Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TELAVIV2112
2006-06-01 12:48:00
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 08 TEL AVIV 002112 

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
CDR USCENTCOM 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 08 TEL AVIV 002112

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
CDR USCENTCOM 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. Iran


2. Mideast

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

All media reported that on Wednesday, Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice announced that the US is willing
to enter multilateral direct talks with Iran, if Tehran
agrees to halt its nuclear enrichment activity. Israel
Radio reported that Iran announced that it does not
accept the United States' condition. Maariv, The
Jerusalem Post, and Israel Radio reported that
President Bush informed PM Ehud Olmert of his impending
move during Olmert's visit to Washington. The
Jerusalem Post and Israel Radio said that President
Bush called Olmert on Wednesday to bring him up to
date, and that Secretary Rice called FM Tzipi Livni
before making her announcement. Israel Radio quoted
sources in Jerusalem as saying that Secretary Rice's
announcement shortens the UN Security Council's
response time and increases the chances of
international pressure against Iran, which is a very
positive development.

Yediot and Ha'aretz reported that PM Olmert is opposed
to the implementation of the convergence plan in
gradual steps and prefers that it be carried out in one
action. Olmert conveyed this in an interview with
Yediot. Ha'aretz wrote that the rate at which the
convergence plan will be carried out is a matter that
the government has not yet discussed, but is at the
center of planning for both Olmert and senior
ministers, including Vice PM Shimon Peres. Ha'aretz
said that the issue of the rate of convergence is not
likely to be finalized prior to a meeting between PA
Chairman [President] Mahmoud Abbas and Olmert. Olmert
was quoted as saying in his interview with Yediot that
he is determined to carry out the convergence plan and
that he is confident that Israelis will accept it.

Ha'aretz reported that talks between Fatah and the
ruling Hamas on a compromise solution over the National
Reconciliation Document appear to have faltered. The

newspaper wrote that two days before the deadline set
by Abbas, it appears that the Chairman himself is not
in a hurry to reach a compromise with Hamas. The
Jerusalem Post quoted European officials as saying on
Wednesday that differences of opinion have emerged in
Europe over the "funding mechanism" the European
Commission has been asked to develop to transfer funds
to the PA. Maariv and The Jerusalem Post cited the
official Iranian press agency IRNA that Palestinian PM
Ismail Haniyeh called the US an enemy of all Muslims
and quoted him as saying that Washington -- under the
influence of the Zionist lobby -- was making every
effort to bring about the failure of the Hamas-led PA
government. Israel Radio reported that Arab League
Secretary-General criticized the conditions imposed by

SIPDIS
Western countries for talks with Hamas.

The Jerusalem Post reported that left-wing groups plan
to demonstrate in Tel Aviv on Saturday night to urge
Israel to talk with the PA government. The newspaper
reported that Peace Now does not intend to participate
in the rally, as its spokesman Yariv Oppenheimer said
that the demonstration should also call on Hamas to
recognize Israel.

Maariv reported on a proposal put forward by Lebanese
PM Fuad Siniora: The UN would mark the Lebanese-Syrian
border, determining with precision which country the
Sheba Farms belong to; in a second stage, Syria would
publicly announce that it renounces sovereignty over
the Sheba Farms, as they are on Lebanese territory;
lastly, the Lebanese army would deploy along the
Lebanese-Israeli border. Maariv reported that senior
Israeli defense officials, who had feared that the
Golan issue would eventually be raised as well, have
started showing interest in the proposal.

Israel Radio reported that two IDF soldiers were
wounded in Jenin when a charge exploded next to their
vehicle. The radio reported that the IDF arrested 12
Palestinians in the West Bank. Leading media quoted
Palestinian sources as saying that on Wednesday, the
IDF failed to kill a Palestinian militant in an air
strike in the Gaza Strip.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz was quoted as
saying in an interview with The Jerusalem Post that
ongoing cuts such as this week's 510-million shekel
(around USD 110 million) reduction in the defense
budget will turn the IDF into a mediocre military.
Halutz added that this is something that Israel cannot
afford.

Ha'aretz reported that the Hebrew University has
decided to postpone a program approved last month to
grant undergraduate degrees to Shin Bet personnel. The
newspaper said that in practice, the program would be
canceled.

Yediot reported that President Bush and former Israeli
cabinet minister Natan Sharansky have been
corresponding for a year on various topics. The
newspaper reported that in his latest letter to
Sharansky, the President wrote: "I am proud to be your
twin soul."

