ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 TEL AVIV 003256

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:
--------------

On Sunday, Ha'aretz reported that President Bush
promised PA Chairman [President] Mahmoud Abbas during
their meeting on Thursday that if the PA meets its
security commitments under the road map, including its
undertaking to disarm wanted men, the U.S. will demand
that PM Sharon dismantle all the illegal outposts in
the West Bank immediately after the disengagement.
Today, Ha'aretz reported that at a meeting on Monday
with visiting members of the U.S. House Appropriations
Committee, Sharon voiced disappointment with the result
of last Thursday's meeting between Bush and Abbas in
Washington. Sharon was quoted as saying: "The
Palestinians came out feeling no pressure to fight
terror, and that they don't have to take immediate
action." He also reportedly said: "Questions are being
asked -- what happened to Bush's promises? -- and
people say the whole disengagement is a bluff. I need
calm to carry out the disengagement, and this is
causing me difficulties." The newspaper says that
Sharon told the congressmen that he had no complaints
for Bush, who made his objection to terror clear to
Abbas, and that "democratic reforms [in the PA] cannot
be a substitute for war on terror." On Sunday, Maariv
quoted Israeli officials as saying that Bush told Abbas
what he wanted to hear, and that the statement was
geared to allay the Palestinians' concerns about Bush's
letter of commitment from 2004. On Sunday, Yediot
reported that during his visit to the U.S., Abbas asked
Bush to pressure Israel to allow the entry of 1,500
soldiers from the Palestinian Bader Brigade from
Jordan. The newspaper wrote that over the weekend,
Israel made it clear to the American administration
that its response was negative, and that the subject is
not open to negotiations.

Echoing reports that have appeared in the media in the
past few weeks, Ha'aretz writes that dozens of right-
wing extremists have moved into the abandoned Hof
Dekalim during the past two weeks, and that the IDF
fears that they will turn the hotel into the focus of
hardcore resistance to the evacuation of the Katif Bloc
(Gush Katif). Leading media reported that children
aged 7 to 10 were among those arrested following a road
blockage by disengagement opponents northeast of Tel
Aviv on Sunday.

Yediot cited a secret document recently prepared by the
Foreign Ministry, which details a Palestinian plan on
the use to be made of Gaza Strip property: the northern
Strip will become an industrial zone; the settlement of
Netzarim will turn into the Gaza harbor; the settlement
of Kfar Darom will be converted into an agricultural
area; and the Katif Bloc will turn into a Club Med
resort. The Foreign Ministry document allegedly says
that the PA intends to launch a media campaign soon,
calling on the Palestinians to refrain from plundering
or violating order in evacuated areas.

On Monday, leading media quoted Abbas as saying in an
interview aired on Sunday that the era of suicide
bombings may be over.

Egyptian Ambassador to Israel Assef Ibrahim was quoted
as saying Monday in an interview with Jerusalem Post
that Israel should not expect Egypt to prevent attacks
that may emanate from the Gaza Strip after Israel's
withdrawal. However, Ibrahim was quoted as saying that
Israel could expect better control of smuggling across
the border were Egypt allowed to station more troops.

Ha'aretz reported that Pentagon official Larry Franklin
has admitted that he may have disclosed classified
information to a foreign official who was not
authorized to receive it. A Virginia grand jury is
expected to indict Franklin for giving classified
materials to representatives of AIPAC in the coming
days. On Monday, Ha'aretz reported that the U.S.
Justice Department is expected to file indictments
against two former AIPAC staffers -- Steve Rosen and
Keith Weissman.

On Monday, Jerusalem Post reported that PA officials
told the newspaper on Sunday that Iraqi security forces
have recently arrested dozens of Palestinians in
Baghdad and other cities on charges of helping
terrorists launch suicide attacks against Iraqi
policemen and U.S. troops.

Yediot cited reports that have recently reached the
highest echelon of the GOI, according to which Deputy
National Security Advisor Elliott Abrams, who holds the
"Israeli-Palestinian portfolio" in the White House, is
the leading candidate to replace Daniel Kurtzer as U.S.
ambassador to Israel. Yediot cited the U.S. Embassy to
Israel as saying that until further notice, Kurtzer is
the U.S. Ambassador to Israel and that there is no
intention of replacing him before the end of his term.
The newspaper quoted embassy sources as characterizing
the reports that have reached Jerusalem as "rumors"
only.

