Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TELAVIV669
2005-02-04 11:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

Tags:  IS KMDR MEDIA REACTION REPORT 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 TEL AVIV 000669

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

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

The electronic media reported that last night, in his
State of the Union address, President Bush reiterated
his two-state vision for Israel and Palestine, and said
that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will discuss
with PM Sharon and PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas "how we
and our friends can help the Palestinian people end
terror and build the institutions of a peaceful,
independent, democratic state. To promote this
democracy, I will ask Congress for USD 350 million to
support Palestinian political, economic, and security
reforms." The electronic media also quoted the
President as saying: "We expect the Syrian government
to end all support for terror and open the door to
freedom" and cited his remarks that "Iran remains the
world's primary state sponsor of terror -- pursuing
nuclear weapons while depriving its people of the
freedom they seek and deserve." Bush further
commented: "We are working with European allies to make
clear to the Iranian regime that it must give up its
uranium enrichment program and any plutonium
reprocessing, and end its support for terror."

All media highlighted the acceptance by Sharon, Abbas,
and Jordan's King Abdullah of Egyptian President Hosni
Mubarak's invitation to a summit meeting in Sharm el-
Sheikh on Tuesday. Ha'aretz quoted GOI sources as
saying that the summit will conclude with the
announcement of new security understandings between
Israel and the PA. Yediot says that the end of the
Intifada will be proclaimed at the conclusion of the
talks. Leading media reported that Egypt and Jordan
are expected to announce at the summit that they are
returning their ambassadors to Israel. Channel 2-TV
and other media reported that Israel will not agree to
discuss diplomatic issues being raised at the summit.
Maariv reported that King Abdullah has suggested that
the 1,000-strong Jordanian army's "Bader" brigade be
stationed in the northernmost part of the West Bank,
that Abbas agreed to the idea, but that Israel is
hesitant on the matter.

Israel Radio reported that this morning, Sharon
convened the restricted diplomatic ministerial
committee to discuss the transfer to the PA of security

responsibility in the cities of Jericho, Bethlehem,
Ramallah, Qalqilya, and Tulkarm. Defense Minister
Shaul Mofaz proposed to his colleagues a series of
gradual, cautious and reversible steps to restore
security relations with the PA -- concerning prisoner
release, the reopening of border crossings, etc.

Yediot reported that Israel will pardon Muhammad Deif,
the most wanted Palestinian activist, who is
responsible for the deaths of 90 Israelis, provided he
pledges to refrain from planning and being involved in
terrorist attacks. Israel Radio quoted Vice Premier
Shimon Peres as saying that he approves the release of
wounded Palestinian prisoners "with blood on their
hands."

Israel Radio reported that Mofaz has ordered the
demolition of settler outposts in the West Bank.

Ha'aretz reported that the IDF and Shin Bet are
increasingly concerned by a series of harassment acts
by extreme right-wing activists aimed at religious IDF
officers who live and are stationed in the territories.

Jerusalem Post reported that the Yesha Council of
Jewish Settlements in the Territories is quietly
supporting a legal forum that is lobbying the GOI for
land inside Israel to relocate several Gush Katif
(Katif Bloc) settlements.

In an interview with Jerusalem Post, Interior Minister
Ophir Pines-Paz (Labor) praised the upcoming Sharon-
Abbas summit, but warned that a Gaza Strip withdrawal
cannot be taken as a foregone conclusion.

All media reported that German President Horst Koehler
started his speech to the Knesset on Wednesday with
remarks in Hebrew, in a bid to assuage criticism by
some politicians about him delivering his speech in
German. (Health Minister Danny Naveh and other Knesset
members walked out of the plenum in protest.) Koehler,
who also visited Sderot, stated that his country must
deal with anti-Semitism.

Ha'aretz and Jerusalem Post reported that Peace Now is
calling for the establishment of a commission of
inquiry to investigate and, if necessary, order
indictments against those, including housing ministers
and prime ministers, who lent a hand to the
construction of outposts in the territories and thus
broke the law.

