release of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit
will be achieved only when Israel agrees to Hamas conditions
regarding the deal, and is quoted saying "If Netanyahu and Israeli
officials don't agree to our conditions, they will not see Shalit
again."
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Arrest Warrant Against Tzipi Livni
---------------------------------
The dailies continue to report on the arrest warrant issued by a
British court against former Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni
for her involvement in Israel's assault on Gaza last winter.
Independent daily Al-Ayyam front pages news citing AFP that Israel
will not let Britain play a key role in the peace process unless the
latter takes appropriate measures to prevent such warrants against
Israeli officials. According to independent news outlet Maan, a
statement was released by the Israeli Foreign Ministry stating that
"Israel rejects the cynical legal move made in the British court
against the Head of the Opposition, MK Tzipi Livni, at the behest of
radical elements."
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BLOCK QUOTES:
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Hani Habib writing in Al-Ayyam under the title "The Central Council
Restores its Role" opines that "President Abbas did not present
anything new in the PLO Central Council meeting and nothing has
changed in the Palestinian position regarding negotiations or
elections ... However, what is new is that the PLO bodies are
reclaiming their role, which was taken from them for many years."
RUBINSTEIN