ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 TEL AVIV 005404 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA, NEA/PPD WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE, SIT ROOM NSC FOR NEA STAFF SECDEF WASHDC FOR USDP/ASD-PA/ASD-ISA HQ USAF FOR XOXX DA WASHDC FOR SASA JOINT STAFF WASHDC FOR PA USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL FOR POLAD/USIA ADVISOR COMSOCEUR VAIHINGEN GE FOR PAO/POLAD COMSIXTHFLT FOR 019 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. Meeting of Israeli and Pakistani Foreign Ministers ¶2. Mideast -------------- Key stories in the media: -------------- All media (lead stories in Ha'aretz and Jerusalem Post) reported on the "historic" meeting between FM Silvan Shalom and his Pakistani counterpart Mian Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri in Istanbul. The media reported that Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf initiated the meeting. Ha'aretz and Jerusalem Post say that PM Sharon and Musharraf may meet in New York later this month. Israel Radio quoted senior World Jewish Congress official David Twersky, who has held extended contacts with Pakistani officials, as saying that a Pakistani cabinet minister, whom he declined to name, will visit Israel soon. Ha'aretz reported that Pakistan's move sparked "condemnation, criticism, and a little praise from the Arab world." Jerusalem Post writes that the summit meeting will be dependent on domestic Pakistani and Arab world reactions to the FMs' public meeting. Ha'aretz's web site reported that hard- line Pakistani lawmakers walked out of parliament Friday to protest the first formal talks between Pakistan and Israel, as radical Islamic groups planned rallies at mosques across Pakistan. Yediot and Maariv banner maneuvers by the right wing to topple Sharon (see below: Yediot's poll among members of the Likud's Central Committee). Maariv writes that the recent attempt to bring down PM Sharon was initiated by two West Bank settlers and funded by a Jewish donor from the U.S. Israel Radio quoted a close associate of MK Binyamin Netanyahu as saying that, if elected Likud chairman in November, Netanyahu aspires to topple the government immediately and become interim PM until the Knesset elections. The station later cited a denial by Netanyahu's HQ. Ha'aretz's Washington correspondent Shmuel Rosner cites the belief of Netanyahu's associates that the U.S. administration has no cause for concern if their man becomes the next PM. Jerusalem Post quoted unnamed sources as telling the newspaper that if Sharon opts to leave the Likud and runs for election at the head of a new faction, he will set out a vision for Israel's borders in the West Bank similar to the route of the security barrier with minor additions. The newspaper also quoted unspecified sources as saying that Sharon will indeed quit the party if its central committee defies him this month and votes for the leadership contest sought this winter by Netanyahu and MK Uzi Landau. Vice PM and Finance Minister Ehud Olmert was quoted as saying in an interview conducted with Jerusalem Post on Thursday that Israel has given the U.S. administration commitments that it will not build between Jerusalem and Ma'aleh Adumim and that the contested project has been put on hold indefinitely. All media reported that on Thursday, Israel and Egypt signed a detailed agreement providing for the deployment of 750 Egyptian policemen along the Philadelphi road. Israel Radio cited a senior defense source as saying that the move poses no strategic threat to Israel. Jerusalem Post quoted Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar as saying on Thursday that if Israel does not relinquish control over the Rafah border crossing, Hamas will launch armed attacks on Israel to force it out of the area. Jerusalem Post reported on a palpable decline of the PA in Gaza, where Hamas is winning the PR campaign. Maariv reported that GOI sources have confirmed that King Abdullah II of Jordan will visit Israel next week, despite previous Jordanian denials. Yediot reported that Israel secretly opened a diplomatic-commercial representation in Dubai a few days ago. Israel Radio reported that Shalom will meet today with a senior leader of China's Communist Party to discuss Iran, the PA, and the weapons exports crisis with the U.S. Yediot reported that the Shin Bet has instructed that Sharon should only travel by helicopter, because of increasing threats on his life. All media continued to report on the havoc wreaked by Hurricane Katrina. Referring to looting, murders, and hunger in New Orleans, Yediot's front-page headline reads: "Like in the Third World." Israel Radio reported that on Thursday, Israel offered to send hundreds of medical personnel, as well as supplies and medicine, to the U.S. Ha'aretz invites its readers to contribute to the United Jewish Communities (UJC) Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief Fund. Maariv reported on a new security doctrine being formulated by a team made up of academics, politicians and security officials and headed by former Justice Minister Dan Meridor. The team's report, which Maariv says will be shown soon to the prime minister and defense minister, allegedly states that there is no longer any "security significance" in holding onto the West Bank and Golan Heights. Maariv quoted Meridor as saying last night: "The document is still being drafted and it is still too