ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TEL AVIV 001488

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. Iran: Nuclear Program


2. Mideast


3. Jonathan Pollard

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Key stories in the media:
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Major media (banner in The Jerusalem Post) reported
that new satellite imagery released on Sunday by the
Institute for Science and Imagery, a Washington-based
think tank, indicated that Iran has expanded one of its
uranium conversion sites at Isfahan and reinforced
another at Natanz, possibly in preparation for an
aerial bombing attack. Leading media cited London's
The Sunday Times as saying that Tehran has trained
40,000 suicide bombers to attack British and American
targets if Iran's nuclear sites are attacked. On
Sunday, The Jerusalem Post reported that a high-ranking
IDF officer from Military Intelligence told the
newspaper that the successful enrichment of uranium
announced last week proved that diplomatic efforts to
stop Tehran's race to the bomb had failed. On Sunday,
the media (lead story in Maariv) reported on the anti-
Israel convention held in Tehran with Palestinian
participants, during which Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad was quoted as calling Israel a "rotten,
dried tree" that will be "annihilated by one storm."
Leading media quoted Hamas political leader Khaled
Mashal as saying at the meeting that Hamas will never
recognize Israel. The media quoted Shimon Peres, No. 2
in Kadima, as saying that Ahmadinejad will end up like
Saddam Hussein.

Leading media reported that over the weekend, the US
blocked the draft of a Presidential Statement by the UN
Security Council condemning Israel's actions in the
Gaza Strip. Ha'aretz wrote that the resolution,
formulated by the Qatar and PLO missions to the UN, was
the mildest of three such documents barred by the US
last week.

On Sunday, Ha'aretz and Maariv cited an announcement
made by the US Treasury Department on Friday, according
to which US companies and citizens are barred from
maintaining commercial ties with the Hamas-led PA,
except in cases in which special authorization is
given.

Israel Radio cited the East Jerusalem newspaper Al-Quds
as saying that Egypt has conveyed to the Hamas-led PA
government a clear message, according to which the Arab
states intend to pressure the PA government to
recognize Israel. The radio reported that Egyptian
intelligence chief Omar Suleiman likely conveyed the
message in a meeting with Palestinian FM Mahmoud Zahar.

In its lead story on Sunday, Ha'aretz reported that on
Friday, Palestinian PM Ismail Haniyeh leveled
unprecedented criticism at Chairman [President] Mahmoud
Abbas, accusing the "presidential institution" of
trying to deny the elected Palestinian government its
powers and present it as lacking the ability to govern.
Today, Ha'aretz quoted a senior Palestinian source as
saying on Sunday that the Palestine Investment Fund
(PIF),a major Palestinian financial body, which was
transferred from the Palestinian cabinet to Abbas's
office after the January elections, will only be able
to finance PA employee wages for two to three months.
The source was quoted as saying that the PIF has only
USD 200-250 million in liquid assets. Israel Radio
reported that Iran decided to grant the PA USD 100
million, double the amount Iranian FM Manuchehr Motaki
pledged on Saturday. Israel Radio reported that the
Karni crossing will be open this morning for transport
of goods from and into the Gaza Strip.

Israel Radio reported on exchanges of fire between the
IDF and Palestinians in Nablus this afternoon. The
radio said that two Palestinians, including a 13-year-
old boy, were wounded in the clashes.

On Sunday, several media (lead story in Hatzofe) echoed
an IDF Radio story citing the belief of Israeli
officials that when the chaos in the PA increases, the
US will agree to release convicted spy Jonathan Pollard
in exchange for the release of Tanzim leader Marwan
Barghouti, who is serving time in an Israeli jail.
Today, Ha'aretz wrote that the initiative is supported
by Likud MK Gilad Erdan, chairman of the Knesset Lobby
on behalf of Jonathan Pollard. Ha'aretz cited
disclaims by US and Israeli officials of those reports.
Today, The Jerusalem Post reported that Pollard's
lawyer, Nitzan Darshan-Leitner, told the newspaper on
Sunday that Pollard would not agree to be freed from
his US prison in exchange for Barghouti.

Ha'aretz, Yediot, and The Jerusalem Post reported that
on Sunday, hundreds of settlers clashed with IDF
soldiers and police officers in the West Bank, after
the settlers violated a military ban on marching near
Ramallah. Ha'aretz and Yediot reported that military
police recently arrested two IDF troops on suspicion of
firing at Palestinian farmers and Israeli volunteers
during one of the clashes at Skali Farm in the Nablus
region.

Citing Reuters, Ha'aretz on Sunday quoted Lebanese PM
Fuad Siniora as saying Saturday that he would be asking
President Bush to put pressure on Israel to pull out of
the Sheba Farms area.