On Monday, the media reported that the cabinet on
Sunday approved the release of 400 prisoners, in
accordance with previous agreements with the PA.

On Sunday, Maariv and other media reported that the
U.S. administration has decided to expand General
William Ward's authority and to give him the task of
mediating security issues between Israel and the
Palestinians.

On Monday, Ha'aretz quoted Maj. Gen. Yair Naveh, the
head of the Central Command, as saying before the
Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on
Sunday that the IDF will remain in the northern West
Bank for several months after the evacuation of the
four Jewish settlements in the area. On Monday,
Jerusalem Post quoted Israel's National Security
Adviser Giora Eiland as saying Monday that it is "very
likely" that the IDF will reoccupy Khan Yunis and other
Palestinian villages prior to disengagement.

Leading media reported that on Monday, Palestinian
security forces uncovered and later sealed an
explosives tunnel in Khan Yunis, north of the Katif
Bloc. On Monday, Ha'aretz reported that four
Palestinians were killed in separate incidents in the
West Bank and Gaza Strip on Sunday, three in apparent
"work accidents" in the Gaza Strip, and one while
trying to stab IDF soldiers. On Sunday, Jerusalem
reported that security forces thwarted a suicide
bombing on Friday afternoon, when soldiers manning a
checkpoint at the western exit to Nablus captured a
Palestinian from Qalqilya carrying an explosives belt
hidden in a bag.

Ha'aretz reported that the Jerusalem Municipality has
begun proceedings to raze 88 buildings housing some
1,000 residents in the Silwan neighborhood, to "restore
the area to its landscape of yore," according to the
city engineer, Uri Shetrit. The newspaper notes that
the demolition, if it goes ahead, will be among the
largest to take place in East Jerusalem since 1967.

Israel Radio reported that in a first interview with
the London-based Asharq Al-Awsat, outgoing IDF Chief of
Staff Moshe Ya'alon expressed his belief that peace
will not be achieved in the short term. Ya'alon
reportedly said that Israel can defend itself without
the Golan.

Israel Radio cited an Iranian announcement that Iran
has conducted a test of a 2,000-km-range surface-to-
surface missile.

Jerusalem Post reported that PA Minister for Civilian
Affairs Muhammad Dahlan called on Monday for firm
action against Palestinians suspected of
"collaboration" with Israel. He also denied that Abbas
had promised Israel he would not authorize the
executions of convicted "collaborators." Jerusalem
Post also reported that Samir Rantisi, a local
journalist and spokesman for former PA Information
minister Yasser Abed Rabbo, was murdered in Ramallah on
Monday. He had for years urged Palestinians to endorse
nonviolent methods in their confrontation with Israel
and was strongly opposed to suicide bombings.
Maariv quoted Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf as
saying in an interview with the German weekly Der
Spiegel that Sharon is a courageous leader. Maariv
cited the Indian newspaper Indian Express, which on
Monday quoted senior officials in Islamabad as saying
that Musharraf is committed to diplomatic relations
with Israel.

On Sunday, Jerusalem Post reported that USAID has
launched a new ad campaign -- through posters and TV
commercials -- aimed at improving America's image among
the Palestinians. The newspaper says: "Chances of
success appear slim."

On Sunday, Jerusalem Post reported that the mufti of
Jerusalem, Ikrema Sabri, demanded that the U.S.
apologize for alleged mishandling of the Koran in
Guantanamo Bay. The mufti also called on Muslims
around the world to boycott American products.

Ha'aretz reported that the Labor Party's Central
Committee approved the merger between One Nation and
Labor on Monday, paving the way for One Nation chairman
MK Amir Peretz to compete for chairmanship of the
party.

On Sunday, Maariv reported that Moshe Bachar and Edmond
Ben-Ami, two Israelis who were under house arrest in
the U.S. awaiting trial, succeeded in deceiving the
American authorities, boarding a flight, and fleeing
back to Israel. The newspaper says that the two were
assisted by none other than the Israeli Foreign
Ministry, as Consul-General in Miami Shmuel Micha
personally issued them laissez-passer documents. The
newspaper cited a denial by the Consulate-General that
requests for such documents were on their records.

Ha'aretz reported that Israel and South Africa are
resuming security cooperation after a hiatus of almost
15 years, with a senior delegation from South Africa
due in the country next week for the first time since
the fall of the apartheid regime.

Maariv reported that dozens of young people who have
recently emigrated from the CIS have founded in Israel
a neo-Nazi organization that holds secret meetings.