Leading media reported that on Wednesday, Diaspora and
Jerusalem Affairs Minister Natan Sharansky, who chairs
the cabinet committee that adopted the controversial
decision to apply the Absentee Property Law to
Jerusalem, indignantly rejected A-G Menachem Mazuz's
charge that the Ministerial Committee on Jerusalem
Affairs made its decision improperly. Ha'aretz and
Jerusalem Post reported that on Wednesday, Finance
Minister Binyamin Netanyahu defended the cabinet
decision to the Knesset.

Leading media reported that for the first time on
Wednesday, Palestinian security officials demolished an
arms-smuggling tunnel linking the Palestinian and
Egyptian sides of Rafah. Yediot reported that
Wednesday Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz faulted PA
policemen for not having prevented mortar fire at Katif
Bloc settlements.

Jerusalem Post cited a denial by the IDF Spokesperson
of a Channel 2-TV report on Wednesday claiming that
thousands of reservists would receive call-ups in the
coming days to undergo military training in preparation
for the Gaza disengagement. Reporting on a meeting
Vice Premier Shimon Peres and Minister Haim Ramon held
Wednesday with chief PA negotiator Saeb Erekat and
Palestinian security official Muhammad Dahlan, Yediot
writes that the Palestinians demanded that Israel
demolish the houses to be evacuated in the Gaza Strip,
as the PA prefers to build high-rise buildings for
Palestinian residents.

Maariv reported that during the weekend, Mofaz met in
London with an "unofficial Syrian figure," whom he
surprised with his knowledge of Syria.

Maariv reported that in the first public move of this
type, a delegation of associates of Jordanian King
Abdullah will arrive in Israel to day to meet Likud
Knesset members. The newspaper writes that Jordan is
worried by an initiative put forward several months ago
by Likud activist Uzi Cohen to establish a Palestinian
state in Jordan and Syria.

Jerusalem Post and Israel Radio quoted Danish PM Anders
Fogh Rasmussen as saying this week in a speech at the
University of Arhus: "Israel is surrounded by enemies
that want to throw it into the sea, and we should
recognize that it has a special history. Israel must
use somewhat tough measures to defend itself."

Ha'aretz reported that the U.S. may rank Israel among
the group of countries not taking action against
trafficking in persons -- a move that could result on
the imposition of economic sanctions. The newspaper
writes that, in its response to questions on the matter
from the U.S. administration, the Justice Ministry
noted that while Israel has seen grave cases involving
the exploitation of foreign workers, and even isolated
incidents that can be defined as trade for the purposes
of labor, these cases do not meet the U.S. legal
definition of trafficking in persons.

Jerusalem Post quoted a source close to the suit
against the Arab Bank, which has allegedly funded
Palestinian terror operations, as saying that the New
York branch of the Jordanian bank is now being
investigated by U.S. Treasury bank regulators for money
laundering.

Yediot reported that many Israelis have given up on the
idea of obtaining an immigrant visa to the U.S.,
because of the United States' tough policy in the
matter. The newspaper reported that there has been a
23 percent drop in issuance of immigrant visas by the
U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv. Yediot reported that
Ambassador Dan Kurtzer has recently told Foreign
Ministry D-G Ron Prosor that this policy is part of the
attempt by U.S. authorities to cope with illegal
employment of young Israelis in the U.S.

Erratum: Wednesday's Media Reaction report mentioned:
"Ha'aretz recommends that those 'with blood on their
hands' not be included [among Palestinian prisoners to
be released]." It should have read: "Ha'aretz reported
that the Shin Bet recommends that those 'with blood on
their hands' not be included."

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

Summary:
--------------

Diplomatic correspondent Aluf Benn wrote on page one of
independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz: "From Sharon's
point of view, the official invitation to Egypt ...
marks the end of the international isolation."

Chief Economic Editor and senior columnist Sever
Plotker wrote in the lead editorial of mass-
circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot: "The summit of
the Intifada's end constitutes, to begin with, a
tremendous personal victory for Ariel Sharon."

