Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TELAVIV4838
2005-08-05 09:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

Tags:  IS KMDR MEDIA REACTION REPORT 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 TEL AVIV 004838

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 led with reports that Eden Natan-Zada (also
known as Tzuberi),19, a newly religious Jewish soldier
who went AWOL several weeks ago in protest over the
disengagement plan, opened fire Thursday evening in a
bus in the Arab town of Shfaram, killing four people
and wounding 12 others. Natan-Zada was originally from
Rishon Letzion, but apparently recently moved to the
West Bank settlement of Tapuah, home to many
sympathizers of the outlawed far-right movement Kach.
The gunman was beaten to death by an angry mob that
stormed the bus. Both Yediot and Maariv bannered: "A
Jewish Terrorist." The media cited a statement by PM
Sharon, which called the attack "a sinful act by a
bloodthirsty terrorist." Leading media reported that
the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee has proclaimed a
general strike in the Arab sector.

All media reported that the demonstrations of the Yesha
Council of Jewish Settlements in the Territories
crumbled Thursday as most of the protesters went home,
leaving only small clusters of activists. Protests are
to resume on Sunday. Ha'aretz notes that the Yesha
Council promised that it still has a "doomsday weapon."

Yated Ne'eman and other media quoted Palestinian
sources as saying that Israel and the PA have agreed
that the evacuation of northern West Bank settlements
planned under the disengagement plan will be completed
by mid-September. Leading media quoted Palestinian PM
Ahmed Qurei as saying Thursday that the Israeli
withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the northern West
Bank is a step toward liberating Jerusalem.

Jerusalem Post reported that Defense Minister Shaul
Mofaz told reporters in Aqaba that Israel would allow
Jordan to send officers to train Palestinian security
forces in Samaria (the northern West Bank),but that he
said the issue was not discussed with King Abdullah
during their meeting on Thursday. The newspaper quoted
security officials as saying that Israeli and Jordanian
officials are expected to hold bilateral talks on a
number of strategic issues in the coming weeks.

Jerusalem Post reported that the state on Thursday
promised the High Court of Justice it would implement

demolition orders after disengagement against nine
permanent dwellings built illegally in the Samaria
outpost of Arnona.

Jerusalem Post cited the Shin Bet as saying Thursday
that an Israeli Bedouin allegedly involved in smuggling
weapons from Sinai via the Negev top weapons dealers in
the West Bank was arrested by Israeli security forces
on July 14.

Ha'aretz and other media reported that on Thursday, a
federal grand jury in Alexandria, Va., indicted former
AIPAC officials Steve Rosen and Keith Weissman on
charges they received classified national defense
information from Pentagon analyst Lawrence (Larry)
Franklin. Ha'aretz reported that the U.S. authorities
are interested in questioning additional Israeli
Embassy employees, including the Ambassador.

Yediot reported that the Spanish government intends to
convene all Middle East leaders, including Sharon and
Syrian President Bashar Assad, to a summit conference
in Madrid in November. The newspaper cited the Spanish
government's hope that, should the Israeli withdrawal
from the Gaza Strip be successful, the conference would
serve the leaders as a jumping point for the resumption
of the peace process.

Yediot reported that PA Chairman [President] Mahmoud
Abbas has invited the Arab leaders to a summit
conference in Gaza after the disengagement.

Yediot reported that Israel's Ambassador to Mauritania
Boaz Bismuth met Thursday with that country's new
president, Col. Ely Ould Mohamed Vall, who promised
that relations with Israel would continue as usual.

Jeremy Issacharoff, incoming No. 2 at Israel's Embassy
in Washington, was quoted as saying in an interview
with Ha'aretz (English Ed.): "The relationship [between
Israel and the U.S.] is strong and vibrant, and we have
a tremendous amount of common strategic interests. We
will deal with difficult issues as they arise and hope
to be able to put them behind us as quickly as
possible."

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

Summary:
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Senior columnist Nahum Barnea wrote on page one of mass-
circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot: "'A filthy
criminal,' Zvi Hendel, one of the leaders of the
movement against the disengagement, called the murderer
from Shfaram.... But those who ride a tiger have to
remember that the tiger has teeth."

Diplomatic correspondent Ben Caspit wrote on page one
of popular, pluralist Maariv: "[The Shfaram murderer]
is not alone. There are hundreds like him, perhaps
thousands.... In order to win ... we have to take off
the gloves and wipe out the pestilence."

Senior columnist and longtime dove Yoel Marcus wrote on
page one of independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz: "Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon, who's fully committed to
disengagement, must remove his gloves and clarify to
his erstwhile friends that the die is cast, and that he
won't let madness prevail."

Ha'aretz editorialized: "[Israel and Jordan] share a
common regional outlook that is based on a central role
for the United States and on an uncompromising battle
against terrorism. It is this model on which Israel
should base its relations with Egypt."

Senior op-ed writer Akiva Eldar commented in Ha'aretz:
"Abu Mazen needs the importation of American pressure
on Sharon, so that the latter will promise a close
connection between the Gaza Strip and the outside world
and an open passage to the West Bank. This mission has
been delegated to special envoy James Wolfensohn."

