Cablegate: Jerusalem Media Reaction (02/01): Settlement-Related

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STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA, NEA/PPD
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE, SIT ROOM
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CMC WASHINGTON DC FOR POLAD

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LONDON FOR HKANONA AND POL - TSOU
PARIS ALSO FOR POL
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TAGS: PREL KMDR KPAL KWBG KPAO IS

SUBJECT: JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (02/01): Settlement-related
stories dominate the local press for the past three days

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Main Stories:
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The dailies run front page stories on today's laying of the
"foundation stone" for new houses in a settlement south of Hebron.
The dailies quote Hebron mayor Al-Aaraj warning of an outbreak in
violence if the Israeli government continues its settlement
activities. Al-Ayyam and Al-Quds report on their front pages that
Israeli forces are planning to re-occupy the "Osh Al-Ghorab" area in
Beit Sahour. The IDF evacuated their military base from that area in
2006. Al-Quds reports that settlers welcome this step, hoping that
they can turn it into a settlement post.

The dailies highlight Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud
Abbas' visit to Berlin. A headline in Al-Quds quotes Abbas saying
that there will be no negotiations with Israel before a complete
freeze of all settlement activities. In a separete headline, Abbas
is quoted in an interview with The Guardian saying that the
continuation of settlement activities will result in a one state
solution.

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Weekend stories:
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Sunday, January 31:

Al-Quds runs a front page story reporting on the article that
appeared in Time Magazine about the future of the peace process. The
story reports that experts believe that the prospects of a two-state
solution are declining and Palestinians' confidence in realizing
peace is vanishing.

Al-Quds runs a separate front page story quoting Hatem Abdel Qader,
the Fatah official responsible for Jerusalem affairs saying that the
Israeli Parks Authority will confiscate 1000 dunums of land south of
the Isawiyyeh neighbourhood in East Jerusalem to create a new
national park. The plan includes demolishing dozens of homes and 250
residential units. Residents have been working on a plan to expand
the neighbourhood for a few years due to natural growth and the
hundreds of families who moved to Issawiyyeh over the past few years
due to the construction of the separation wall. Abdel Qader said
that the Israeli plan fails to take this into consideration.

Saturday, January 30

The local press highlight and the three dailies run front page
stories on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying
yesterday that the Ariel settlement "will remain forever an integral
part of the state of Israel and of Eretz Israel." Netanyahu added
"we want to enhance peace and cooperation with our neighbours but
this should not prevent us from living here and continuing to plant
and build our lands. We are here in the heart of our country. Our
forefathers lived here and we will continue to live here." Netanyahu
made similar pledges and statements during his visits to the Gush
Etzion settlement near Bethlehem and Ma'ale Adumim settlement east
of Jerusalem.

Al-Quds and Al-Ayyam run front page stories on the Jerusalem
Municipality's local committee for zoning and construction approving
a plan to transform 660 dunums of land in the Isawiyyeh
neighbourhood of East Jerusalem into a national park. This step will

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deprive the town of any possibilities for future expansion on its
land, even though part of this approved land had previously been
approved for expanding the Arab town, according to reports first
published by the Israeli weekly Yerushalayym. The report added, "By
approving the transformation of 660 dunums of lands at the slopes of
Mount Scopus into a national park, part of which were set for
expanding the Palestinian town, the committee proved that there is
nothing better than using archaeological sites as a pretext for
realizing political objectives and realities on the ground."

Al-Ayyam runs a front page story on Israeli sources confirming that
Prime Minister Netanyahu agreed to a proposal made by Special Envoy
George Mitchell whereby initial negotiations between the Israelis
and Palestinians to be indirect, similar to those Turkey has
conducted between Israel and Syria. The sources added "the proposal
is for Mitchell to move back and forth between Jerusalem and
Ramallah, conveying messages regarding the positions of both parties
regarding the final status core issues. Following that, low-level
negotiations may start to test whether or not it would be possible
to move to the comprehensive mode of negotiations with the two
leaders." According to the same sources, Mitchell made the same
suggestion to President Abbas, who has not yet responded.

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BLOCK QUOTE:
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Talal Okal opines in Al-Ayyam under the title "The Priority of
Politics on Ground" saying, "The operation executed by Mosad agents
in a Dubai hotel against Al-Qassam 'struggler and leader' Mahmoud
Al-Mabhooh is starting to reveal itself slowly...The timing is
important. If Israel wanted calm it wouldn't have executed the
operation. It's clear that Israel is trying to lure reactions from
Hamas and other Palestinian groups in its efforts to create an
excuse to launch new wars."

RUBINSTEIN

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