Ha'aretz reported that the largest labor union in the
Canadian province of Ontario -- the Ontario division of
the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE),which
has 450,000 members nationwide -- has voted unanimously
to boycott Israel "until it recognizes the
Palestinians' right of self-determination" and accepts
all UN resolutions including the right of return. The
newspaper wrote that the Anti-Defamation League harshly
condemned the decision, calling it "deplorable and
offensive."

Maariv reported that the IDF has just completed its
research on the Beaufort battle in the early days of
the Lebanon War (June 1982). The study determines that
then-Defense Minister Ariel Sharon did not lie to then-
PM Menachem Begin when he told him that no Israeli
soldiers were killed in the battle. According to the
survey, Sharon was actually not told of the deaths.
The issue was a strong point of contention during the
war.

Ha'aretz (English Ed.) reported that in Jerusalem on
Wednesday, Daniel Pipes, director of the Middle East
Forum and a frequent columnist known for his
neoconservative views, received the "Guardian of Zion"
award from Bar-Ilan University. According to a
statement issued by the University, Pipes "is one of
the first analysts to understand the threat of radical
Islam."

Maariv reported that American software giant Oracle is
expected to buy the Israeli startup Demantra in a few
days for USD 45 million.

Ha'aretz (English Ed.) reported that this week,
visiting American actor and equestrian William Shatner
announced a USD 10-million campaign in partnership with
the Jewish National Fund to support therapeutic riding
programs in Israel.

Yediot reported that Scottish authorities suspect
Israeli chemist Hanan Rabin of smuggling millions of
dollars worth of date-rape drugs from Scotland to the
US.

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

1. Iran:
--------------

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

Diplomatic correspondent Ben Caspit wrote on page one
of popular, pluralist Maariv: "'Iran will not have a
nuclear bomb, period,' Bush promised Olmert, and -- on
Wednesday -- also the world. What remains for him to
do now is to keep his word."

Washington correspondent Shmuel Rosner wrote in
independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz: "Rice's
announcement brings decision time closer."

Washington correspondent Orly Azolai wrote in mass-
circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot: "On Wednesday,
Iran, which was defined by Bush as a major country in
the 'axis of evil,' became a worthy partner for
negotiations. And after all, that is what Ahmadinejad
has wanted since coming to power."

The conservative, independent Jerusalem Post
editorialized: "[Preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear
weapons] is more achievable than it may seem, even
without resorting to military force, but only if the
United States and Europe show unity and determination
on a level that arguably has not been seen since World
War II."

Washington correspondent Nathan Guttman wrote in The
Jerusalem Post: "If direct negotiations only help
Tehran gain more time to achieve its nuclear
aspirations, Israel will be there to remind the US that
the clock is ticking."

Senior columnist and chief defense commentator Zeev
Schiff wrote in Ha'aretz: "Headlines about presidential
promises to defend Israel in the case of an attack
should not suffice."

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


I. "Lip Service"

Diplomatic correspondent Ben Caspit wrote on page one
of popular, pluralist Maariv (6/1): "On Wednesday, the
Americans, for a change, did the right thing.... [But]
the distance between the American announcement of
Wednesday to negotiating with Iran tomorrow, is still
very great. The chances that such negotiations will
take place, and if they do that they will progress, and
if they progress will bear fruit and stop Iran's
nuclear efforts, are close to nil. And then, only then,
the Americans can prove to the world that they tried
every possible way and turned over every stone with
their diplomatic efforts. And then, only then, can we
move on.... [Whatever happens], Iran truly wants the
bomb. When the negotiations fail, the Americans will
be able to say they tried everything.... 'Iran will not
have a nuclear bomb, period,' Bush promised Olmert, and
-- on Wednesday -- also the world. What remains for
him to do now is to keep his word."

II. "Returning the Ball to the Iranian Court"

Washington correspondent Shmuel Rosner wrote in
independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz (6/1): "[Secretary
of State Condoleezza] Rice's move on Wednesday is first
and foremost meant to return the ball to two courts
from which it was kicked out ... not long ago -- the
Iranian and the Russian ones. The US is prepared and
even willing to talk. Iranian willingness will now be
tested with the proper measuring tape. Will Iran agree
to freeze its program so that it can meet the
Americans? The Russians will be tested, too: Should
Iran again refuse, which pretext would they find this
time to prevent a decision on sanctions at the Security
Council? The possible positive outcome of this move is
perceptible: Either Iran rejects the sanctions and
Russia accepts them, or Iran accepts them, and the
sanctions will produce an agreement over a deal whose
conclusion will be the end of the crisis.... Some [US
administration officials] also see an accumulating
negative result: The Iranians will reject, the Russians
will dodge, and the Americans will be humiliated. In
any case, Rice's announcement brings decision time
closer."

