Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TELAVIV6683
2005-11-29 11:31:00
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.

291131Z Nov 05
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 TEL AVIV 006683 

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:
--------------------------------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 TEL AVIV 006683

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. Iran, nuclear program

--------------
Key stories in the media:
--------------

All media report that former Labor Party Chairman
Shimon Peres has finalized his decision to leave the
Labor Party, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's associates
said late Monday night. In addition, Labor MK Dalia
Itzik announced at 11 p.m. on Monday that she was
leaving Labor for Sharon's Kadima party. At the same
time, top radio and TV personality Shely Yehimovich
announced she is joining Labor.

Major media reported that Justice Minister and P.M.
Sharon's ally Tzipi Livni outlined the proposed
platform of the new Kadima Party Monday afternoon,
emphasizing the nature of Israel as a democratic Jewish
state, the need to continue along the roadmap,and
stating that "we have to give up part of the Land of
Israel to establish a Jewish and democratic state." The
platform also addresses the social economic affairs and
changing the system of government. Yediot Aharonot
also reports that P.M Sharon will soon reveal the final
platform.

Ha'aretz, The Jerusalem Post and Yediot Aharonot
reported on the issuance of a Code of Conduct on
Countering Terrorism, on Monday, in the Euro-Med
conference, in Barcelona, Spain, by Israel, the EU, and
Muslim Mediterranean countries, among them Syria and
Lebanon. The Code condemns terror "in all its
manifestations," and states "terrorism can never be
justified." Ha'aretz also report that due to dissent
between Israel and the Arab countries on reference to
the Roadmap, especially with regard to the linkage to
the Saudi Middle East peace plan of 2002 and its
interpretation of the refugees right of return, the
publication of a final joint declaration was prevented.
The Jerusalem Post reported that EU's Ambassador to
Israel Ramiro Cibrian-Uzal told reporters during a
meeting with the press on Monday that Hamas "will
remain in the EU list of terrorist organizations" until

it "recognizes the state of Israel" and "commits to
solving the conflict through peaceful means." He noted
that Israeli construction in the West Bank and around
Jerusalem "is illegal," adding that he hoped that the
Road Map would be relaunched following both the
Palestinian and the Israeli elections, explaining that
he believes the two sides were in phase one of the
process.
Ha'aretz and the Jerusalem Post reported that the PA's
ruling Fatah party on Monday called off primary
elections in the Gaza Strip following a series of
attacks on polling stations and armed clashes between
rival gangs. Fatah leaders who held an emergency
meeting in Gaza City on Monday evening decided to call
off the elections because of what they described as
"serious transgressions." Referring to scenes of
anarchy and violence that accompanied the voting
process, the Fatah leaders said it had become
impossible to hold the elections under the current
circumstances. The decision is seen as a severe blow
to Fatah and is likely to have a negative impact on its
chances of making a strong showing in the parliamentary
elections, slated for January 25. Moreover, the
decision is likely to play into the hands of Hamas,
which is planning to contest the vote for the first
time since the establishment of the Palestinian
Authority.
Major media reported that in the 3rd quarter of 2005,
the unemployment rate fell to 8.9%, which is the first
time unemployment in Israel's workforce dropped below
9% since mid-2001. Israeli media also reported that
Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer raised the
shekel interest rate in December by 0.5%, placing it at
4.5%, citing a need to keep inflation within the
government's stability target for 2005.
In a related development, Maariv reported that the US
Administration decided not to slice its annual security
and economic aid to Israel despite the ongoing
settlement construction. The full sum of $2.52 billion
will be transferred to Israel by the end of December.
The Americans are still undecided on Israel's request
for $2 billion of special aid in the wake of the
disengagement.
--------------

1. Mideast
--------------
Summary:
--------------

Independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized: "The
reopening of the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza
Strip and Egypt is an achievement for the Palestinians,
but no less so for Israel.. The agreement and the
understanding over the Rafah crossing have a natural
continuation, which is also dictated by circumstances -
a link between Gaza and the West Bank, which should be
opened in the coming weeks, and, in the future, the
opening of an international airport in Gaza and the
completion of the seaport there."

