ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 TEL AVIV 004749

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA, NEA/PPD

WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE, SIT ROOM
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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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1. Mideast


2. U.S.-Israeli Relations


3. Iran: Nuclear Program


4. Global Struggle Against Violent Extremism

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Key stories in the media:
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Ha'aretz (Sunday) and Israel Radio reported that senior
Israeli officials Dov Weisglass and Shalom Turgeman
will meet with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and
the heads of the National Security Council today to
discuss issues related to disengagement. Ha'aretz
reported that Sharon and Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz
are opposed to an Egyptian proposal to supply the
Palestinian security forces with ammunition for light
arms. Ha'aretz quoted designated ambassador to Israel
Richard Jones as saying during a Senate hearing last
week that he "understands Israel's dilemma" with
regards to the strengthening of the Palestinian forces.
The radio quoted senior GOI officials as saying that
Israel is tired of being the address for PA Chairman
[President] Mahmoud Abbas's image problems, that the PA
has enough ammunition, and that the only thing it has
to do is to collect it and confiscate illegal weapons
held by groups in the PA. Israel Radio reported that
Deputy National Security Advisor Elliott Abrams will
arrive in Israel for talks today.

On Sunday, Ha'aretz reported that ambassador-designate
Richard Jones will begin his tour of duty during the
first half of September.

During the weekend, all media led with various aspects
of the disengagement move and the scheduled right-wing
march towards Gush Katif.

Leading media reported that the IDF expects Tuesday's
anti-disengagement protest in Sderot to result in much
fiercer clashes with demonstrators than did the one two
weeks ago in Kfar Maimon. Maariv and other media
reported that the police have proposed that the rally
take place in the Negev town of Ofakim, because of the
risk of Qassam rockets falling on Sderot. Yediot
reported that PM Sharon has engaged in a secret
dialogue with right-wing rabbis, in order to avoid
bloodshed. The media reported that, at Sunday's
cabinet meeting, PM Sharon declined suggestions by
Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Education
Minister Limor Livnat that the Yesha Council of Jewish
Settlements in the Territories be allowed to hold its
mass demonstration this week. Leading media reported
that on Sunday, President Moshe Katsav voiced criticism
over the fact that the High Court of Justice did not
prevent the blocking of buses to the protest two weeks
ago.

During the weekend, the media reported that the first
settler families have started to move from Gush Katif
to temporary quarters in Israel.

Leading media reported that on Sunday, Iran announced
it would resume its nuclear program, after the
expiration of its ultimatum to the UK, France, and
Germany, in which it had demanded that those countries
finalize their offer of a package of economic and
political incentives in return for Iran's indefinite
suspension of its nuclear work. Ha'aretz reported
that, during last week's visit of Ukrainian Defense
Minister Anatoliy Hrytsenko to Israel, Israel asked the
government of Ukraine to demand that Iran return 12
long-range cruise missiles purchased during the tenure
of the previous Ukrainian government via arms dealers
whom the current government claims were acting
illegally. However, the newspaper reported that
Ukraine has not yet responded to Israel, and that it
seems doubtful that Iran would agree to return the
missiles in any case.

On Sunday, Ha'aretz quoted Pentagon spokesman Lawrence
Di Rita as saying on Friday that tough issues remain in
a dispute between Israel and the U.S. over Israeli arms
sales to China, but that talks to resolve them are not
stalemated.

Yediot quoted FM Silvan Shalom as saying, during his
talks with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw in
London last week, that PA Civil Affairs Minister
Muhammad Dahlan is not helping Abbas or his Interior
Minister, because he aspires to replace Abbas.

This morning, Israel Radio reported that the IDF lifted
the closure it has imposed on the Gaza Strip following
the Netanya bombing. The closure of the northern West
Bank remains in place. On Sunday, Jerusalem Post
reported that control over the Erez Crossing will pass
from the IDF to the Interior Ministry after the
disengagement.

Leading media cited the French daily Le Figaro as
writing during the weekend that France and Israel will
jointly produce drones.

