Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TELAVIV7072
2005-12-27 11:40:00
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.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TEL AVIV 007072 

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 09 TEL AVIV 007072

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

Israel Radio reported that the IDF responded with
artillery fire and aerial strikes to Sunday's Qassam
fire. A Qassam rocket nearly missed a kindergarten in
Kibbutz Sa'ad near the Gaza Strip on Monday. Ha'aretz
reported that the IDF is planning more aggressive
action in the northern Gaza Strip. Ha'aretz and Israel
Radio reported that today the IDF is expected to
scatter flyers in the northern Gaza Strip, urging
residents to leave the area. According to Israel
Radio, Israel demands that PA policemen evacuate the
area. The radio said that this was the first step in
the creation of a buffer zone. Yediot quoted PA
Chairman [President] Mahmoud Abbas as saying that the
PA's policemen will not abandon positions in the
northern Gaza Strip. This morning, Israel Radio quoted
Israeli security sources as denying that the
Palestinians have rockets with a 15- to 25-km range, as
had been publicized by Fatah's military branch during
the weekend. Ha'aretz quoted Uri Dekel, Director of
the IDF's Strategic Planning Division, as saying on
Monday that Hamas is expected to tone down its terror
activity if it wins the Palestinian legislative
elections.

Yediot bannered Sharon's medical file as it was
released on Monday. The media, which noted that his
health is on the whole satisfactory, quoted senior
physicians at Jerusalem's Hadassah Ein Karem Hospital
as saying Monday that Sharon will in two weeks undergo
a catheterization to insert a clam shell-shaped clamp
on two sides of a small hole in his heart. The
procedure will prevent the formation of more blood
clots and greatly reduce his risk of a recurrent
stroke. The media quoted the physicians as saying that
when Sharon arrived at the hospital on Sunday last
week, he was unable to communicate and was unable to
make decisions.

The Jerusalem Post reported that PA officials hinted on

Monday that next month's parliamentary elections might
be postponed because of the ongoing power struggle in
Fatah and because of Israel's objection to the
participation of Jerusalem Arabs. (See results of poll
below.) On Monday, Hatzofe reported that
representatives of the U.S. administration, who have
met with their Israeli counterparts over the past few
days in order to discuss the Palestinian elections,
have demanded that Israel permit ballot boxes to be
placed in East Jerusalem. Hatzofe wrote that one of
the "official" U.S. representatives who have approached
Israel is former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who is
supposed to serve as a monitor for the elections on
behalf of the US and the EU. Carter reportedly sent a
letter to Prime Minister Sharon this week, demanding
that the East Jerusalem Arabs be permitted to vote for
the Palestinian parliament as was done in 1996. On
Sunday, The Jerusalem Post quoted a senior GOI official
as saying Saturday that Israel is now inclined to allow
East Jerusalem Arabs to participate in the Palestinian
legislative elections. On Sunday, Ha'aretz quoted
sources in the Israeli military establishment as saying
that Abbas is at an all-time political low since taking
over from Yasser Arafat in November 2004. The
newspaper cited the belief of some Israeli intelligence
officials that Abbas is considering resigning.

On Sunday, Yediot cited "confidential reports" that
have recently reached the senior political echelon in
Jerusalem, according to which the U.S. administration
has grown "weary" of Abbas and that it is disappointed
in him. The newspaper quoted one U.S. official as
saying in a conversation with a senior Israeli
official: "We have gone back to the Arafat days -- only
without Arafat." Yediot reported that the first signs
the Americans were "sobering up" were discernible in
the actions of A/S David Welch. The newspaper quoted
senior political sources in Jerusalem as saying that
Welch reprimanded Abbas, and that Welch told him: "Stop
trying to walk between the raindrops. You are not
honoring your commitments."

On Sunday, The Jerusalem Post reported that the U.S.
Congress has approved a USD 600-million assistance
package for joint defense projects, in addition to the
annual U.S. aid Israel receives. The newspaper wrote
that the main component in the package, which includes
several projects that are being developed and
manufactured by both countries, is the Arrow anti-
missile system.

Maariv cited intelligence that reached the Israeli
defense establishment, according to which Iran has
already started actions needed to enrich uranium. The
newspaper quoted outgoing IDF Intelligence chief Maj.
Gen Aharon Zeevi-Farkash as saying during a farewell
meeting with Sharon that the diplomatic option vis-a-
vis Iran is vanishing.

The Jerusalem Post quoted Likud Chairman Knesset Member
Binyamin Netanyahu as saying Monday at a Likud Central
Committee meeting that his "defensible borders" would
include the Jordan Valley, the Golan, an undivided
Jerusalem, settlements blocs in the West Bank and the
hilltops overlooking Ben Gurion Airport, the Gush Dan
(greater Tel Aviv) region and Route 443 (the northern
access road from the coastal plain to Jerusalem).