Ha'aretz and Israel Radio reported that Jerusalem
police will bolster their presence this morning near
the soccer field in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of
Sur Baher in a bid to prevent a Hamas rally there. The
radio quoted Hamas leaders as saying that the rally is
of a religious, not political nature.

All media reported that the 17th Knesset, which
comprises 41 new legislators, will open this afternoon.
The media said that Ariel Sharon's chair in the Knesset
plenum will stand empty during the swearing-in
ceremony. Today, all leading media, except The
Jerusalem Post, reported on divergences between the
Kadima and Labor parties regarding the minimum wage,
which Labor wants raised to USD 1,000 a month.
Ha'aretz also cited Labor's belief that Kadima's
political guidelines are too ambiguous. Yediot cited
the belief of most senior police officials that Yisrael
Beiteinu party leader Avigdor Lieberman, who is still
under police investigation, is fit to serve as
internal security minister. Yediot reported that AG
Menachem Mazuz will oppose Lieberman supervising police
officers investigating him.

On Sunday, Yediot quoted Sheikh Raed Salah, the head of
the northern branch of Israel's Islamic Movement, as
saying over the weekend that Jerusalem will be the
capital of the Arab Caliphate.
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1. Iran: Nuclear Program:
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Summary:
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Independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized: "The
Iranian nation, which, for the most part, wants
economic prosperity while adhering to national pride,
might pay the price of its leaders' bragging and hatred
if it does not come to its senses and work to replace
the current regime."

Block Quotes:
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"The Noise Before the Storm"

Independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized (April
16): "The President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has
been gripped by a growing verbal momentum in the past
few weeks.... This time, Ahmadinejad accused Israel of
posing a danger to the entire Muslim world, likened it
to a dried and rotten tree, and promised that this tree
'will be eliminated by one storm.' It is not
Ahmadinejad's style that is troubling, but rather what
is behind it -- for the storm the President of Iran is
promising might be a nuclear one.... Ahmadinejad's
pronouncements might prove that there is not always
quiet before a storm. The Iranian nation, which, for
the most part, wants economic prosperity while adhering
to national pride, might pay the price of its leaders'
bragging and hatred if it does not come to its senses
and work to replace the current regime."

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2. Mideast:
--------------

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

Independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized:
"Israel's demands of Hamas ... are justified.
Therefore Israel must not give up the opportunities to
make these demands heard. They must be brought before
Hamas leaders.... [But] if the statesmen fall silent,
only the rockets and guns will speak."

Chief Economic Editor Sever Plotker wrote in mass-
circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot: "The fact that
the post-disengagement reality does not resemble the
forecasts ought to prompt Olmert to rethink his
political plans.... Nine months after disengagement,
this pregnancy ended only in the birth of question
marks."

Arab affairs commentator Danny Rubinstein wrote in
Ha'aretz (April 17): "The only candidates for replacing
the Hamas government are the Fatah activists.... But
the clear impression in the territories today is that
the public will not let them do so."

Liberal columnist Dr. Gadi Taub wrote in popular,
pluralist Maariv: "We have an opportunity to turn
Hamas's interests into part of the forces of order on
the other side. This should be Israel's goal -- a
sufficiently stable central government on the other
side."




Block Quotes:
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I. "When the Cannons Roar"

Independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized (April
17): "It would come as no surprise if officials in
Jerusalem, Washington, and a number of the region's
capitals were harboring hopes that the situation in
Gaza would deteriorate to such a degree, that the
population would tire of Hamas and reject it. That
would be a dangerous game.... Israel's demands of Hamas
-- to renounce terror, to act against the groups that
persist in using it, to recognize Israel and respect
existing agreements -- are justified. Therefore Israel
must not give up the opportunities to make these
demands heard. They must be brought before Hamas
leaders, if not through direct contact -- then via
foreign negotiation channels. If the statesmen fall
silent, only the rockets and guns will speak."

II. "A Pregnancy That Ended Only in the Birth of
Question Marks"

Chief Economic Editor Sever Plotker wrote in mass-
circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot (April 16): "The
fact that the post-disengagement reality does not
resemble the forecasts ought to prompt Olmert to
rethink his political plans. Will Israel truly be able
establish its border with the Palestinians unilaterally
-- a border that will be accepted by neither them nor
the international community? Will Israel be able to
'converge' into 'settlement blocs' on the West Bank and
annex them? Who will finance this process, which is
going to cost tens of billions of shekels and will not
be perceived as a solution to anything? Who is going
to prevent a tragic rift in the people? And what will
be left of Palestine after an Israeli pseudo-withdrawal
that will go hand in hand with a pseudo-annexation?
Nine months after disengagement, this pregnancy ended
only in the birth of question marks."

