ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 TEL AVIV 000012

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


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SUBJECTS COVERED IN THIS REPORT:
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1. Security Fence

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Key stories in the media:
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All media reported on missiles fired last night by IAF
helicopter at a car carrying three senior activists in
Islamic Jihad's military wing, causing their death.
Among the three casualties was Said Abu Jedian, known
as the "Kassam commander." According to Maariv's
website, Abu Jedian was incarcerated by Israel from
1997 until 2002 and, upon his release, came to serve in
a dominant capacity in Islamic Jihad's military wing in
the northern Gaza Strip, focusing mainly on Kassam
rocket fire. Israel Radio reports that at least five
Kassam rockets were fired at Israel in apparent
retaliation for the targeted killing operation, but
it's believed that all rockets fell in open fields
causing neither damage nor casualties.

Israel Radio reported this morning that last night the
army arrested 11 Palestinians on the wanted list, most
of them active members of Hamas. A Tanzim activist was
arrested in Kalkilya. In the Bethlehem area a Hamas
activist was arrested and nine others in Hebron and the
surrounding area. Soldiers on an operation near Tulkarm
came under fire but none of them were hit.

All media reported on Likud Chairman Binyamin Netanyahu
demanding the immediate resignation of Likud ministers
from the government, and instructing them to submit
letters of resignation by this coming Sunday. Yediot
Aharonot's front page assesses that the chairman fears
increasing opposing to this step in his own party.
Ministers Livnat, Shalom, Naveh and Katz have expressed
their opposition to the resignation now, preferring to
take this step only after the Likud primaries are held
on January 17.

Maariv published this morning a denial by Kadima's
chairman, Roni Baron, to a Maariv report yesterday
(Monday) that PM Sharon is planning a "road map bang."
Baron said that this report has no basis, and that "t
he only political plan at the moment is the road map."
According Maariv's report yesterday, the "road map
bang" stipulates that in the absence of a partner in
the PA, Israel will determine its eastern border with
the Americans, who will act as a sort of custodian for
the Palestinians, who will be able to establish a state
with temporary borders within territory that will be
evacuated. On the other hand, Shimon Peres admitted
yesterday in an interview with the Russian Television
RTV1 that "such a plan exists," though hastened to
clarify that in any case it is better to wait until the
PA election results before taking any measures on the
matter. Peres said that what is being discussed is a
period of transition and that we must build a partner
on the Palestinian street, but added that if none
should be found, then this plan can certainly take
shape. Peres noted that in any case, the plan will not
become a reality before the elections in Israel.
Yesterday, the Palestinian Authority and both ends of
the political spectrum in Israel reacted angrily to the
report of the plan.

Ha'aretz bannered with the Civil Administration's
admission that illegal construction was approved in
Upper Modi'in, after construction was already going on,
to create facts on the ground.

Kol Israel reported this morning that during the night
the army, the police and the Civil Administration
evacuated an illegal settlement outpost near Hebron.
The outpost, named Pnei Hever, was established in the
past week.

Ha'aretz quoted Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud
Abbas as saying Monday, in Qatar, he might delay
upcoming parliamentary elections if Israel bars
Jerusalem Arabs from voting. This was the first time
that Abbas has indicated, in public, he might delay the
January 25 vote. A Commander of Palestinian Police was
also quoted as saying that the PA is incapable of
holding elections. The Jerusalem Post reported that
Israel's final decisions on East Jerusalem Arabs' vote
will take place after consulting with two ranking U.S.
officials. It's also reported that Elliot Abrams and
David Welch are due in Israel Thursday, to discuss with
both Israeli and PA officials the upcoming elections.
Kol Israel reported this morning that the Palestinian
parliament election campaign officially opened today.
Palestinian organizations are expected to hold rallies
in East Jerusalem even though the Israeli police have
prohibited this.

Jerusalem Post reported that the Prisons Service has
been ordered by the political echelon to ease
restrictions on jailed Fatah Tanzim leader Marwan
Barghouti and to allow him to hold routine political
meetings in jail in the run-up to the Palestinian
legislative elections.


All media reported that the security establishment has
recommended to the prime minister that Israel evacuate
the residents of the northern part of the village of
Ghajar on the Lebanese border and erect a security
fence along the international border with enhanced
security facilities. A comprehensive discussion on the
issue will be held on Wednesday at the Prime Minister's
Bureau. An alternative proposal, not to evacuate the
inhabitants but to enhance the security systems in the
village, will also be considered. The proposal to
evacuate the residents was submitted in the wake of the
Hizbullah attack on the village about a month and a
half ago, when the attackers attempted to abduct an
Israeli soldier, and wounded 11 soldiers. Yediot
assesses that PM Sharon will oppose the idea of
dividing the village into two parts, and will support
the military stands in strengthening security measures
in the area.

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1. Security Fence
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Summary:
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Conservative, independent The Jerusalem Post
editorialized: "So long as the threat of terrorism
remains clear and present, Israel has the right and
responsibility to put the security of its citizens
first, not the diplomatic concerns of other nations.
Israel might point out to these nations that the
fence, far from blocking the creation of a
Palestinian state, is actually consistent with, and
even likely to advance, that end."


Block Quotes:
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I. "Finish the Fence"

Conservative, independent The Jerusalem Post
editorialized: "We have seen that the security fence
is not a panacea, because it is possible for a bomber
to get through crossing points in the fence, and
because it will not stop missile attacks... The Shin
Bet (Israel Security Agency),in the meantime, has
pointed out that casualties from terrorism were down
60 percent in 2005: 45 killed compared to 117 in

2004. This improvement was attributed not to the
fence, which had not been lengthened significantly
over the past year, nor directly to Israeli military
successes, but to the "cease-fire" implemented by the
terrorist groups. During this year-long self-declared
"truce," which in any case expired on Sunday, the IDF
reports there were 2,990 terrorist attacks.... But it
is precisely because the improvement in security was
attributed more to Palestinian fatigue than Israeli
prowess that it is critical that our government not
let its guard down. Under these circumstances, it is
worth reviewing where the construction of the
security fence stands. So far, about 200 km. have
been built, roughly along the northern portion of the
Green Line from the Jordanian border to the Petah
Tikva area. Another 10 km. have been built north of
Jerusalem and 10 km. more south of the capital. This
leaves more than half of the barrier incomplete -
about 350 km. have yet to be built. Less than 10
percent of the unbuilt sections are currently being
contested in court. The Gush Etzion Local Council has
been objecting to constructing the fence around that
settlement bloc, out of concern that some settlements
will be left outside. But neither court procedures
nor local Israeli or Palestinian objections fully
explain the fact that, far from being completed, the
fence barely advanced in 2005. The existing sections
were mostly built from mid-2002 through 2004....In
the meantime, the most likely reason for delay is
that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is reluctant to
contend with the two most important critics of the
fence's route, our High Court of Justice and the
United States..... Again, though, less than 10
percent of the unbuilt barrier is being contested
before our justices, and so the interventions of the
court are no excuse for the wider delay. Similarly,
American concerns about fencing in the settlement
blocs should not be allowed to stop the fence from
being built. So long as the threat of terrorism
remains clear and present, Israel has the right and
responsibility to put the security of its citizens
first, not the diplomatic concerns of other nations.
Israel might point out to these nations that the
fence, far from blocking the creation of a
Palestinian state, is actually consistent with, and
even likely to advance, that end."

JONES