Israel Radio reported that on Monday, Attorney Talia
Sasson, who wrote the report on unauthorized settler
outposts, sharply criticized the Civil Administration
in the Territories' involvement in the settlement
policy in the West Bank. Ha'aretz reported that the
Civil Administration, with the blessing of the State
Prosecutor's Office, has been a key partner in real
estate deals that would turn Palestinian property into
Israel's state land. Ha'aretz reported that on Monday,
the Jerusalem committee of the Zionist Council in
Israel recommended that an emphasis be placed on
developing Jerusalem beyond the Green Line, toward the
north, south, and east. Ha'aretz reported that on
Monday, the Housing and Construction Ministry released
tenders for the construction of 228 housing units in
the West Bank: 150 units in Betar Illit and 78 units in
the Givat Hazait neighborhood in Efrat.

Meretz Chairman Yossi Beilin was quoted as saying on
Israel Radio on Monday that his party intends to be a
part of the new government to take office after the
March elections, even if Sharon is elected to head it.

On Sunday, Ha'aretz quoted people who demonstrated
against the separation fence near the West Bank village
of Beilin on Friday as saying that police beat one
Israeli and one Palestinian protester while they were
in restraints.

On Sunday, Maariv reported that in a series of
interviews with the London based newspaper Al-Hayat,
the national Palestinian poet, Mahmoud Darwish, issued
a call to end suicide bombing attacks that are
committed amid the civilian population, saying that
they were detrimental to the Palestinians.

On Monday, all media reported that on Sunday, IDF Maj.
Gen. Uzi Dayan (reserves) unveiled his new party
Tafnit, which is to focus on social issues.

Ha'aretz cited statistics for 2005 released by the
Jewish Agency, according to which the number of
immigrants from Western countries has hit a record
high, although overall immigration is stabilizing.
Some 23,000 people have moved to Israel this year, 4
percent more than in 2004. By contrast, immigration
from North American has risen by 15 percent since last
year and immigration from France has risen by 23
percent in the same period.

Ha'aretz reported that "after days of taking a pounding
in the press," the Israeli airline on Monday withdrew
its objections to broadcasting the Channel -2 TV's
investigative journalism show of the near collision on
the ground at JFK Airport in New York, which involved
an Israir plane.

Leading media cited a poll conducted by al-Najah
University in Nablus among Palestinians and published
on Monday, according to which Hamas was expected to win
31.4 percent on the vote in the parliamentary
elections. Jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti's al-
Mustaqbal list came in second with 26.8 percent. The
official Fatah list received only 17.7 percent. Some
media cited polls showing that Fatah might get more
than 45 percent if united.

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

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

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

Regional correspondent Ronni Shaked wrote in mass-
circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot: "There is only
one reason for the Qassam rocket fire ... to bring
about the cancellation of the Palestinian elections."

Chief Economic Editor and senior columnist Sever
Plotker wrote in the editorial of Yediot Aharonot:
"Delaying the [Palestinian legislative] elections ...
would only allow the lie of Fatah's regime to exist for
a little while longer. Until the explosion, which, at
that point, will be inevitable."

Senior Middle East affairs analyst Zvi Bar'el wrote in
independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz: "Hamas wants to be
Israel's next 'no partner.'"

The Director of the Interdisciplinary Center's Global
Research in International Affairs Center, columnist
Barry Rubin, wrote in the conservative, independent
Jerusalem Post: "For all practical purposes, it is
already all over for Abbas."

The Jerusalem Post editorialized: "Until the West
demands reformist policies throughout the region ... it
will be left to wonder why it must continuously choose
between the autocrats and the Islamists."

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


I. "Political Qassam Rocket"

Regional correspondent Ronni Shaked wrote in mass-
circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot (December 27):
"There is only one reason for the Qassam rocket fire
and the combative statements of the terror
organizations about shelling Ashkelon and Ofakim: to
bring about the cancellation of the Palestinian
elections.... Who is opposed to a security escalation?
Hamas. This is not about love for Israel, but mainly
about the fact that the Hamas operatives are certain of
their victory in the elections, and fear that the
Qassam rockets could steal their political victory....
And who is the person who is most interested in Qassam
rocket fire and a security escalation? Abu Mazen. The
Palestinian 'rais' is caught in an election conundrum.
He fears a Hamas victory, no less than he fears a
victory of the young guard consisting of Barghouti and
company. Only a cancellation of the elections will
preserve his standing, and therefore an Israeli
military operation will take the chestnuts out of the
fire for him and serve as an excuse for him to cancel
the elections.... Islamic Jihad, which is not
participating in the elections, is celebrating with the
Qassam rockets. Its patrons in Iran and Lebanon wish
for a security escalation. With elections or without.
They want the continuation of the armed struggle, and
fantasize about a security zone in Gaza modeled after
southern Lebanon. Israel faces a dilemma. A security
escalation means intervention in the elections that
will cause international criticism and lead to
accusations of damaging the Palestinian democracy. A
restrained response will project weakness. Therefore
the response is measured, even restrained. In the
meantime, as long as there are no fatalities and no
other instructions -- the IDF is bombing the sand dunes
of Gaza and praying that the rain will overcome the
Qassam rockets."

