ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 TEL AVIV 006413 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. Mideast ¶2. U.S.-Israel Relations -------------- Key stories in the media: -------------- This morning, Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar was quoted as saying in an interview with Israel Radio that he does not rule out holding negotiations with Israel if this serves Palestinian interests -- "to liberate our land, to liberate our people from Israeli jails, [and] to reconstruct what [was] destroyed by the Israeli longstanding occupation." Zahar was quoted as saying that this development depended on the Israeli government, and that his group will not disarm. Speaking on the radio, Amos Gilad, head of the Defense Ministry's political bureau, said that Zahar's comments did not represent anything new. Ha'aretz cited a report recently sent to the PA, according to which the World Bank technical team examining the provision of a 'safe crossing' between the Gaza Strip and the areas of the West Bank controlled by the PA has recommended that convoys carrying passengers and cargo operate on three routes connecting the Strip to the southern, central and northern West Bank several times a day. The report is expected to come up in discussions between Quartet special envoy James Wolfensohn and Israeli and Palestinian security officials. Ha'aretz writes that both Israel and the PA accept, in principle, the major points raised in the report, according to which three routes are needed because of the restrictions Israel imposes on movement within the West Bank. All media (banner in Yediot) reported on today's primaries for chairmanship of the Labor Party. The media say that Vice Premier Shimon Peres is expected to win. Last night, Israel TV reported that PM Sharon will leave the Likud and create a new party. The TV station quoted Sharon associates as saying that the new party's name will be "Eyn Li Eretz Aheret" ("I Have No Other Country"). The Jerusalem Post reported that Sharon advisers told the newspaper on Tuesday that Sharon wants to advance the election so he can return to power and decide where Israel's final borders are going to be. The newspaper further quoted them as saying that although Sharon was currently saying that, after disengagement, the Roadmap was the only diplomatic plan on the table, he had not ruled out a unilateral withdrawal from the West Bank in the long run. Maariv led with internal Likud polls that indicate that Knesset Member Binyamin Netanyahu is getting stronger in the party. Yediot reported that 10 Likud MKs and local council heads have started a campaign to oust "rebel" Likud MKs from the party's central committee. Israel Radio reported that top Sharon aide Dov Weisglass will leave for Washington today to prepare for Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's visit to Israel next week. The radio quoted a senior U.S. source as saying that it is important for the U.S. that Israel grant incentives to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and open passages along Gaza's borders. Leading media quoted IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz as saying on Tuesday before the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that Israel will continue with its targeted killings of Palestinian militants, because the policy has proven itself to be extremely effective in curbing terror activity. Halutz was quoted as saying that the targeted strikes will focus on Islamic Jihad members. Ha'aretz reported that Al-Rul, an Islamic Jihad activist was killed in an exchange of fire with IDF troops on Tuesday morning south of Jenin. Ha'aretz and Israel Radio reported that on Tuesday, IDF troops shot dead Muhammad Abu Salha, 16, near Nablus. The media cited the army as saying that he was trying to place a bomb, which Palestinian sources confirmed to the radio. Maariv reported that Palestinians continue to dig tunnels from the Gaza Strip toward Israel. The Jerusalem Post quoted Minister-Without-Portfolio Haim Ramon as saying Tuesday that the EU has accepted, in principle, Israel's demand that the third party stationed at the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt have enforceable authority. Citing AP, The Jerusalem Post reported that in its annual report on international religious freedom, the State Department criticized Israel for institutional discrimination against Israeli Arabs. The new Saudi Ambassador to the U.S., Prince Turki Al- Faysal, was quoted as saying in an interview with The Jerusalem Post that Saudi Arabia would be willing to normalize relations with Israel only after the Israelis adopt the Arab League peace initiative, which calls for full withdrawal to the 1967 lines. Yediot reported that Jordan's King Abdullah II has confirmed that he will attend the Rabin Center's inaugural ceremony in Tel Aviv next week. Ha'aretz printed an AP report, according to which Syria accused Israel on Tuesday of seeking to exploit U.S.- led pressure on Damascus to reject calls for peace talks over the occupied Golan Heights. Yediot cited the London-based daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi as saying that "sensational information" will soon be published about the fate of Israeli MIA Ron Arad, who disappeared in Lebanon in 1986. Yediot and Israel Radio also cited Al-Quds Al-Arabi as saying that Israel- Hizbullah negotiations have resumed. Yediot reported on "yet another embarrassing defense incident between Israel and the U.S." The newspaper says that the U.S. administration is demanding that Israel explain how five IDF helicopters, which were sold by the U.S. to Israel in the 1970s, are being used by the Colombian drug cartels. The newspaper cited the concern of diplomatic sources in Jerusalem that the affair will once again cause tension in defense relations between the Israel and the U.S., and that it could cast a shadow over their strategic dialogue, which is scheduled to be resumed this month after a year and a half of deadlock. Ha'aretz reported that the Muslim Brotherhood could become the largest opposition bloc in the Egyptian Parliament following the three-stage parliamentary elections that begin today. The newspaper cited rumors of unclear provenance, according to which the U.S. supported the outlawed Islamist movement, as part of its campaign to nurture democracy in the Middle East and Egypt, in particular. Ha'aretz says that according to those