ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 TEL AVIV 001548

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA, NEA/PPD

WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE, SIT ROOM
NSC FOR NEA STAFF

JERUSALEM ALSO FOR ICD
LONDON ALSO FOR HKANONA AND POL
PARIS ALSO FOR POL
ROME FOR MFO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: IS KMDR MEDIA REACTION REPORT
SUBJECT: ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION


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SUBJECTS COVERED IN THIS REPORT:
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Mideast

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Key stories in the media:
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All media reported that following a meeting with
Jordan's King Abdullah II at the White House on
Tuesday, President Bush reiterated his call on Israel
to cease settlement construction and to enable the
creation of a Palestinian state, saying both parties
must make concessions. Bush reiterated the United
States' belief that Hizbullah is a terrorist
organization, and voiced his hope that "Hizbullah would
prove that they are not by laying down arms and not
threatening peace." The President said that he and the
King had discussed the concern that Hizbullah may try
to derail the peace process between Israel and the
Palestinians.

Israel Radio reported that the PA will assume security
control of Jericho and the adjacent village of Uja
today, as only one of three roadblocks around the city
will be under Palestinian control, and the Jordan
Valley highway will continue to be under Israel's
responsibility. The station quoted a senior
Palestinian official as saying that PA Chairman Mahmoud
Abbas had been misinformed about Israel's agreement to
the release of PFLP leader Ahmed Sa'adat, who was
behind the assassination of cabinet minister Rehavam
Zeevi. Jerusalem Post reported that such a release
might have jeopardized the move. Israel Radio quoted
chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat as saying that
the PA would continue to demand the release of both men
as part as the freeing of Palestinian prisoners.
Ha'aretz reported that an unnamed senior Palestinian
security official told a group of activists from the
military wing of Fatah that they could either give up
their weapons and go home after the Israeli withdrawal
from West Bank cities, or they could join the
Palestinian security services.

Maariv cited the defense establishment's concern that
settlers could set up a new outpost following the
evacuation of each settlement. Leading media reported
that on Tuesday, the police thwarted an attempt to
block the Tel Avid-Jerusalem highway during the visit
of foreign dignitaries to Yad Vashem.

All media reported on last night's inauguration of the
new Holocaust museum at Yad Vashem, during which world
leaders pledged to fight anti-Semitism. Jerusalem Post
noted the conspicuous absence of Arab leaders or PA
representatives at the event. Maariv reported that the
first Holocaust museum in the world for the Arab public
was inaugurated Tuesday in Nazareth, the result of a
private initiative by two residents of the Israeli Arab
town of Umm el-Fahm, who head the Arab Institute For
the Holocaust Research and Education. The institute
printed a booklet about the Holocaust in Arabic, which
is distributed in schools in Israel and the territories
and will be given out to Palestinians who pass through
the Jenin roadblock. Maariv quoted Attorney Khaled
Mahmeed, who conceived the idea of the museum, as
saying: "The Palestinian people paid the price for the
Jewish Holocaust in that they became the refugees and
remained without a country. The fact that Jews were
murdered in Germany led to Palestinians not having a
state." Mahmeed added: "As a result of their lack of
knowledge, the Arabs and Palestinians deny the
Holocaust." The Nazareth Holocaust museum site in
Arabic is www.alkaritha.org.

Israel Radio reported that an Israeli civilian was
lightly wounded Tuesday night in a shooting attack in
Hebron. Ha'aretz web site reported that IDF troops
operating near Jenin before dawn today arrested two
Palestinians carrying submachine guns, and that two
wanted Palestinians were also arrested near Ramallah.

Leading media reported that on Tuesday, the IDF
permitted four Palestinians expelled to the Gaza Strip
to the Gaza Strip several years ago of their role in
terrorism to return to their West Bank to return to
their West Bank homes on Tuesday.

Gen. Antoine Lahad, the commander of the disbanded
South Lebanon Army (SLA),who was sentenced to death in
absentia in Lebanon, was quoted as saying in an
interview with Maariv's Internet edition Tuesday that
he is prepared to return to his country if current
changes there eventually bring about the full
withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon.

Ha'aretz reported that on Tuesday, the family of Rachel
Corrie, a pro-Palestinian activist killed by an IDF
bulldozer in Rafah two years ago, filed a lawsuit in
the Haifa District Court against the State of Israel
and the IDF.

Maariv reported that the U.S. army is pleased with the
performance of Israeli-made protection devices
installed on armored personnel carriers used in Iraq.

Yediot reported that Iran's new ambassador to the UK
Mohammad Hossein Adeli has recently met and shaken
hands with an Israeli diplomat serving in London.

Hatzofe reported that on Tuesday, visiting New York
City Mayor Michael Bloomberg invited Jerusalem Mayor
Uri Lupolianski to a "We Love Jerusalem" event in New
York.

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Mideast:
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Summary:
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Nationalist, Orthodox Hatzofe editorialized: "The
demonstration of right-wing activists at the Ayalon
freeway on Monday, which included burning tires and
subsequently blocking this important traffic artery,
does not serve the residents of the Katif Bloc and does
not contribute to strengthening public opinion against
the disengagement plan."