Over the weekend, the media headlines were dominated by
a case that involved several arrests last week of top
executives at some of Israel's biggest companies,
including the Yes satellite TV company, Mayer Cars &
Trucks and the Pelephone Communications and Cellcom
cellular networks, on suspicion of involvement in
industrial espionage. A total of 18 people have been
detained, including nine private investigators.
Leading media quoted police as saying Monday that
classified defense-related material belonging to an
Israeli arms manufacturer was found on as server
allegedly used to store information stolen from
targeted companies. Maariv reported that the FBI has
asked for information on the matter.

All media highlighted various cases of violent crime
carried out or cracked over the past few days.

--------------
Mideast:
--------------

Summary:
--------------

Senior op-ed writer Akiva Eldar opined in left-leaning,
independent Ha'aretz: "If anyone has cause for
complaint in this regard, it is Abu Mazen. Once again
... Bush did not say anything about what Israel will
have to give to the Palestinians in return for the
population centers it annexes."

Extreme right-wing columnist Caroline B. Glick wrote in
conservative, independent Jerusalem Post: "From the
Bush administration's actions on the ground from
Teheran to Riyadh to Ramallah, it seems that rather
than placing these terror regimes in the crosshairs,
the President and his advisers are strengthening them.
If this is the case, then Israel is in for one of the
toughest periods in its history."

David J. Forman, founder of the group Rabbis for Human
Rights, wrote in Jerusalem Post: "What of America's
carpet bombing of Fallujah, where half the city was
destroyed and untold civilian life lost? Is this not a
'war crime?'"





Block Quotes:
--------------


I. "Comprehension Difficulties"

Senior op-ed writer Akiva Eldar opined in left-leaning,
independent Ha'aretz (May 29): "The declaration
received by Sharon [from President Bush] and that made
to Abu Mazen do not contradict one another.... Bush's
statements do not stray in the slightest from the road
map adopted by Israel.... The U.S. position is that the
reality in the field must be taken into account; but
America most certainly doesn't have the ability or
intention of forcing this position on the parties to
the conflict.... First, the starting point for the
talks must be the cease-fire line. Second, the United
States believes the large population centers in the
West Bank must be taken into consideration. And third,
the border must be determined in agreement between the
sides. One can safely assume that when the day of the
final-status talks comes, the U.S. will serve as
principal mediator. Therefore, one cannot undermine
the importance of its position vis-a-vis the nature of
the peace settlement. But if anyone has cause for
complaint in this regard, it is Abu Mazen. Once again,
as in the case of his letter from April last year, Bush
did not say anything about what Israel will have to
give to the Palestinians in return for the population
centers it annexes."

II. "Is America Abandoning the Fight?"

Extreme right-wing columnist Caroline B. Glick wrote in
conservative, independent Jerusalem Post (May 31): "The
top story in Sunday's Washington Post reported that the
Bush administration is revising its counter-terrorism
strategy. Whereas since the September 11 attacks the
U.S. has concentrated its efforts on physically
destroying al-Qaida to prevent it from carrying out
another major attack by arresting and killing its
operatives and leaders, now, according to the report,
the U.S. will be widening the focus to include
contending with the threat of militant Islam generally
by trying to counteract it as a social and political
force among Muslims worldwide. This of course would be
a welcome change.... And yet, from the Bush
administration's actions on the ground from Teheran to
Riyadh to Ramallah, it seems that rather than placing
these terror regimes in the crosshairs, the President
and his advisers are strengthening them. If this is
the case, then Israel is in for one of the toughest
periods in its history."

III. "We Are Not Paranoid"

David J. Forman, founder of the group Rabbis for Human
Rights, wrote in Jerusalem Post (May 30): "We Israelis
are not paranoid. Much of the world is truly out to
'get us.' Witness the Amnesty International report
accusing Israel of 'crimes against humanity' and 'war
crimes.' What of America's carpet bombing of Fallujah,
where half the city was destroyed and untold civilian
life lost? Is this not a 'war crime?'.... If our
critics are truly intent on having Israel address some
of its admittedly grievous behavior, they do themselves
and ultimately Israel a dreadful disservice by their
blatant abuse of language. After all, no one has
suffered greater 'crimes against humanity' than we
Jews. Before judging us, the world would do well to
understand our narrative, and to acknowledge not just
our historic nightmare, but its many manifestations
that continue to this day."

KURTZER