ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 TEL AVIV 001840 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 -------------- SUBJECTS COVERED IN THIS REPORT: -------------- Mideast -------------- Key stories in the media: -------------- In Yediot's lead story, Shimon Shiffer cited "undiplomatic" remarks reportedly made by U.S. Ambassador Daniel Kurtzer several days ago at a closed meeting with Foreign Ministry cadets, that the Israeli government will not last beyond the disengagement move. (Israel Radio reported that the government would not comment on the story.) Yediot also reported that Kurtzer said at the meeting that there is no understanding between Israel and the U.S. on the matter of Israel retaining settlement blocs. The newspaper also reported that Kurtzer said that the U.S. will not wait indefinitely for an agreement between Europe and Iran regarding the latter's nuclear program, and that the U.S. can be expected to launch ballistic missiles in order to destroy Iran's nuclear sites. Kurtzer reportedly addressed the issues of anti-Semitism in Egypt and Israel's arms sales to China. Yediot cited Kurtzer's complaint that Israeli officials keep repeating the same mantras at each meeting with U.S. officials, including "Jerusalem, our eternal and indivisible capital." Speaking on Israel Radio this morning, chief Likud "rebel" MK Uzi Landau, who said his group had always refuted the GOI's statements on settlement blocs, questioned the skills of top Sharon aide Dov Weisglass to conduct negotiations with the U.S. administration. The station quoted National Union Knesset Member Arieh Eldad as saying that Kurtzer's comments reveal Sharon's "scam": Israel is not receiving anything in exchange for disengagement. At noon, Israel Radio broadcast a response by Ambassador Kurtzer that the Yediot story "has no basis." Kurtzer reiterated President Bush's view that any final status must reflect realities on the ground, particularly major Israeli population centers, and the U.S. belief that the final borders will not coincide with the pre-1967 ones. The Ambassador was quoted as saying that the U.S. expects the current Israeli government to function through the end of 2006 when the regular elections are scheduled to occur. Israel Radio quoted Washington sources as saying that President Bush, who does not want to cause difficulties for PM Sharon before the Knesset vote on the state budget, is minimizing his response to the GOI's reported plan to build 3,500 housing units in the "E-1 corridor" near Ma'aleh Adumim. The station quoted a State Department spokesman [J. Adam Ereli] as saying Thursday that Assistant Secretary David Welch and Deputy National Security Advisor Elliott Abrams raised the issue with Israeli officials during their visit and that they asked for additional information. The radio reported that the Foreign Ministry has informed the U.S. administration that the GOI's decision is not final. Ha'aretz bannered Israel's delaying of the handover of security responsibility for Qalqilya. The newspaper says that Israel accuses the PA of not upholding its commitments with regard to the towns for which it has already assumed responsibility -- Jericho and Tulkarm - - as the defense establishment's main gripe is that the PA has yet to take action against wanted individuals in these towns. Ha'aretz quoted senior Sharon aides as saying Thursday that they may fail to muster a majority for the budget, in which case the government will topple and elections will have to be held, unless Shinui changes its position. Leading media reported that Shinui party chief and parliamentary opposition head Knesset Member Yosef (Tommy) Lapid is scheduled to meet with Sharon today. Maariv and other media cited the IDF's concern that Sa- Nur, one of four northern West Bank settlements slated for evacuation, could turn into a "modern Masada" -- the focus of opposition to disengagement. Maariv reported that PA Minister for Civilian Affairs and in charge of disengagement Muhammad Dahlan allegedly told U.S. envoys Welch and Abrams: "There is no coordination about the disengagement and there is nothing to talk about, if we don't succeed in bringing a truck full of tomatoes out of Gaza and if the Israelis continue to stop lifting restrictions and continue to make our lives difficult." Yediot reported that the Foreign Ministry has learned that Dahlan and PA Negotiations Minister Saeb Erekat met recently with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and asked to have the PA be made part of NATO's Middle East framework. The meeting took place on the fringes of the Madrid conference on terror. Jerusalem Post noted that despite its generally critical tone about Israel, the report commissioned by John Dougard, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories, which was presented in Geneva this week, praised Israel for its "brave move" in Gaza. Ha'aretz quoted sources close to the FBI investigation of suspicions that Pentagon analyst Larry Franklin transferred classified information about U.S. policy on Iran to members of the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) as saying that the case could end in a plea bargain. Yediot reported that Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon is demanding an investigation into the circumstances in which his tenure was not extended. The newspaper cited the contention of his associates that Ya'alon turned into an annoyance when he refused to approve the promotion of various "recommended officers." Maariv reported that for the first time, an Israeli Arab educator is a potential candidate for a seat on Israel's National Security Council. Yediot and Israel Radio reported that Chad is about to resume diplomatic ties with Israel after a 33-year hiatus. Yediot quoted diplomatic sources as saying that the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian contacts made the warming