ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

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TAGS: IS KMDR MEDIA REACTION REPORT
SUBJECT: ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION


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SUBJECTS COVERED IN THIS REPORT:
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Mideast

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Key stories in the media:
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During the weekend, all major media underscored
reported threats from the far Right to thwart the
disengagement plan. Over the weekend, leading media
reported that Likud cabinet ministers and Knesset
members, including Shaul Mofaz and Meir Sheetrit, have
received threats on their lives. Maariv reported the
increasing danger that extremists could try to hit the
mosques on the Temple Mount from the air. Ha'aretz
reported that although the Justice Ministry would
approve requests for the detention of extremists, the
Shin Bet says there is not enough intelligence for such
moves and that "at this stage," there will not be any
change in the security deployment protecting ministers.
Internal Security Minister Gideon Ezra was quoted as
saying in an interview with Jerusalem Post: "There are
dangerous people out there who need to be arrested
today." For its part, Hatzofe bannered a claim by the
Yesha Council of Jewish Settlements in the Territories
that Sharon is inciting against settlers.

All media reported that a ministerial committee on
Sunday approved the release of 500 Palestinians
prisoners and administrative detainees in keeping with
a promise Israel gave the PA before the Sharm el-Sheikh
summit. All prisoners, 170 of whom belong to Hamas and
Islamic Jihad, will walk free by the end of the week or
the beginning of the week. All media reported that
Jericho will be handed over to Palestinian security
forces as early as Tuesday. Yediot reported that the
casino in the city, which was popular among Israelis
following the Oslo accords, is expected to reopen soon.
During the weekend, the media quoted Israeli and
Palestinian officials as saying that Israel will allow
56 deported Palestinians to return to the West Bank.

All media reported that on Sunday, the Knesset's
Constitution, Justice and Law Committee approved, 9-7,
the part of the "evacuation-compensation" bill setting
penalties for those who would disrupt the evacuation of
territories. The Knesset will vote on the second and
third readings of the entire bill on Wednesday; next
Sunday, February 20, the cabinet will vote on a
practical decision to evacuate settlements, which will
start a 5-month countdown to the actual start of the
evacuation. All media reported that following a
meeting between Vice Premier Shimon Peres and the Shas
party's spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef on Sunday,
the Shas leaders reiterated their opposition to
disengagement.
On Sunday, Jerusalem Post and Yediot cited a State
Department announcement that the new U.S. Middle East
security envoy, Lt. Gen. William Ward, will make his
first trip to the region in his new job before the end
of the month.
On Sunday, Jerusalem Post and other media reported that
PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) secured Hamas's
"de facto" acceptance of the truce with Israel. On
Monday, Jerusalem Post quoted Israeli defense sources
as saying Sunday that Hamas is using the lull in
Israel's offensive actions to stock up on Qassam
rockets, mines, and mortar shells in the Gaza Strip.

Jerusalem Post cited "assessments that reached
Jerusalem," according to which alongside PA reform
issues and preparations ahead of the IDF's withdrawal
from the Gaza Strip, political issues will also be
addressed at a luncheon hosted by British PM Tony Blair
on March 1.

Israel Radio reported that this morning in Hebron
Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian who tried to
stab an IDF soldier.

Jerusalem Post quoted unnamed sources as saying that
National Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer
and PM Sharon have discussed acquiring natural gas from
the PA in exchange for water and electricity services.

Globes cited the belief of "Washington sources close to
Middle East policy" as saying that the U.S. will soon
cancel its official warning against traveling to
Israel, and perhaps also against traveling to the PA.
The sources said that the significant drop in terrorist
attacks within the Green Line and in the West Bank was
the decisive factor in a possible cancellation of the
warning. Another motive is the desire of the Bush
administration to express its satisfaction at the
measures taken by Israel and the Palestinians to
implement the disengagement plan.

Globes cited New York Times that the FBI is initiating
recruitment of Israelis and other foreigners residing
in the U.S., including business people, to spy abroad.
Globes says that the CIA does not particularly like the
idea.

On Sunday, Yediot cited concerns in Israel that Russia
will launch two Iranian spy satellites that will cover
Israel and other countries.

Ha'aretz reported that registration in the U.S. for the
upcoming seasons of Palestine Summer Encounter (PSE) is
at its height. The newspaper cited the organizers'
hope that after a successful season last year, dozens
of American students will "forge strategic partnerships
to strengthen communities in the region" through living
and studying in the Bethlehem area.

All media reported that two days of violent clashes
between Druze and Christian residents of the Galilee
village of Maghar, on Friday and Saturday, resulted in
seven injuries and caused many Christian families to
flee the village. The police and the media said the
clashes constituted an anti-Christian "pogrom."