Israel Radio and the major Israeli media web sites
reported that King Fahd of Saudi Arabia passed away
this morning.

Leading media cited a story that appeared in Sunday's
New York Times, according to which a lengthy analysis
by Robert J. Haniock, a top historian at the NSA, which
suggests that a combination of incompetence and anti-
Semitism prevented the Allied intelligence services
from identifying the unfolding Holocaust in Europe.
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1. Mideast:
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Summary:
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Editor-in-Chief Amnon Dankner wrote on page one of
popular, pluralist Maariv: "The definition [of attitude
to disengagement] already demarcates a clear boundary:
Protest -- yes. Resistance -- yes, to a certain
degree. An attempt to thwart [disengagement] -- no."

Senior op-ed writer Akiva Eldar opined in left-leaning,
independent Ha'aretz: "The really important question is
not whether we should allow the Palestinians weapons to
use to kill themselves for us, but whether we should
enable them to live -- and to allow ourselves to live."

Senior Likud member and former ambassador to the U.S.
Zalman Shoval wrote in mass-circulation, pluralist
Yediot Aharonot: "An analysis of Abbas's actions since
he was elected does not indicate that he has any
intention of poring over the curriculum that the
American headmaster has prepared for him."

Block Quotes:
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I. "We'll Get Through It Together"

Editor-in-Chief Amnon Dankner wrote on page one of
popular, pluralist Maariv (August 1): "The real debate
that is being waged today -- with anger that is no less
noisy than the debate over disengagement itself --
pertains to the boundaries of protest and the
resistance to disengagement and evacuation. The
definition itself already demarcates a clear boundary:
Protest -- yes. Resistance -- yes, to a certain
degree. An attempt to thwart [disengagement] -- no....
The successes [of Israel's state and society] could not
have arrived and will not arrive without the strong
bonds that have kept together all of society, with all
its tribes and viewpoints, since the inception of the
state. These [bonds] consist mainly of recognition of
the rule of law, recognition of the justification for
the joint life of the Jewish people in its land (it is
permissible to say -- Zionism),and the willingness to
mobilize on behalf of society, contribute to it and
sacrifice on its behalf. This is shared by the Oranges
and the Blues [i.e. disengagement opponents and
supporters], and it must not shatter suddenly because
of disengagement or because of anything else."
II. "'Area A' Status Won't Pay the Rent"
Senior op-ed writer Akiva Eldar opined in left-leaning,
independent Ha'aretz (August 1): "There is a chance
that Israel's withdrawal from the Strip will sever
Gaza's residents from the few 'fruits' of occupation:
their sources of livelihood as well as their relatives
in Hebron and Europe's export markets. Should this be
the case, then policemen armed to the hilt would not
stop them on their way to Hamas's recruitment
center.... This is the junction where, as always,
welfare clashes with security. The same Shin Bet
security forces head who, according to Sunday's
reports, does not object to supplying the Palestinian
police with ammunition, refuses to facilitate the
passage of humans and merchandise between Gaza and
Israel on the morning after the disengagement.... It
follows that the really important question is not
whether we should allow the Palestinians weapons to use
to kill themselves for us, but whether we should enable
them to live -- and to allow ourselves to live."

