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DE RUEHJM #0269/01 0430950
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 120950Z FEB 10
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7569
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 8082
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 5037
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 4881
RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 6369
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 4803
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3404
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000269
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 (02/12): Israeli air raids on the
Gaza strip kill 2 people, injure 3 children
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Main Stories:
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The dailies run front page news on Israeli air raids on the Gaza
Strip. Reports note that 2 people died and 3 children were wounded.
Al-Quds leads with a headline saying "Israeli forces escalate
violence" (in Gaza). Within these stories, the dailies report on
settlers "invading" Eastern Nablus to visit Joseph's Tomb and their
attack on Haj Mazooz Girls' School, breaking windows, doors and
water pipes.
The dailies report that Nabil Sha'ath concluded his visit to Gaza by
meeting with Egyptian officials to discuss the results of his
meetings with Hamas leaders. It is reported that he also discussed
this with US and European ambassadors. Sha'ath is quoted saying that
Egypt is comfortable with the results of his trip and that there
will be no new dialogue before Hamas signs the Egyptian
reconciliation plan.
Al-Quds reports that the U.S. is looking into moving some of its
military equipment and weapons from Iraq to Israel. The headline of
the story says that the equipment and weapons are worth $800 million
and that the Israeli army could use them in the case of an
emergency.
Al-Quds also reports that Iran will produce the first package of
highly-enriched uranium. The headline quotes Iranian President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad saying that "Obama is missing chances and
serving Israel's interests."
The dailies report that Israel started re-routing part of the
separation barrier's route in the village of Bil'in in the West
Bank. In related news, Al-Ayyam continues to report on the
re-occupation of the Oush Al-Ghorab area in Beit Sahour. The
headline claims that the IDF will confiscate 400 dunums of land.
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BLOCK QUOTE:
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Firas Yaghi opines on Ma'an under the title "Policy of the Extortion
Negotiations" saying: "It is clear that the Israeli-Palestinian
negotiations have been exhausted. Resuming negotiations will not
change anything, because what was agreed on before was not executed
in the first place. Talks should start under the auspices of the
Arab League...and the Arab peace initiative. Palestine is a member
of the Arab League and its case is central for Arabs. Whoever wants
peace has to achieve it with all the Arab states... The Arab League
is responsible for negotiations."
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Palestinian Cyberspace:
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In her report on Obama banners in the Gaza streets posted on
Palestinenote.com (about banners hung throughout Gaza by the BBC
asking what President Obama has accomplished in his first year),
Mariam Hamed says: "President Obama has talked endlessly about
Palestine, and yet nothing has been done. Words must be followed by
actions, and the people of Gaza want results from Obama. Still
Gazans have hope of achieving something this year and ask the world
a question: When will we have peace, and when will we have a state?
Hopefully this is a question Obama will answer."
JERUSALEM 00000269 002 OF 002
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Cartoon of the week:
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The cartoon appeared in Al-Hayat Al-Jadida on February 8. In the top
right corner it says "peace train" and depicts the Israeli
government driving the train carrying settlements.
RUBINSTEIN