Diplomatic correspondent Ben Caspit wrote in popular,
pluralist Maariv: " What is going to happen on Tuesday
at Sharm el-Sheikh?.... In any case the Prime Minister
has nothing to lose there. For Sharon it will be the
hero's return. For Abu Mazen it is the point of no
return."

Conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized:
"Don't get us wrong, we appreciate the warming in
relations. But if Egypt wants Israelis to consider it
a credible mediator, let alone a leader toward peace,
summits, hints and promises are not enough."

Senior columnist and chief defense commentator Zeev
Schiff wrote in Ha'aretz: "In the steps he has recently
taken, Mahmoud Abbas has revealed another aspect of
Arafat's character."
Middle East affairs commentator Guy Bechor, a lecturer
at the Interdisciplinary Center, wrote in Yediot
Aharonot: "Terror activity in general has been
suspended, but it is in fact the quiet in Hamas that
arouses suspicion."

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


I. "A Surprise Invite"

Diplomatic correspondent Aluf Benn wrote on page one of
independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz (February 3): "From
Sharon's point of view, the official invitation to
Egypt -- for the first time in his four years in power
-- marks the end of the international isolation. If
the leaders of the Arab world are hosting Sharon, he
will be a welcome guest in every capital. But Sharon
is less concerned today with his global image, and is,
as per usual, busying himself with internal survival.
The photo-op with Mubarak, Abbas and Abdullah will
illustrate to the people at home that Sharon is
bringing peace.... U.S. President George Bush wants
democracy in Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, but right
now, he needs peace and quiet in Israel. The Sharm
summit is supposed to herald the renewal of the peace
process, and to ensure that when he arrives in
Washington in some 10 days time, [Egyptian intelligence
chief Omar] Suleiman will be welcomed with cheers and
pats on the back for his mediation efforts."

II. "To Sinai, Not in a Tank"

Diplomatic correspondent Ben Caspit wrote in popular,
pluralist Maariv (February 3): "What is going to happen
on Tuesday at Sharm el-Sheikh? An historic opportunity
or a photo opportunity? In any case the Prime Minister
has nothing to lose there. For Sharon it will be the
hero's return. For Abu Mazen it is the point of no
return. He is standing on the bank of the Rubicon
hesitating. At Sharm el-Sheikh [others] are expected
to give him courage.... Sharon is in no state of
euphoria. If Shimon Peres is like a balloon floating
in the air, full of imaginary plans, Sharon is the
little boy on the ground holding the string. There
will be more terrorist attacks and mistakes and crises
and failures. Sharon knows that very well. On the
other hand why does he have to put Abdullah and Mubarak
in the same boat, and everyone else who wants to join
(except of course Bashar Assad)? Perhaps it is so that
he can blame them all [in the event of failure] or at
least share the responsibility with them.... Two
fateful weeks await Sharon and us. Condoleezza Rice on
Sunday, the Sharm el-Sheikh conference on Tuesday, then
the compensation law for the settlers who are to be
evacuated, then the disengagement vote in the cabinet,
then the security fence vote in the cabinet and the
budget vote in the Knesset. What more could we want?
Sharon is calm and is keeping his eye on the ball. He
is focused on the target, but he is also worried. He
knows his political situation is not simple. He is no
stranger to our volatile political system. He knows
the dangers which lie in wait for him, and for us."

III. "The Summit of the End to the Intifada"

Chief Economic Editor and senior columnist Sever
Plotker wrote in the lead editorial of mass-
circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot (February 3):
"The summit of the Intifada's end constitutes, to begin
with, a tremendous personal victory for Ariel Sharon,
the Prime Minister of Israel, who just a short time ago
was declared by Arab public opinion to be an arch
murderer, who drinks Palestinian blood, who is off
bounds for any dialogue. Sharon's determined stand
against Arafat proved itself and bore fruit for Israel.
Ever since Arafat's death, there has been a deep
positive change in relations between the Palestinian
Authority and Israel. The four-way summit in Egypt
will also grant an umbrella of pan-Arab prestige to Abu
Mazen's position as the leader of the Palestinian state
and will strengthen the Middle East policy of President
Bush and his administration. The festive pictures of
Sharon being genial in the company of three leading
Arab leaders will take the place of the pictures of
fire and killing, terror and assassinations, which our
region has provided in the last four and a half years.
This is a substantive change, of true historic
significance."