rumors, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice demanded that the Muslim Brotherhood be permitted to run unrestricted in these elections. Ha'aretz reported that a committee headed by PA Chairman [President] Mahmoud Abbas and veteran members of his Fatah movement will determine the list of Fatah candidates for the Palestinian Legislative Council elections set for January 25. Ha'aretz reported that two Israeli Arabic-language journalists -- a correspondent of the Lebanese daily Al- Mustaqbal and a newsman employed by the far-Left Israeli newspaper Al-Ittihad -- have recently been summoned to the Shin Bet, which warned them against holding contacts with journalists from the Arab world who are suspected of being terrorists. Veteran British TV interviewer David Frost, whom Al Jazeera-TV has enlisted to serve in its new English- language satellite station, was quoted as saying in an interview with Ha'aretz that the Qatar-based network has promised him full editorial independence, without any censorship. Nevertheless, Ha'aretz writes that it is difficult to ignore the anticipated dilemmas that will face Frost at his new place of employment. The Jerusalem Post quoted Foreign Ministry official Amos Nadai as saying on Tuesday that a crisis in relations with India has been averted by Israel putting a stop to all efforts to convert about 7,000 Indian citizens, known as Bnei Menashe. Ha'aretz reported that Jewish leaders raised the plight of small Jewish communities in South America at a meeting with President Bush in Brasilia on Monday. Maariv reported that an unnamed Israeli who was caught in Maryland in possession of 70,000 pills of the drug Ecstasy, managed to escape from the U.S. to the Far East. Leading media note the USD's record representative rate on Monday -- 4.691 shekels. Maariv says that electrical appliances have subsequently become more expensive. -------------- ¶1. Mideast: -------------- Summary: -------------- Chief Economic Editor Sever Plotker opined in mass- circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot: "Israel wishes there to be poverty, hardship and unemployment in Gaza. Not just Israel: the Palestinian leadership is not lifting a finger to move forward an economic rehabilitation process." Nationalist, Orthodox Hatzofe editorialized: "[Sharon] concludes -- under American pressure, of course -- that Israel should allow Hamas to participate in the elections. Sharon is leading us to the edge of the abyss." Block Quotes: -------------- "Economic Prison in Gaza" Chief Economic Editor Sever Plotker opined in mass- circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot (November 9): "Judging by the results [of grandiose economic plans to reconstruct the Gaza Strip], it is clear that Israel wished, and still wishes, that the residents of Gaza not develop an independent economy. Judging by the results, there is no choice but to conclude that Israel wishes there to be poverty, hardship and unemployment in Gaza. Not just Israel: the Palestinian leadership is not lifting a finger to move forward an economic rehabilitation process. It is not only Hamas, but also the Palestinian Authority that finds the situation of an 'economic prison' in Gaza convenient, since in a prison there is no need to take responsibility. In prison it is always someone else -- the occupier, the jailer -- who is to blame for the unfortunate situation of the prisoners. The economic atrophy in the Gaza Strip will continue, because it serves many interests, besides those of the Gaza Strip residents. But who takes them into account?" II. "The Value of Promises" Nationalist, Orthodox Hatzofe editorialized (November 9): "Hatzofe has predicted a number of times in this column that Ariel Sharon and Shaul Mofaz would not keep their promise to prevent Hamas from running in the Palestinian elections. And lo and behold -- on Tuesday, in the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, the Prime Minister said that even if Hamas runs in the elections, Israel will not disrupt them. Sharon's excuses are not impressive and are devoid of logic. The real reason for Israel's capitulation to Hamas is American pressure, particularly from Condoleezza Rice. That political crook Abu Mazen explained to the Americans that if Hamas is allowed to take part in the elections it will become more moderate, and therefore the United States should insist that Israel refrain from impeding its participation. By the same token one should allow Islamic Jihad, Hizbullah and Al Qaida to participate too, to make them more moderate.... What did Sharon himself say? 'Hamas is a terrorist organization which talks about destruction of Israel and the Jewish people,' he said. 'It has not given up its weapons nor handed them in, nor has it been asked to do so.' And what conclusion does Sharon draw from his own statements? He concludes -- under American pressure, of course -- that Israel should allow Hamas to participate in the elections. Sharon is leading us to the edge of the abyss. Why is the Knesset not supervising him?" -------------- ¶2. U.S.-Israel Relations: -------------- Summary: -------------- Liberal op-ed writer Ofer Shelach opined in mass- circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot: "Why do we need 100 [Joint Strike Fighter] planes, and how is such a decision made without having the public, which will pay a heavy price for it, ask questions and be given explanations?" Block Quotes: -------------- "Billion Dollar Sonic Boom" Liberal op-ed writer Ofer Shelach opined in mass- circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot (November 9): "The report on the conclusion of the crisis with the United States regarding security export matters, and Israel's return to the group of countries developing the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF),is a joyous and important piece of news. Beyond the vital security relations with the U.S., there is economic and scientific importance to the very participation of Israeli companies in a project that is at the forefront of global technology.... [But] why do we need 100 of these planes, and how is such a decision made without having the public, which will pay a heavy price for it, ask questions and be given explanations?.... Just as the [Israeli] public does not ask what is good about the sonic booms [over the Gaza Strip], it also does not ask why exactly we need 100 JSF planes, today or in ten years." JONES