III. "Visit of the Strong Lady"

Senior Likud member and former ambassador to the U.S.
Zalman Shoval wrote in mass-circulation, pluralist
Yediot Aharonot (August 1): "Washington's attitude
towards Abbas (Abu Mazen) can be compared to the
attitude of a teacher towards a failing pupil, who
still has to be encouraged -- so that he does not drop
out of school altogether. The trouble is that this
American approach may be based more on heartfelt
aspirations than on actual familiarity with the
character of the 'pupil.' After all, an analysis of
Abbas's actions since he was elected does not indicate
that he has any intention of poring over the curriculum
that the American headmaster has prepared for him....
Here is the point of linkage between the different
trends of U.S. diplomacy: to save not only the 'cease-
fire' but also the Bush administration's foreign policy
itself -- a policy that views bringing democracy and
stability to Iraq and promoting an Israeli-Palestinian
arrangement as a test of success or failure in the eyes
of history. Therefore, the more the picture in Iraq
and the Arab Middle East refuses to clear up as
Washington hoped and expected (even in Lebanon the
situation is less favorable than they had hoped),Ms.
Rice will continue her trips in order to ensure success
at least in one place. Mr. Abbas also understands that
the Americans are eager to see progress, any progress -
- and he is gambling that they will apply pressure not
only on him, if at all -- but also to Israel. Judging
from the statements made by Washington on the
construction in the settlement blocs, statements that
completely contradict the understandings between the
Prime Minister and President Bush, it is possible that
Abbas's gamble is not unjustified."
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2. U.S.-Israeli Relations:
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Summary:
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Columnist Shlomo Papirblat wrote in mass-circulation,
pluralist Yediot Aharonot: "[American officials have
adopted] a style of behavior that reminds one of that
of a colonial governor whose local servant spilled a
cup of tea on him."

Block Quotes:
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"An Israeli-French Provocation"

Columnist Shlomo Papirblat wrote in mass-circulation,
pluralist Yediot Aharonot (July 31): "Unpleasant
screeches have recently been heard from America's
direction.... What should be worthy of attention is the
attitude of American officials vis-a-vis their Israeli
counterparts -- their strategic allies, the
representatives of the only democratic state in the
Middle East. To put it politely: a style of behavior
that reminds one of that of a colonial governor whose
local servant spilled a cup of tea on him.... Is the
coronation ceremony of Jacques Chirac by the Israeli
Prime Minister as one of the most important world
leaders moving any White House resident? This is very
doubtful. However, it was nice to close one's eyes for
a moment and to believe that, thanks to the evacuation
of some of the settlements, Israel can increase the
number of its options in the world."






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3. Iran: Nuclear Program:
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Summary:
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Senior Middle East affairs analyst Zvi Bar'el wrote in
independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz: "The acceleration
of the presentation of the ultimatum pertains more to
the political calendar in Iran and less to pressure
being applied on Europe."
Block Quotes:
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"An Ultimatum With Domestic Considerations"

Senior Middle East affairs analyst Zvi Bar'el wrote in
independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz (August 1): "It
appears as though the acceleration of the presentation
of the ultimatum pertains more to the political
calendar in Iran and less to pressure being applied on
Europe. Next Saturday, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is supposed
to be sworn in as president of Iran.... The European
assumption was that, despite the fact that
Ahmadinejad's views are considered extremist, he was
likely to want to present a more moderate line at the
beginning of his term, and that he was worthy of being
granted an opportunity. In order to remove that
dilemma from the new president's path, Iran had to
present the ultimatum as a decision of the outgoing
regime, thus tossing the dilemma into the European
Union's lap."

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4. Global Struggle Against Violent Extremism:
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Summary:
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Conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized:
"Even Muslim opinion is not immune to the sort of
process that led the IRA to conclude that terrorism had
begun to backfire."

Block Quotes:
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"The IRA Capitulation"

Conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized
(July 31): "When terrorism doesn't pay, it stops. This
is the lesson behind the IRA's announcement last week
that its 35-year-old campaign against British rule in
Northern Ireland is over.... This is an invaluable
lesson for the international community to learn at the
time when the world is being shaken by an unprecedented
spate of Islamist terrorist attacks.... Even Muslim
opinion is not immune to the sort of process that led
the IRA to conclude that terrorism had begun to
backfire, both among potential sympathizers and the
peoples and governments targeted for intimidation. The
paradox of terrorism is that, as much as it is meant to
shock and horrify, it is at the most basic level
designed to gain sympathy and support. The IRA's
capitulation shows that the sooner terror provokes only
disgust and determination among its victims, without a
chorus seeking to 'understand' its 'root causes,' the
sooner it loses its utility."

KURTZER