of relations between the two countries possible. Ha'aretz reported that the Jewish Agency, which has long relied on the annual appeal of United Jewish Communities in the U.S., will strike out on its own in an independent campaign, due to a significant decrease in the willingness of American Jews to donate money to the United Jewish Appeal (UJA). In interviews with Yediot and Jerusalem Post, various Jewish Russian emigre "oligarchs" harshly attacked Russian President Vladimir Putin. Leonid Nevzlin dubbed Putin a neo-Stalinist. -------------- Mideast: -------------- Summary: -------------- Diplomatic correspondent Aluf Benn wrote in independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz: "Sharon's line leaves about half the West Bank in Israel's hands. This is way below the expectations of the Palestinians, the international community and the Israeli left." Military correspondent Amos Harel wrote in Ha'aretz: "What do you make of a Palestinian leader [PA President Mahmoud Abbas] who absolutely rejects terror and lowers incitement in the official media to a minimum, but at the same time demonstrates determined stands on all of the substantive issues of the permanent-status agreement?" Extreme right-wing columnist Caroline B. Glick wrote in conservative, independent Jerusalem Post: "The Bush Administration, together with the Sharon-Peres government, is pushing the view that Sharon's withdrawal and expulsion plan ... is aligned with the Bush Doctrine [of democratization in the Middle East].... Not only is there no connection between the two, but ... there is a glaring contradiction." Block Quotes: -------------- ¶I. "Drawing the Line" Diplomatic correspondent Aluf Benn wrote in independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz (March 25): "Sharon knows that the moment of truth for determining the borders is approaching, and he is trying to establish facts that will strengthen the Jewish settlement blocs in the West Bank and Jerusalem. Israel is in a building frenzy in the area between the Green Line (pre- 1967 border) and the route of the separation fence under the cover of America turning a blind eye.... How will the future borders look? In a meeting he held this week with members of Congress from California, Sharon returned to his veteran plan for preserving Israeli 'security zones' in the Jordan Valley and western Samaria [the part of the northern West Bank adjoining the Green Line].... Sharon also acknowledges demographic considerations in determining the border.... The thought of concessions in the West Bank is difficult for Sharon, who from time to time asks his aides: 'Can you imagine that there won't be Jews living in ...?" (mentioning some West Bank settlement). And the aides reply: 'Yes, we can imagine that.' Sharon's line leaves about half the West Bank in Israel's hands. This is way below the expectations of the Palestinians, the international community and the Israeli left.... But even maintaining Sharon's 'security zones' will necessitate evacuation of the settlements from the mountain ridge, the pillar of the Israeli settlement project in the territories... Alongside this idea, the disengagement from Gaza will look like a leisurely stroll in the park." II. "Analyzing Abu Mazen" Military correspondent Amos Harel wrote in Ha'aretz (March 25): "What do you make of a Palestinian leader [PA President Mahmoud Abbas] who absolutely rejects terror and lowers incitement in the official media to a minimum, but at the same time demonstrates determined stands on all of the substantive issues of the permanent-status agreement? The intelligence community, and like them the Prime Minister and senior cabinet ministers, are having a hard time deciding. On the face of it, the picture is a positive one: terror has declined to a minimum, even lower than what was achieved in the seven weeks of the cease-fire [in summer 2003].... There seems to be solid support in the Palestinian public for [Abbas's] agenda -- an end to the terror attacks, a return to the negotiating table. Conversely, what has the PA really done to counter the terror organizations? To date, barely anything.... The most disturbing question has to do with the long term. Israel is insisting that there will be no advancing to the next stage of the road map if the Palestinians do not meet their obligations, including a genuine campaign to battle terror (which Israel interprets as disarming the terror groups). In the meantime, this is also the official American position, but the longer the quiet is maintained, the more this position may be eroded. Abu Mazen can claim that he is doing his part in preventing terror and that it is none of Israel's business if this is being achieved through peaceful means. At that point, Israel would be subject to international pressure to continue making advances in the process, without its security demands being met." III. "Sharon and the Bush Doctrine" Extreme right-wing columnist Caroline B. Glick wrote in conservative, independent Jerusalem Post (March 25): "The question of how Palestinian statehood fits into the Bush Doctrine of democratization has always been a nagging one.... Today the Bush Administration, together with the Sharon-Peres government, is pushing the view that Sharon's withdrawal and expulsion plan for Gaza and northern Samaria [the northern West Bank] is aligned with the Bush Doctrine. Among the Palestinians and the Israelis, however, it is becoming increasingly clear with each passing day that not only is there no connection between the two, but that there is a glaring contradiction.... Hopefully, once the supporters of Israel ... come to accept the fact that Sharon's policy involves many risks but provides no opportunities, they will not hesitate to disavow it. And again, hopefully, at that point they will demand that the U.S. policy toward the Palestinians be bought into line with the Bush Doctrine." KURTZER