III. "Rallying Around Hamas"

Arab affairs commentator Danny Rubinstein wrote in
Ha'aretz (April 17): "The only candidates for replacing
the Hamas government are the Fatah activists, who might
be able to find a way to regain control of the
government. But the clear impression in the
territories today is that the public will not let them
do so. The large number of Hamas voters have been
joined by many more whose support for Ismail Haniyeh,
Mahmoud Zahar and their persecuted colleagues has only
increased as a result of the pressure on the elected
government, together with the Israeli bombings, the
siege and the collective punishment. All this will
only increase the hostility for and hatred of Fatah."

IV. "No To Toppling Hamas"

Liberal columnist Dr. Gadi Taub wrote in popular,
pluralist Maariv (April 17): "We can presume that
Hamas's strength in Palestinian society will not lessen
if it becomes a heroic organization that sacrificed its
rule on the altar of its determination to fight Israel.
If Fatah returns to power in its stead, its chances of
reining in Hamas or dismantling its terrorist
infrastructure, will not increase but rather decrease.
Once again, we will get a weakened Fatah that is forced
to cope with an armed and strong opposition, with broad
public support.... The type of pressure that Israel is
applying is liable to completely collapse the
infrastructure of the unsteady Palestinian regime, and
then we will find ourselves in a Lebanon-like
situation, only without a Syria that is capable of
keeping order.... We have an opportunity to turn
Hamas's interests into part of the forces of order on
the other side. This should be Israel's goal -- a
sufficiently stable central government on the other
side, which finds quiet preferable to a state of
warfare. It is not certain that toppling Hamas serves
this goal. It could prove to be less a way of teaching
the tiger a lesson, and more as releasing the tiger
from the golden cage of government. And then it will
be able to return to the chaos, where it is easier for
it to run wild."








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3. Jonathan Pollard:
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Summary:
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The conservative, independent Jerusalem Post
editorialized: "[Jonathan] Pollard's transgression
pales in comparison to [Marwan] Barghouti's
atrocities."

Eytan Haber, veteran op-ed writer and assistant to the
late prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, opined in an
editorial of mass-circulation, pluralist Yediot
Aharonot: " Pollard will be released only by something
that applies pressure to the Americans, so that they
say: 'There is no choice.' Until then, it is all
speculation."
Block Quotes:
--------------


I. "Free Pollard, Not Barghouti"

The conservative, independent Jerusalem Post
editorialized (April 17): "According to persistent
reports, a deal could be in the works to swap convicted
American spy Jonathan Pollard for convicted Palestinian
terrorist Marwan Barghouti.... The very perception of
Barghouti as preferable to Hamas is inherently flawed.
His rhetoric years ago may have been milder, but the
deeds for which he was jailed superseded any purported
moderation. And his newly restated aims and those of
Hamas are all but indistinguishable. Israeli endeavors
to tip Palestinian political scales can only aggravate
a bad situation. Israel already burned its fingers
with such meddling, ironically by encouraging the rise
of Hamas in the late 1980s as a foil to Fatah....
Pollard's transgression pales in comparison to
Barghouti's atrocities. Pollard leaked material to
America's ally (Israel) about an enemy's (Iraq's)
preparations against it. American counter-espionage
has incontrovertibly apprehended greater and more
harmful spies, yet they weren't treated anywhere as
harshly as Pollard. Jews are currently celebrating
Pessah [Passover], the festival of freedom. There's no
context more suitable for Israel's premier, in his
upcoming Washington visit, to put liberating Pollard
from bondage at the top of his priority list. This
should be done because it is what Pollard deserves,
with no strings attached -- and certainly not any
strings connected to Barghouti."

II. "Jonathan Barghouti"

Eytan Haber, veteran op-ed writer and assistant to the
late prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, opined in an
editorial of mass-circulation, pluralist Yediot
Aharonot (April 17): "The Americans, as Golda Meir once
said about others [the Israeli Black Panthers], are
'not nice at all' when it comes to the Pollard affair,
and the death of the 'leading man' in this unfortunate
affair, Caspar Weinberger, makes no difference. If
there is no clear American interest in releasing
Pollard, the chances are small that we will see
Jonathan in our midst anytime soon. The chances are
equally small that Barghouti will stroll through Nablus
Gate [in the Old City of Jerusalem]. Pollard will be
released only by something that applies pressure to the
Americans, so that they say: 'There is no choice.'
Until then, it is all speculation."

JONES