VZCZCXRO7553
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #0303/01 0500934
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 190934Z FEB 10
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7623
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 8088
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 5045
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 4887
RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 6375
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 4809
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3410
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000303
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 (02/19): Dubai police believe
Mossad was involved in the murder of Hamas leader Mahmoud
Al-Mabhouh
-------------
Main Stories:
-------------
For the fourth consecutive day, the local Palestinian press leads
with news on the developments in the assassination of Hamas leader
Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh in Dubai. Al-Ayyam and Al-Hayat Al-Jadida report
on Interpol placing 11 suspects on its most wanted list. The
international police agency says it has issued red notices, its
highest-level alert, to its member countries worldwide for "11
internationally wanted individuals who have been charged by
UAE-Dubai authorities with coordinating and committing the murder."
Leading headlines also note that Dubai police authorities are almost
certain that the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad was involved in
the murder. According to reports, four European countries have
requested explanations from Israel regarding these accusations.
Al-Ayyam quotes the head of the Dubai police saying in an interview
with Dubai TV that he will request the arrest of the Mossad Chief if
it is proven that the organization was involved in the murder.
The three dailies front page news on Palestinian Authority (PA)
Prime Minister Salam Fayyad inaugurating a number of development and
infrastructure projects in the Jenin Governorate in the northern
West Bank yesterday. Fayyad is quoted stressing that the PA's
comprehensive development plan is part of the effort to build an
independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Fayyad also reiterated that the Palestinians will pursue building
their state in all of "Palestine" including the Old City of
Jerusalem.
The dailies report that PA President Mahmoud Abbas met with UNRWA
Commissioner-General Filippo Grandi to discuss ways to support the
UNRWA budget. Grandi is quoted reiterating after his visit to
Lebanon that peace will not be achieved in the region without a just
and fair solution to the Palestinian refugees' case.
Al-Quds leads with news that the Israeli government intends to
launch a new settlement plan that includes building 60 housing units
in the Beit-Hanina neighborhood in East Jerusalem. Al-Quds also
reports that the Israeli authorities demolished 3 Palestinian houses
in Gaza yesterday. Additionally, the reports note that Israel gave
notices to citizens of Barta' Al-Sharqiyeh in Jenin yesterday to
demolish 8 houses due to the lack of appropriate building permits.
------------
BLOCK QUOTE:
------------
Under the title "Development Effort under the Pressure of
Occupation" Al-Quds runs an editorial outlining the Palestinian
Authority's efforts to build the Palestinian state and its
institutions. However, the writer argues that unless the economic
and development projects are coupled with ending the occupation and
real settlement restrictions, the Palestinian development will stop
and Palestinians will be frustrated.
-----------------------
Palestinian Cyberspace:
-----------------------
Palestinian cyberspace focused all week on the updates surrounding
the assassination of Hamas leader Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh in Dubai.
Lina Al-Sharif from Gaza blogged under the title "Not All Red in
Gaza is for Blood" saying: "We can all agree that celebrating
JERUSALEM 00000303 002 OF 002
Valentine's Day in Gaza is an act of defiance. In Gaza, though it is
a besieged, war-torn territory, you can always find something
life-affirming and reflecting the will to live."
A video of girls from Gaza "getting past trauma" by playing soccer
was circulated on many Palestinian social media cites.
RUBINSTEIN