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


I. "Not Insane"

Senior columnist Nahum Barnea wrote on page one of mass-
circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot (August 8): "Let
us not dwell in illusions: [Shfaram] suicide bomber
Natan-Zada was not insane. His plot was simple,
logical, almost called for. He believed that by
committing a terror attack on citizens in the Arab
sector he could ignite a blaze that would prevent the
implementation of the disengagement plan. Either the
acts of revenge that the Arabs would do to Jews would
create an atmosphere that would stop the evacuation, or
these acts would preoccupy so many army and police
forces that carrying out evacuation would become
impossible. And perhaps both.... 'A filthy criminal,'
Zvi Hendel, one of the leaders of the movement against
the disengagement, called the murderer from Shfaram.
There is no doubt that this is how all his friends
feel. But those who ride a tiger have to remember that
the tiger has teeth. The speeches made this week from
the stages in Sderot and Ofakim were riddled with
incitement, with inflammatory rhetoric, with deep scorn
for the state and for its laws. The rabbis and the
politicians of the Right have to take into account that
among their listeners there could be a Zada, a [Yigal]
Amir, a [Baruch] Goldstein."

II. "The Murderer Is Not Alone"

Diplomatic correspondent Ben Caspit wrote on page one
of popular, pluralist Maariv (August 8): "[The Shfaram
murderer] is not alone. There are hundreds like him,
perhaps thousands. Secret polls conducted recently for
state institutions show a dramatic increase in the
number of Israelis who are willing to take violent
action by themselves, in order to halt the
disengagement. The numbers are terrifying, mainly
among the national religious public (although it must
be stressed that most of that sector of society is
peace-loving and law-abiding).... If the prophecies of
doom come true, the massacre in Shfaram could be a pale
harbinger of what is still to come.... The irrational
of all religious denominations are gathering, plotting
to blow up everything over our heads. All that is
lacking is a tiny spark ... and a catastrophic chain
reaction will be set off.... Everything is permissible,
for this situation is called a war. In order to win it
we have to take off the gloves and wipe out the
pestilence."

III. "Madness Will Not Prevail"

Senior columnist and longtime dove Yoel Marcus wrote on
page one of independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz (August
8): "The abominable murder in Shfaram, which cost the
lives of four passengers on a bus in the sector that is
the most loyal to Israel is the direct result of the
swirl of hatred that the Yesha Council of Jewish
Settlements in the Territories has introduced into
Israel.... One must hope that the government and the
Israeli Arab leaders will join forces to prevent the
expansion of the cycle of hatred and revenge. If this
fire isn't put out at once, the fanatics of the Land of
Israel [Israel, including the territories] and its
insane leaders will be the big winners. Instead of
making a step toward peace with the Palestinians, we
would return to the days of rioting and to lethal civil
war.... Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who's fully
committed to disengagement, must remove his gloves and
clarify to his erstwhile friends that the die is cast,
and that he won't let madness prevail."

IV. "The Philadelphi-Jerusalem-Cairo Route"

Ha'aretz editorialized (August 8): "On Thursday,
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz visited Jordan as the
guest of King Abdullah II. This is routine, and yet it
reflects the stability of Israel's relations with the
Hashemite kingdom. Israel and Jordan are security
partners. They share a common regional outlook that is
based on a central role for the United States and on an
uncompromising battle against terrorism. It is this
model on which Israel should base its relations with
Egypt, the only Arab nation that preceded Jordan in
making peace. The security agreement Israel and Egypt
are now striving to achieve is intended to allay the
fears about what could happen along the line that
divides Rafah, the Philadelphi route, which is also the
Palestinian Authority's border with Egypt. As the
evacuation of Israeli bases, forces and settlers
approaches, the need for close security cooperation
with Egypt grows stronger. Egypt has agreed to ensure
that the long Philadelphi route does not serve as a
wide gateway for smuggling weapons that could be used
against Israel.... But this does not mean that we need
no longer keep a close watch on what happens on, above
and underneath the route.... Those who fear that the
Egyptian forces' deployment along the border will make
terrorist activity easier, should remember Egypt's
important role in bringing about the calm that is
making the withdrawal possible, and its own war against
terror. This is a welcome cooperation. It establishes
the expanding regional peace camp that includes not
only Egypt, Israel and Jordan, but also states like
Tunis, Qatar and Morocco. The Philadelphi route could
be an important axis in strengthening this camp."


V. "Abu Mazen's Surprise"

Senior op-ed writer Akiva Eldar commented in Ha'aretz
(August 8): "Quiet depends on a victory by the
pragmatic Palestinian camp over the Muslim fanatics.
This will not happen if Hamas, which has already
claimed for itself the credit for pushing Israel out of
Gaza, also pushes out the PA. Abu Mazen's last visit
to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon convinced him that at
best, Sharon doesn't care whether Hamas gains control
of the Gaza Strip. However, Sharon does care that Bush
be satisfied, and Bush cares that The New York Times
won't report on his friend Ariel's contribution to the
victory by Hamas, an organization that appears on the
American terror list. In Washington, too, they have
begun to cast doubt on Sharon's readiness to help Abu
Mazen in a fight against the common foe. However, Abu
Mazen has repeatedly stated that he will not hesitate
to use force against any element that tries to sabotage
the disengagement plan, that is to say --- the American
interest. Yet in order to prevail over Hamas, it is
not enough that the Americans force Sharon to let
several truckloads of ammunition and the Bader Force
unit of the Jordanian Army into the Gaza Strip. Before
he makes use of these, if at all, against 'the
brothers' who uprooted the Israelis from Palestinian
territory, the PA must harvest the fruits of the
disengagement. The fruits are orderly governance,
effective services and above all -- employment. Even
in this case Abu Mazen needs the importation of
American pressure on Sharon, so that the latter will
promise a close connection between the Gaza Strip and
the outside world and an open passage to the West Bank.
This mission has been delegated to special envoy James
Wolfensohn."

KURTZER