II. "The Palestinians Against Fatah"

Chief Economic Editor and senior columnist Sever
Plotker wrote in the editorial of Yediot Aharonot
(December 25): "Hamas's might stands out saliently
against the backdrop of Fatah's bankruptcy.... Free
elections to the Palestinian Legislative Council are
the principal legitimate expression of the deep change
that has occurred in the Palestinians' political
preferences. Delaying the elections will not change
the reality itself, it would only allow the lie of
Fatah's regime to exist for a little while longer.
Until the explosion, which, at that point, will be
inevitable."

III. "Here Comes the Next 'No Partner'"

Senior Middle East affairs analyst Zvi Bar'el wrote in
independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz (December 25):
"Israel has no status or power to create change [in
Palestinian politics]. Israel lost it during the past
year when it decided to ignore Mahmoud Abbas in the
same way that it had ignored Yasser Arafat. Any
gesture Israel seeks to make toward Abbas -- and it is
not revealing any such intentions -- would be
immediately interpreted as intervention in the
Palestinian elections.... In response to Israel's
unilateral step and policy of keeping the 'yes partner,
no partner' option open, the Palestinian public (as
opposed to its leadership) is making its own unilateral
move in voting for Hamas.... No Palestinian leadership
will be able to ignore the status of Hamas any
longer.... Hamas wants to be Israel's next 'no
partner.' This is the appropriate Palestinian national
response in Hamas's perspective. Thus, the Israeli
option will close for a long time, because anyone
seeking a diplomatic process will have to talk with
Hamas also. In the very same way, anyone seeking to
neutralize Iranian nuclear weapons will have to talk
with Ahmadinejad, and anyone wishing to strengthen the
government of Lebanon will have to talk with Hizbullah.
For someone who is not interested in a diplomatic
process, it does not matter in any case whether Hamas
or someone else controls the Palestinian Authority."

IV. "Nowhere, Fast"

The Director of the Interdisciplinary Center's Global
Research in International Affairs Center, columnist
Barry Rubin, wrote in the conservative, independent
Jerusalem Post (December 26): "Palestinian politics is
just starting to get interesting. Yet much of the
world seems to be oblivious -- at least in terms of
actual policy -- to the monumental changes taking
place. Every day I read articles in newspapers,
journals and other places which explain in lofty terms
how Mahmoud Abbas and the moderates must be helped; how
he needs to be encouraged to fight terrorism, and how
what he really needs is a good socioeconomic policy. I
say: Wake up and smell the olive oil! He cannot even
prevent allies from being gunned down or kidnapped
within five minutes of his house by dozens of armed
raiders. For all practical purposes, it is already all
over for Abbas. He may have deserved better, but after
all, too, the Lord helps those who help themselves and
Abu Mazen didn't fulfill that requirement. What is
actually impressive is how alone he is. Every day more
allies desert him.... Hamas and Barghouti, supposedly
the people's saviors from a corrupt, inept Abu Mazen,
are going to damage the [Palestinian national] movement
even further."


V. "Mubarak's Ultimatum"

The Jerusalem Post editorialized (December 26): "We
Westerners are desperate to see the political systems
in the Middle East evolve from authoritarian theocratic
or oligarchical models to some variation of
representative government. That desire suffered
another setback on Saturday when former Egyptian
presidential candidate Ayman Nour, 41, was sentenced to
five years in prison for (what outside observers insist
are trumped-up charges of) forgery.... So how far along
is Egypt today -- after both a presidential and a
parliamentary election -- on the road toward
'democracy?' Not very.... For genuine democracy to
evolve, it needs to be nurtured. Until the West
demands reformist policies throughout the region --
including a truly free press, accountable government
and the kind of political socialization that could
contribute to democracy's development -- it will be
left to wonder why it must continuously choose between
the autocrats and the Islamists."





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

2. Iran: Nuclear Program:
--------------

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

Prof. David Menashri, Director of the newly-established
Center for Iranian Studies in Israel, wrote in popular,
pluralist Maariv: "Israel shouldn't lend its hand to
turning the issue of nuclear Iran into a problem that
is entirely Israel's, or into something that
necessitates an 'Israeli-made solution.'"

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

"Proper Awareness"
Prof. David Menashri, Director of the newly-established
Center for Iranian Studies in Israel, wrote in popular,
pluralist Maariv (December 27): "[Iranian President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's] extreme utterances ... could be
useful in one key issue -- the nuclear one. Whether or
not his attack against Israel was policy-induced, it
might create the impression that Iran's nuclear policy
is Israel's problem only. As far as [Ahmadinejad] is
concerned, should his remarks be interpreted in this
fashion, the Muslim world and Europe would be less keen
to take steps against Iran's nuclear policy. However,
Israeli counter-declarations do not contribute to
solving the problem. Israel shouldn't lend its hand to
turning the issue of nuclear Iran into a problem that
is entirely Israel's, or into something that
necessitates an 'Israeli-made solution.'"

CRETZ