VZCZCXRO0175
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #0238 0410721
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 100721Z FEB 10
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7526
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 8080
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 5035
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 4879
RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 6367
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 4801
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3402
UNCLAS JERUSALEM 000238
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 (02/10): President Abbas asks the
US for clarification on the proposal to start indirect peace talks
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Main Stories:
-------------Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas is
quoted in PA official daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida responding to
journalists in Tokyo about the Palestinian position on the US
proposal to pursue talks with Israel by saying that the Palestinians
did not put preconditions on these talks but wanted clarification
from the Americans regarding this proposal. Abbas noted to
independent daily Al-Ayyam that he expects to receive a response
from Special Envoy George Mitchell within a week. Abbas is also
quoted in Al-Ayyam saying that the PA will implement a large
economic project on the Dead Sea that includes the establishment of
a new city with hotels and resorts.
In related news, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman noted
that indirect peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis will
start soon.
The dailies report on the second day of confrontations between
Palestinians and the IDF in Shufat refugee camp in East Jerusalem.
The dailies also report on dozens of settlers attacking residents in
the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem yesterday under
full protection of the Israel police.
The dailies front page news on PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad
opening the Popular Conference for Supporting Bedouins in the Jordan
Valley yesterday. Fayyad stressed that the Jordan Valley and all of
Area C, as well as East Jerusalem, are integral parts of the
Palestinian lands that were occupied in 1967. He also stated that
the Jordan Valley constituted the eastern borders of an independent
Palestinian state.
Independent daily Al-Quds runs a report citing the Saudi journal
"Al-Madina" that a well informed Egyptian source expects the
Palestinian national reconciliation agreement to be signed this
month. The source noted that the visit of Nabil Shaath to Gaza
positively contributed to bridging the gaps between Hamas and Fatah
regarding the reconciliation.
Independent daily Al-Quds front pages news on protests at the
University of California on Monday against the visit of Israeli
Ambassador Michel Oren to the university. More than 700 students
protested on the university campus and condemned Israeli measures
against the Palestinians.
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BLOCK QUOTE:
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Al-Quds runs an editorial under the title "Abu Mazen and
Fayyad...The Two Politicians Who Embarrassed Israel" which urges
Israeli officials to take advantage of having Abu Mazen and Fayyad
as the Palestinian leadership at this stage and reach a peace
agreement with them. The author praises the efforts of President
Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad to establish an independent
Palestinian state. The editorial also accuses Israel of not having
any real intention to achieve peace with the Palestinians.
RUBINSTEIN