early to talk about the contents. At this stage there is no statement about the territories." Yediot reported that Sharon poured outstanding praise on Defense Ministry D-G Amos Yaron at a farewell meeting with him. Leading media reported that on Wednesday, a Los Angeles court indicted four members of an Islamic cell who planned to carry out attacks against synagogues, the Israeli Consulate-General, El Al, and U.S. military facilities. Leading media cited a Justice Ministry announcement on Thursday that the state prosecution plans to indict all those arrested during the pullout who are suspected of serious crime. A Yediot/Mina Zemach (Dahaf Institute) poll conducted on August 30-31 among members of the Likud's Central Committee found that the committee would rate prominent Likud politicians in the following positions in the party's list for the Knesset elections: -Uzi Landau: 1st (up from 10th in the original Likud list of candidates in the 2003 elections); Netanyahu: 4th (up from 10th); Silvan Shalom: 11th (down from 4th); Ariel Sharon: 12th (down from 1st); Shaul Mofaz: 13th (down from 12th); Ehud Olmert: 22nd (up from 33rd); Limor Livnat: 25th (down from 6th); and Omri Sharon: 40th(down from 27th). -------------- -------------- ¶1. Meeting of Israeli and Pakistani Foreign Ministers: -------------- -------------- Summary: -------------- Diplomatic correspondent Aluf Benn wrote in independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz: "Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan presented a good opportunity for renewing efforts to establish ties in the Arab and Muslim world.... Pakistan was the first to reward Israel for the Gaza withdrawal." Conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized: "The Muslim and Arab boycott of Israel harms the cause of Palestine because it conflicts with the two-state solution on which the establishment of a Palestinian state is supposedly based." Dr. Meir Litvak, a senior researcher in the department of Middle Eastern History at Tel Aviv University, wrote in mass-circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot: "Thursday's meeting holds a meaningful message for other Muslim countries and Muslim societies and gives legitimacy to Israel from a leading Islamic country." Dr. Shmuel Bar, a senior research fellow at the Interdisciplinary Center, wrote in popular, pluralist Maariv: "The strengthening of Pakistan's moderate image and even presenting it as advancing the peace process in the Middle East would help the Pakistanis vis a vis the Americans." Block Quotes: -------------- ¶I. "A Reward For Withdrawal" Diplomatic correspondent Aluf Benn wrote in independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz (September 2): "The equation was written during the first stages of the peace process, at the 1991 Madrid Conference: Israel would gradually end its occupation of the territories and would receive, in turn, diplomatic recognition and economic opportunities from the 'outer circle' nations. The idea was that, in exchange for the territories, Israel would achieve international acceptance, which would encourage it to continue the process. The United States exercised its diplomatic might toward this end, and Israel exploited its image as having magic powers in Washington.... Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan presented a good opportunity for renewing efforts to establish ties in the Arab and Muslim world. Silvan Shalom brings up the issue with his U.S. and EU counterparts at every meeting. For months, aides have been searching for a breakthrough in Asia, Africa and the Maghreb. Pakistan was the first to reward Israel for the Gaza withdrawal." II. "Pakistan's Play" Conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized (September 2): "Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has been quick to deny that yesterday's historic public meeting between the Pakistani and Israeli foreign ministers presages the imminent opening of diplomatic relations.... But the pictures of smiling ministers Kurshid Kasuri and Silvan Shalom speak louder than a thousand protestations.... The motives behind this opening more likely relate to the United States and to India than they do to Palestine. Gestures toward Israel are likely seen as an easy way to curry favor with the U.S. while giving Israel a possible reason to set limits on its warming military ties to India.... The Muslim and Arab boycott of Israel harms the cause of Palestine because it conflicts with the two-state solution on which the establishment of a Palestinian state is supposedly based.... Muslim and Arab states have at least as great an interest, whether narrowly or broadly defined, in opening ties with Israel as we do with them. By being among the first, Pakistan may benefit slightly more than those who follow. But this is no argument for straggling, because the cost of being in the rejectionist camp are likely to go up." III. "Meaningful Message to the Muslim World" Dr. Meir Litvak, a senior researcher in the department of Middle Eastern History at Tel Aviv University, wrote in mass-circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot (September 2): "The importance of the meeting between Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom and Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri is mainly symbolic, although we should not make light of the importance of symbols. Pakistan, the second largest