On Sunday, Ha'aretz reported that Israeli diplomacy has
enlisted Lavan Mercer, a former U.S. basketball player
who became a star with the Maccabi Tel Aviv team,
converted to Judaism and served in the IDF, for its PR
efforts in the southern U.S. states.

During the weekend, the media extensively reported on
the death Friday of noted Jewish-American playwright
Arthur Miller.

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Mideast:
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Summary:
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Independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized: "
Israel's foreign policy should not be damaged by
someone [i.e. Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom] trying to
have his cake and eat it, too."

Conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized:
"Anti-disengagement leaders -- particularly religious
figures -- need to banish those who stray in the
direction of incitement and violence."

Editor-in-Chief Amnon Dankner wrote in popular,
pluralist Maariv: "The next [political] assassin moves
stealthily among us day after day, anonymous, silent
and dangerous. He knows that no one will catch him.
He waits for the proper moment. Soon. Soon."

Block Quotes:
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I. "Shalom's Choice"


Independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized
(February 14): "While [Foreign Minister Silvan] Shalom
is not part of the 'putsch' nor counted with the Likud
rebels, practically speaking his behavior is
undermining the Prime Minister's policies and
challenging the legitimacy of the disengagement process
that Sharon is leading. But it is much worse than
that, because Shalom is responsible for explaining the
disengagement plan to the world and persuading the
world of its legitimacy and chances for its
implementation.... There will not be a referendum
because the Knesset and government have already decided
on disengagement, because the Prime Minister has stuck
to his position, and because the plan is on course and
there is no way back without causing damage to the
country, and Shalom knows this. If building his
political strength in the party is so important to him
that he is prepared to support a lost cause, just so
that he will be remembered for it, he should leave the
government and devote his private time to the issue.
Israel's foreign policy should not be damaged by
someone trying to have his cake and eat it, too."

II. "Banish Fanatics"

Conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized
(February 14): "While threats and vandalism can be
traced to a minuscule number of disengagement
opponents, they must not be ignored. The level of
incitement, the degree of demonization Sharon has been
subjected to ('Stalin,' 'dictator'),the orchestration
of refusal to serve, the escalating level of violence--
on Friday, near Itamar [in the West Bank], an IDF
officer was almost run over by settlers -- all point to
a problem that may not be limited to a small number of
apocalyptic fanatics. Today's toxic political
environment should not be attributed to the anti-
disengagement forces alone. It comes in the wake of
four years of relentless Palestinian terrorism that
claimed 1,000 Israeli lives -- a price
disproportionately paid by the settlers -- and a
political about-face by Sharon, who essentially
embraced key positions of Amram Mitzna, the opponent he
trounced at the polls in January 2003. Moreover,
whether you support or oppose disengagement, there is
an argument to be made that Sharon has bulldozed rather
than finessed its implementation. But what we're
dealing with here is not a political argument. Indeed,
what must first be done is to distinguish between
legitimate political concerns and opposition, on the
one hand, and gangsterism, on the other. Those who
employ violence, intimidation and incitement must be
identified, isolated and prosecuted.... Unfortunately,
it is too late for words alone. Anti-disengagement
leaders -- particularly religious figures -- need to
banish those who stray in the direction of incitement
and violence. And synagogues and communities should
shun such persons.... The actions of the government and
the Knesset may be regarded as imprudent, self-serving
or misguided. They are not 'crimes against humanity.'"


III. "The Next Assassin"

Editor-in-Chief Amnon Dankner wrote in popular,
pluralist Maariv (February 14): "The next [political]
assassin knows that he will be a hero.... The next
assassin knows that he is not the only one. True, he
has worked alone so far, and on the right day will also
do the correct and sacred and awful thing on his own,
without sharing it with a single soul. But he knows
deep in his heart that he is not wrong, and there are
others like him. He reads in the newspapers and hears
conversations about the fears of all kinds of murderous
violence: mass murder of Arabs, attacking the Temple
Mount mosques, the murder of army and police officers.
He not only hopes, he knows for a certainty that there
are others like him, more than a few, who are thinking
and planning carefully, and on the day of reckoning
they will carry out all this and more. No, he is not
alone.... He lives among us and does not stand out in
any way. His speech is moderate, his reactions are not
vehement. When someone tries to elicit an extreme
statement from him, he shrugs and remains silent. He
steers clear of crowds, and is careful to stay away
from places where people stand and rage, waving signs
and cursing. No one can photograph him waving his fist
or distorting his face in hateful cries. He says
nothing, shouts nothing, writes nothing. He will only
act. The next assassin moves stealthily among us day
after day, anonymous, silent and dangerous. He knows
that no one will catch him. He waits for the proper
moment. Soon. Soon."

KURTZER