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 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: -------------- ¶1. Mideast ¶2. U.S.-Israeli Relations ¶3. Iran: Nuclear Program ¶4. Global Struggle Against Violent Extremism -------------- Key stories in the media: -------------- 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. -------------- ¶1. Mideast: -------------- Summary: -------------- 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: -------------- ¶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." -------------- ¶2. U.S.-Israeli Relations: -------------- Summary: -------------- 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: -------------- "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." -------------- ¶3. Iran: Nuclear Program: -------------- Summary: -------------- 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: -------------- "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." -------------- - ¶4. Global Struggle Against Violent Extremism: -------------- - Summary: -------------- 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: -------------- "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