Arab affairs commentator Danny Rubinstein wrote in
independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz: "Even Abbas has
been heard saying lately that he is not afraid of Hamas
winning the elections. So, there's no chance the
current PA government will send its security forces in
to clash with Hamas and forcibly disarm it."


Conservative columnist Yosef Harif wrote in popular,
pluralist Maariv: "Bush must explain to Abu Mazen ...
that he cannot expect to satisfy all his wishes."

Palestinian affairs correspondent and far-left
Palestinian sympathizer Amira Hass opined in Ha'aretz:
"Our murdered relatives are being enlisted to enable
Israel to continue not giving a damn about
international decisions against the occupation."

Block Quotes:
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I. "Harmful Demonstration"

Nationalist, Orthodox Hatzofe editorialized (March 16):
"The demonstration of right-wing activists at the
Ayalon freeway on Monday, which included burning tires
and subsequently blocking this important traffic
artery, does not serve the residents of the Katif Bloc
and does not contribute to strengthening public opinion
against the disengagement plan. The Settlers Council
did well to voice disapproval of this demonstration,
which only caused harm and did not add even a single
supporter to the ranks of those who oppose
disengagement.... No one would be surprised if an
investigation were to show that demonstrations of this
sort are initiated by various provocateurs, in order to
elicit anger and hatred towards the residents of the
Katif Bloc and sympathy for the disengagement plan....
As the date of the implementation of the mad
disengagement plan approaches, the Settlers Council
must ensure that no uncontrolled and irresponsible acts
are carried out. The residents of the Katif Bloc have
the right to demand that people do not demonstrate on
their behalf without their consent as to the nature of
the demonstration. Only this way will it be possible
to neutralize the provocateurs and agents of the Israel
Police and GSS, who are liable to go far in their wild
acts."



II. "Hamas Is Feeling Its Strength"

Arab affairs commentator Danny Rubinstein wrote in
independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz (March 16): "The
prevailing wisdom in East Jerusalem nowadays among
merchants, teachers and professionals is that they feel
the Palestinian public is angry at Fatah's activists
who have not been serving the public but rather handing
out perks to cronies. The way to punish Fatah, they
say, is by voting Hamas. Thus, the party's popularity
is not because of its anti-Israel policies, but rather
the result of disgust with Fatah corruption.
Apparently, the feeling that Hamas is going to succeed
in the elections has also taken hold in the Palestinian
leadership, and even Abbas has been heard saying lately
that he is not afraid of Hamas winning the elections.
So, there's no chance the current PA government will
send its security forces in to clash with Hamas and
forcibly disarm it."

III. "Road Map to Perdition"

Conservative columnist Yosef Harif wrote in popular,
pluralist Maariv (March 16): "The feeling that it will
be easier to achieve peace in the Abu Mazen era
undoubtedly results from the man's style.... What can
also be observed is a change in the atmosphere around
him, and the fact that he is not surrounded by toadies.
However, as far as substance is concerned, there hardly
is any difference between him and his predecessor....
Peace in the Abu Mazen era is only possible if
President Bush can instill in the Palestinian leader
the realization that concessions cannot be expected
only from one side, as President Lyndon Johnson did in
his time. This happened during a meeting between
Johnson and [Jordan's late] King Hussein, after the Six
Day-War.... Johnson told [King Hussein]: 'You must
acknowledge the fact that you will no longer have what
you had'. If Abu Mazen truly and sincerely wants
peace, he must accept Sharon's advice to 'yield part of
his dreams.' As to President Bush, who can see that
Sharon is indeed making painful concessions, and that
he is likely to make further concessions -- Bush must
explain to Abu Mazen, in the spirit of President
Johnson, that he cannot expect to satisfy all his
wishes. Prime Minister [Ariel Sharon] has no choice
but to adhere to the road map, but at the same time he
must insist on the 14 reservations raised by the
government when it accepted the plan."
IV. "Using the Holocaust to Ward Off Criticism"

Palestinian affairs correspondent and far-left
Palestinian sympathizer Amira Hass opined in Ha'aretz
(March 16): "The crowd of world leaders visiting the
new Holocaust History Museum at Yad Vashem attests to
the strength of Israel's position in the West.... The
pilgrimage to Jerusalem of so many European leaders
shows that they are not deterred by the criticism of
Israel -- they are taking part in a media event that
can only be interpreted as support for Israel, as it is
today.... This widely covered event shows that Israel
has turned the liquidation of Europe's Jews into an
asset. Our murdered relatives are being enlisted to
enable Israel to continue not giving a damn about
international decisions against the occupation. The
suffering our parents endured in the ghettoes and
concentration camps that filled Europe, the physical
and mental anguish and torment that our parents were
subjected to every single day since the 'liberation,'
are used as weapons to thwart any international
criticism of the society we are creating here. This is
a society with built-in discrimination on the basis of
nationality, and the discrimination is spreading on
either side of the Green Line. This is a society that
is systematically continuing to banish the Palestinian
nation from its land and usurp its rights as a nation
and its chances for a humane future."

KURTZER