ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 TEL AVIV 004896 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. Global War on Terror ¶3. Iran: Nuclear Program ¶4. U.S.-Israel Relations -------------- Key stories in the media: -------------- Leading media (banners in Ha'aretz and Yediot, and Hatzofe -- "Deportation Order") reported that, according to a letter distributed by IDF officers to residents of Gush Katif, six days ahead of the evacuation of the Gaza Strip, Gaza Strip settlers will be required to leave their homes by midnight on August 14, at which time voluntary evacuation will end and the presence of Israeli civilians in the Strip will be considered illegal. Israel Radio reported that most residents have not received the letters, because secretariats of settlements have refused to pass them SIPDIS on. Leading media reported that former Ashkenazi chief rabbi Avraham Shapira has launched unprecedented attacks against the disengagement. Leading media reported that the Yesha Council of Jewish Settlements in the Territories will hold a last anti-disengagement demonstration in Rabin Square in Tel Aviv this Thursday, instead of the protest that had been planned for Ashkelon at that time. All media reported that on Monday, the police uncovered a smuggling ring that had been transporting opponents of the disengagement into Gush Katif. Jerusalem Post says that Israel and the PA have not yet reached an agreement about border crossings. Ha'aretz reported that the security cabinet decided on Monday that Israel will cancel the customs union with the Gaza Strip if the PA and Egypt refuse to build a new border terminal near Kerem Shalom (south of the Strip) to replace the existing one in Rafah. Recalling that the PA and the international community have been pressuring Israel in recent months not to exclude the Gaza Strip from the customs agreement, Ha'aretz writes that Israel wants to use this issue as a bargaining chip to maintain security supervision in the crossing between Sinai and the Strip after the disengagement. Leading media reported that members of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee from various factions were shocked to hear that the proposed agreement with Egypt to block Palestinian arms smuggling into the Gaza Strip does not bar Cairo from supplying weapons to the Palestinians. Speaking on Israel Radio this morning, Yuval Steinitz, the committee's chairman, said that the committee will not transmit the pertinent bill proposal for approval by the Knesset plenum if the agreement is not amended. The media reported that Israel will admit some 40 Palestinian Gaza Strip families (from the village of Dahaniyeh) who have assisted the defense establishment. Israel Radio quoted PA Chairman [President] Mahmoud Abbas as saying in his speech to the Palestinian people this morning that the disengagement is the first step to Palestinian statehood. Abbas urged the Palestinians Tuesday to ensure calm for Israel's evacuation of its Gaza settlements. Ha'aretz reported that Sheikh Jamal al-Bawatna, the mufti of the Ramallah district, who the newspaper says is a senior Palestinian religious leader, has issued an edict in the past few days, banning shooting attacks against Israeli security forces and settlements. Israel Radio reported that Jerusalem Mufti Ikrima Sabri made similar comments. Jerusalem Post reported that Palestinian PM Ahmed Qurei met in Jenin on Monday with Zacharia Zubeidi, commander of Fatah's armed militia, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, and discussed with him preparations for the Israeli withdrawal from the northern West Bank. All media reported that on Monday, the counterterrorism unit of Israel's National Security Council issued a travel warning to Israelis regarding a segment of Turkey's southern coast -- between Alanya and Kemer -- due to a "concrete terrorist threat." The media say that Al-Qaida could hit in the area, but that Israelis continue to fly there. Maariv reported that the Shin Bet is considering canceling those flights. Leading media (lead story in Jerusalem Post) reported that outgoing Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu unofficially kicked off his run for the Likud leadership on Monday. Yediot reported that he will leave for the U.S. Wednesday night, among other things, in order to meet with American donors who might contribute to his campaign. Leading media reported that PM Sharon and Netanyahu, both directly and by proxy, have been hard at work trying to shore up their support within the Likud, focusing their efforts mainly on the Knesset faction and the cabinet ministers. All media reported that Sharon went head to head with the treasury Monday when he rejected its request for a 1.5 billion-shekel (around USD 332 million) budget cut in 2006, and approved only a cut of 650 million shekels in the defense budget. Ha'aretz quoted annoyed treasury officials as saying that Sharon made concessions to Likud ministers that may amount to 1.5- 1.7 billion shekels. Ha'aretz and Israel Radio reported that IDF troops shot and killed a Palestinian youth in Tulkarm's refugee camp Monday. Leading media quoted Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz as saying Monday before the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that the IDF is trying to trace nine armed deserters. Their profiles are supposed to be similar to that of Eden Natan-Zada, who killed four Israeli Arabs on Thursday. Ha'aretz reported that on Monday, the International Committee of the Red Cross suspended all its field operations in the Gaza Strip in protest of the deterioration in security. The media reported that a number of UN aid people have been abducted in the Gaza Strip in recent days. -------------- ¶1. Mideast: -------------- Summary: -------------- Senior columnist and longtime dove Yoel Marcus wrote in independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz: "Neither Netanyahu nor the Shfaram murderer will budge Sharon from his plans. This disengagement is going to happen." Diplomatic correspondent Aluf Benn wrote in Ha'aretz: "The occupation, then, looks like something unpleasant that has stuck to a shoe. It is hard to get rid of it and the stink remains even after the sole is cleaned." The Director of the Interdisciplinary Center's Global Research in International Affairs Center, columnist Barry Rubin, wrote in conservative, independent Jerusalem Post: "Which side will be better off after the withdrawal? To find out, watch the material realities, not the rhetoric." Block Quotes: -------------- ¶I. "Double Trouble" Senior columnist and longtime dove Yoel Marcus wrote in independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz (August 9): "Israel was attacked twice within the space of 72 hours. First by a Jewish terrorist who shot four passengers to death on a bus in Shfaram and then by Benjamin Netanyahu, who suddenly resigned as