Block Quotes:
--------------
"A step in the right direction"

Independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized: "The
reopening of the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza
Strip and Egypt is an achievement for the Palestinians,
but no less so for Israel.. On the Israeli side, the
defense establishment initially voiced several
objections and concerns, but eventually even Defense
Minister Shaul Mofaz welcomed the agreement that paved
the way to the reopening of the border as a confidence-
building measure between Israel and the PA and as an
important Egyptian contribution to security
arrangements. The reopening of the crossing sets
several important precedents. For the first time in
decades, since 1967, to be precise, there is an
international border between the territories and a
neighboring country that is not under direct Israeli
supervision. In other words, Israel waived exclusive
control of the border area that it enjoyed for years.
The Palestinians claim that they also made concessions,
since the Rafah crossing is only open to those whose
names appear in the population register of the
territories, which is supervised by Israel. In
addition, Israel has installed electronic surveillance
equipment at the crossing, allowing it to see at any
given time who is using the crossing. Another
important precedent is the involvement of a third party
- border police from the European Union - whose job it
is to ensure that the agreement is fully implemented..
The agreement and the understanding over the Rafah
crossing have a natural continuation, which is also
dictated by circumstances - a link between Gaza and the
West Bank, which should be opened in the coming weeks,
and, in the future, the opening of an international
airport in Gaza and the completion of the seaport
there. The entire agreement is valid for one year and,
if properly implemented, the PA will assume further
responsibilities for operating border crossings, as one
step on the road to assuming all the roles of a
sovereign nation, and in accordance with its agreements
with Israel."

--------------

2. Iranian nuclear efforts
--------------

Summary
--------------

The conservative, independent Jerusalem Post
Editorialized: "The question is whether Israel can
continue to sit silently on the sidelines, pretending
that the international community is successfully
blocking the Iranian bomb.. The US, it seems, has
decided it will not break ranks with Europe, and even
Russia, at all costs, even if the policy is moving in
the wrong direction.. Israel has the right and
obligation to openly spell out the global implications
of a nuclear Iran."

Block Quotes:
--------------
"Speak up on Iran"

The conservative, independent Jerusalem Post
editorialized: "With its rejection Sunday of a Russian
proposal, the increasing belligerency of the Iranian
regime may have once again staved off the West's best
efforts to avoid confronting the world's principal
international threat. The question is whether Israel
can continue to sit silently on the sidelines,
pretending that the international community is
successfully blocking the Iranian bomb.. The US, it
seems, has decided it will not break ranks with Europe,
and even Russia, at all costs, even if the policy is
moving in the wrong direction. What, for example, will
the US do if Iran comes to its senses and says yes?
The world will proclaim the Iranian problem as solved,
and Iran will have bought more time and legitimacy for
its obvious quest for the bomb.. Europe, let alone
Russia, cannot be relied upon to stop Iran from
becoming a nuclear power. Every day that goes by in
which the US continues to follow Europe's, and now even
Russia's, lead, the presumption grows that even the
Bush administration has given up on stopping an Iranian
bomb, and is just going through the motions. Our
reluctance to, even implicitly, criticize the US, and
risk turning the matter into an "Israeli" issue, is
understandable and was probably even warranted up to
this point. But the failure of the IAEA to refer the
matter to the Security Council, combined with the
international acceptance of Russia's blatant watering
down of even the E-3's demands, shows that
psychological acceptance of an Iranian bomb is growing.
In this context, the time has come for Israel to sound
the alarm.. Israel has the right and obligation to
openly spell out the global implications of a nuclear
Iran, and to frontally combat the creeping sense of
helplessness in preventing this nightmare from coming
about."
CRETZ