Muslim country in the world, where Islam is the basis for its national identity, was hostile to Zionism and to Israel since the state was established. There is no doubt that Thursday's meeting holds a meaningful message for other Muslim countries and Muslim societies and gives legitimacy to Israel from a leading Islamic country. This having been said, it is reasonable to assume that Pakistan's motives for the meeting have more to do with its relations with the U.S. and the need of General Pervez Musharraf's regime to earn further American support.... Even if the foreign ministers' meeting on Thursday does not herald a strategic change, there is no question that it is something beneficial and should be welcomed." IV. "Target: U.S." Dr. Shmuel Bar, a senior research fellow at the Interdisciplinary Center, wrote in popular, pluralist Maariv (September 2): "What in essence are the Pakistanis' interests in ties with Israel about? It turns out that they have quite a few. First and foremost, Pakistan views Israel as a comfortable and quick means to win over the heart of the U.S. The strengthening of Pakistan's moderate image and even presenting it as advancing the peace process in the Middle East would help the Pakistanis vis a vis the Americans and prove that it is worthy of their support despite its non-democratic regime.... Furthermore, Pakistan has much interest in curbing military ties between Israel and its bitter enemy, India. It is also possible that Pakistan views coordination with Israel -- also considered a country with a nuclear capability -- as a way of curbing pressures to make a commitment not to spread WMD. This is primarily in the wake of its having been designated as partially responsible for the Iranian nuclear program. On the other hand, and despite all these interests, Musharraf must continue to deal with vocal and aggressive Islamic opposition, which has already declared the day of recognition of Israel as a black day in the history of Pakistan. Which interests and pressures will be the decisive ones? It is possible that we shall soon know." -------------- ¶2. Mideast: -------------- Summary: -------------- Senior columnist and chief defense commentator Zeev Schiff wrote in independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz: "International support for the [disengagement] plan depends first of all on the fact that the international community does not see the disengagement as a slamming of the door on continuing negotiations with the Palestinians." Senior columnist Nahum Barnea wrote in mass- circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot: "[Hard-core Likudniks and settlers] believe that in the choice between pressure from the Right and American pressure, Netanyahu will bend to the Right." Block Quotes: -------------- ¶I. "What the Security Services Think" Senior columnist and chief defense commentator Zeev Schiff wrote in independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz (September 2): "The IDF's Intelligence Branch believes there is now a greater chance that Israel will improve its security capability, and that international legitimacy for terror will decline in the wake of the withdrawal.... International support for the plan depends first of all on the fact that the international community does not see the disengagement as a slamming of the door on continuing negotiations with the Palestinians, or a subterfuge for transferring settlers from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank. Moreover, Military Intelligence reminds us that the conflict with the Palestinians will go on even after we have left the Gaza Strip, and that this isn't total disengagement, because part of the economic responsibility for what is going on with the Palestinians will fall on Israel even after the disengagement. It is clear that the head of MI would have preferred that the disengagement be 'unilateral and coordinated' with the Palestinians, rather than unilateral. And that is what is, in effect, happening at present, including help from America and from international bodies." II. "This Will Be the Last Battle" Senior columnist Nahum Barnea wrote in mass- circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot (September 2): "When one talks to distinct right-wingers, religious and non-religious, one realizes that what motivates them now is an intense desire for revenge.... It will sear into the consciousness of all politicians, any contenders for the crown, the knowledge that anyone touching their holies, the settlements, the Land of Israel, has one fate-- demise. What happened to Rabin one way will happen to Sharon another way. If one insists, it can be shown that this happened to others: to Shamir after the Madrid conference, to Netanyahu after his concessions in Hebron, to Barak after Camp David. A myth has been created. Sharon must not break it (for this exact reason the Left should wish for Sharon's survival, in order to prove to the next generation of leaders that it is possible to evacuate territories without losing power).... Distinct right- wingers who support [Netanyahu] -- the reference is not to the Knesset members who sat behind him [at his press conference], each with his own police record, but the veterans of Herut [the core of Likud] and the settlers -- are counting on his weakness. They believe that in the choice between pressure from the Right and American pressure, Netanyahu will bend to the Right." KURTZER