the cabinet met to put their John Hancock on the first stage of the pullout. Both attacks had the same motivation -- to sabotage the disengagement. But it is doubtful that either the military misfit who became a murderer or the smart, sharp-tongued politician will achieve their goal.... The double trouble that has come Israel's way has changed nothing. Eight days from now, at midnight, the iron curtain will fall on Gush Katif. Neither Netanyahu nor the Shfaram murderer will budge Sharon from his plans. This disengagement is going to happen." II. "Not Letup to the Occupation" Diplomatic correspondent Aluf Benn wrote in Ha'aretz (August 9): "The Palestinians will no doubt argue that the occupation has not ended in Gaza as long as Israel controls the sea and the air and is supervising the border crossing points. They are already saying that the disengagement will turn the Gaza Strip into a big prison. They will try to lever the principle of total withdrawal to demand much the same in the West Bank.... The occupation, then, looks like something unpleasant that has stuck to a shoe. It is hard to get rid of it and the stink remains even after the sole is cleaned.... [According to another consideration], even today, the world does not hold Israel responsible for the poverty and other problems in the Gaza Strip, and after the disengagement the attribution of this responsibility will be even less." III. "The Logic of the Middle East" The Director of the Interdisciplinary Center's Global Research in International Affairs Center, columnist Barry Rubin, wrote in conservative, independent Jerusalem Post (August 9): "There is every reason to believe that the Palestinian leadership and movements will throw away this opportunity [of a rapprochement with Israel following the disengagement].... Does this ... mean Israel should not withdraw? Actually, one should argue the exact opposite. For if nothing is going to change anyway, why should Israel be bound to the status quo? Take away the excuse of 'occupation' and let the world -- and, far more importantly, the Palestinians themselves -- see the real cause of their problems.... Of course, one should add that Israel largely withdrew from the territory 11 years ago, when it was turned over to the tender mercies of Yasser Arafat... The idea at the time was that ARAFAT would have to deal with schools and sewage, jobs, and housing. The problem was that he and his colleagues had no interest in anything other than fighting Israel. Some of his top successors have better intentions but lack the power or determination to do better. As a substitute, they will complain about inadequate international support, blame Israel for everything, and urge more militancy. Which side will be better off after the withdrawal? To find out, watch the material realities, not the rhetoric." -------------- ¶2. Global War on Terror: -------------- Summary: -------------- Security and intelligence affairs commentator Amit Cohen wrote in popular, pluralist Maariv: "In recent days, the Turkish intelligence services have succeeded where their counterparts in many states failed." Block Quotes: -------------- "Terror in Turkey Comes From Iraq" Security and intelligence affairs commentator Amit Cohen wrote in popular, pluralist Maariv (August 9): "Intensive efforts made by Turkish [intelligence] has exposed deep infiltration of Turkey by Al-Qaida.... Habib Akdas, an Afghanistan veteran, established Al- Qaida's infrastructure of terror in Turkey.... A few months ago, Akdas was eliminated in Baghdad. Two of his aides were captured by American forces and moved to the Abu Ghraib prison. Despite this achievement, some of Akdas's people are still free in northern Iraq, not far from the Turkish border.... In recent days, the Turkish intelligence services have succeeded where their counterparts in many states failed.... Contrary to Egypt or Britain, Turkish intelligence has proven that there is a way to deal with Islamic terror, even if total success isn't guaranteed. Those Turkish achievements aren't a question of luck, but of hard work." -------------- ¶3. Iran: Nuclear Program: -------------- Summary: -------------- Paris correspondent Sefi Hendler wrote in mass- circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot: "Berlin and Paris will soon have to decide whether they will adopt a tough line or a conciliatory policy whose price might be a Shi'ite bomb. Europe's moment of truth is approaching." Block Quotes: -------------- "Europe's Moment of Truth" Paris correspondent Sefi Hendler wrote in mass- circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot (August 9): "The Bush administration had placed the management of the Iranian nuclear crisis in the hands of European diplomats who were convinced of their ability to attain better results in peaceful ways.... The Europeans will now face a dilemma filled with irony: is there room for the use of force, even without UN approval, when diplomacy has failed? On Monday, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder tried to calm the spirits: 'No one is currently dreaming of a military confrontation.' But Berlin and Paris will soon have to decide whether they will adopt a tough line or a conciliatory policy whose price might be a Shi'ite bomb. Europe's moment of truth is approaching." -------------- ¶4. U.S.-Israel Relations: -------------- Summary: -------------- Washington correspondent Shmuel Rosner wrote in independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz: "It was law professor Alan Dershowitz who said that Jews in America are not 'guests in someone else's house,' but their silence about the AIPAC affair sometimes seems like the silence of a guest." Block Quotes: -------------- "The Silence of the Jewish Leaders" Washington correspondent Shmuel Rosner wrote in independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz (August 9): "Last week, an indictment was issued against Steve Rosen and Keith Weissman, two former AIPAC employees.... The investigation is ... bad news for the Jewish community.... The charges against Rosen include using classified information in order to warn the Israeli embassy about Iranian agents who might abduct Israeli soldiers in Iraq. Is there any Jewish leader who would get information of this kind and keep silent? It's a difficult question. The answer cannot always be explained easily to the public. Therefore it is possible that the decision to remain silent makes sense from a tactical point of view.... If I'm not mistaken, it was law professor Alan Dershowitz who said that Jews in America are not 'guests in someone else's house,' but their silence about the AIPAC affair sometimes seems like the silence of a guest. Even if it is justified for reasons of caution or etiquette, even if it can be understood, it nevertheless makes one feel somewhat uneasy. Some of the Jewish leaders admit to this. But only in private." KURTZER