IV. "Expecting More From Egypt"

Conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized
(February 3): "The coming Sharm e-Sheikh summit ... can
be construed as a positive development.... [But] if
Egypt conceives of itself as a mediator out to
facilitate the formulation of new agreements, then the
least we can expect is that it adhere to its own
clearly stipulated commitments in the carefully drafted
treaty it signed, for which Israel relinquished huge
stretches of territory -- to say nothing of self-
sufficiency in oil supplies.... Instead, Egypt is
showing its people that nothing is normal in its
relations with Israel and that Israel remains a pariah
in the region, undeserving of legitimacy. One need
only glance at Egypt's state-controlled press to
realize how demonized Israel remains.... All Mubarak
needs to do is issue a single directive. He hasn't
done so. Don't get us wrong, we appreciate the
warming in relations. But if Egypt wants Israelis to
consider it a credible mediator, let alone a leader
toward peace, summits, hints and promises are not
enough."


V. "The Indirect Message of Mahmoud Abbas"

Senior columnist and chief defense commentator Zeev
Schiff wrote in Ha'aretz (February 3): "Through ...
steps [to prevent the firing of rockets against Israel
and to reduce the clout of Arafat's old guard], Mahmoud
Abbas basically, if indirectly, sent [an] important
message. The speed and the way in which the deployment
of the large force was executed indicated that the
force had always been ready, but that someone had
prevented its deployment and involvement. In other
words, Yasser Arafat did not want to do so because he
had an interest in continuing the violent conflict. He
did not give the order to prevent the shooting and when
someone else, such as Muhammad Dahlan, wanted to do so,
Arafat stopped him. When Dahlan showed steadfastness,
Arafat dispatched his relative, Musa Arafat, to take
action against him.... In the steps he has recently
taken, Mahmoud Abbas has revealed another aspect of
Arafat's character. Although he is considered,
justifiably, the father of the Palestinian revolution,
he was a violent man who used rhetoric and crude lies
when he said he was interested in ending the violence.
Israel was not the only place he acted this way. He
also caused the deaths of thousands of Arabs in Jordan,
Lebanon and Syria. This is part of the heritage he
left behind him. It is a shame that he also deceived
so many Israelis almost to his dying day."

VI. "Fear Only the Still Waters"

Middle East affairs commentator Guy Bechor, a lecturer
at the Interdisciplinary Center, wrote in Yediot
Aharonot (February 3): "There is no question that there
have been changes for the better in the Palestinian
Authority of late, a result of the disengagement from
Arafat. Terror activity in general has been suspended,
but it is in fact the quiet in Hamas that arouses
suspicion -- particularly when this radical Islamic
organization, like the other military organizations, is
not to be disarmed. Could it be that the relative quiet
that Hamas has taken on itself lately is not only meant
to be used to regroup after the blows it has taken from
the IDF, but also to create a new balance of terror and
deterrence against Israel and the Palestinian
Authority?.... This balance of terror, if it works, is
also liable to be copied in the future to Judea and
Samaria [the West Bank] against central Israel. Israel
should therefore preempt this now. And Abu Mazen
should also not delude himself.... Arafat never
dreamed of putting Hamas in powerful positions in his
Palestinian Authority, as Abu Mazen is liable to do in
order ostensibly to shore up his rule.... There is no
doubt that there is a pragmatic side to Hamas, one that
respects the government, in the spirit of the Muslim
Brothers, but this movement still wants to take over
the Palestinian camp and to turn it into a religious
state under Hamas leadership naturally. Of this the
Palestinian adage says: 'Fear only the still waters.'
Does Israel know this saying?"

KURTZER