III. "Ahmadinejad Got What He Wanted"

Washington correspondent Orly Azolai wrote in mass-
circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot (6/1): "Since
his election, [Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]
has wished to achieve two goals: to cause the US to
speak to him directly and to obtain US recognition of
the fact that Iran is entitled to manufacture nuclear
energy for civilian purposes. On Wednesday, the US
granted him his wish.... Now Ahmadinejad can raise the
stakes and pose his own conditions for entering into
negotiations. After the US recognized Iran's right to
nuclear energy, he has become the leader -- not the one
who is being led. For 27 years the US boycotted Iran,
even when it was headed by a moderate president like
Khatami. On Wednesday, Washington extended a hand to
Tehran, while it is headed by an unpredictable leader,
who both threatened to wipe Israel off the map and
argued passionately that the Holocaust is a Zionist
invention. It is not clear if Ahmadinejad is so
sophisticated that he created his mad strategy in order
to make the US fold -- or whether it happened by
accident. Either way, victory is his. On Wednesday,
Iran, which was defined by Bush as a major country in
the 'axis of evil,' became a worthy partner for
negotiations. And after all, that is what Ahmadinejad
has wanted since coming to power."

IV. "Washington's Iran Gambit"

The conservative, independent Jerusalem Post
editorialized (6/1): "The US offer to talk to Tehran is
a risky gambit since it could, particularly if talks
actually take place, relieve pressure on the regime and
demoralize the growing Iranian opposition. Such an
offer would only be worth this risk if it succeeded in
bringing Russia and China aboard the US approach....
The international community must keep in mind that the
goal is not just to express condemnation, but to force
the Iranian regime to capitulate on what has become --
despite frequent denials -- Tehran's obvious
objectives: obtaining the capability to build a nuclear
arsenal. This goal is more achievable than it may
seem, even without resorting to military force, but
only if the United States and Europe show unity and
determination on a level that arguably has not been
seen since World War II."


V. "Direct Dialing"

Washington correspondent Nathan Guttman wrote in The
Jerusalem Post (6/1): "Israel, which is seen as the
country that has the most to lose from an Iranian
nuclear bomb, is staying out of the debate going on in
Washington. For Israel, what is important is the final
result. If direct talks were to stop the Iranian
nuclear project, Israel would welcome them. But if
direct negotiations only help Tehran gain more time to
achieve its nuclear aspirations, Israel will be there
to remind the US that the clock is ticking."


VI. "To Fulfill the American Promise"

Senior columnist and chief defense commentator Zeev
Schiff wrote in Ha'aretz (6/1): "Headlines about
presidential promises to defend Israel in the case of
an attack should not suffice. Israel must strive to
reach an agreement with Washington about how to
increase its deterrent capabilities, including against
long-range threats.... From the offensive perspective,
it seems Israel should strengthen its abilities in the
realm of long-distance cruise missiles.... From the
defense aspect there are also ways to strengthen
Israel. The country wants to step up its ability to
develop unmanned long range weapons systems and is
weighing additions to its Arrow anti-missile defense
system. The country is also examining its ability to
defend itself from the kinds of rockets used by the
terror organizations and Hizbullah. Israel must receive
aid in all of these realms, because if it does not, all
it will have is pretty headlines."

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

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

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

Senior op-ed writer Akiva Eldar commented in Ha'aretz:
"[US diplomats] recommended to American reporters that
they not get carried away by the 'convergence plan joy'
of their Israeli colleagues."

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

"The Americans Knew, Too"

Senior op-ed writer Akiva Eldar commented in Ha'aretz
(6/1): "We can assume that the friends of [Internal
Security Minister and former Shin Bet head Avi] Dichter
in the Shin Bet reported to Olmert that the Palestinian
President made sure to let the Americans in on the
secret [of his ultimatum initiative]. Twenty-four

SIPDIS
hours before he presented the Hamas leaders with the
ultimatum regarding the national referendum, Abu Mazen
met with the US Consul-General in Jerusalem, Jack
Walles. He informed the American diplomat, who probably
reported to Washington immediately. His colleagues at
the State Department recommended to American reporters
that they not get carried away by the 'convergence plan
joy' of their Israeli colleagues and by their
enthusiasm at the cheers in Congress. They knew that
the 'there is no partner' label that Sharon worked so
hard to pin on Abu Mazen is in danger."

JONES