Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TELAVIV464
2006-02-01 11:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

Tags:  IS KMDR MEDIA REACTION REPORT 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 TEL AVIV 000464 

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 08 TEL AVIV 000464

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. Israel-NATO Relations

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

Israel Radio reported that last night, President Bush
devoted most of his State of the Union Address to the
global war on terror and the Iraq issue. Giving an
account of the President's speech before it was
delivered, Ha'aretz's Washington correspondent Shmuel
Rosner defined it as a defense of U.S. policy. Israel
Radio quoted Bush as saying in the address: "The
Palestinian people have voted in elections. And now
the leaders of Hamas must recognize Israel, disarm,
reject terrorism, and work for lasting peace."

Israel Radio and leading Internet web sites reported
that this morning, the High Court of Justice rejected a
petition against the destruction of nine houses at the
illegal settler outpost of Amona in the West Bank.
The radio earlier reported that in the middle of the
night, Justice Elyakim Rubinstein issued a temporary
injunction against the demolition. All media
highlighted the face-off at the outpost between
security forces and right-wing activists. The
electronic media reported that two far-right Knesset
members, Effi Eitam and Aryeh Eldad, were among the
first to be injured in the clashes, in which dozens
have been hurt on both sides.

Ha'aretz (lead story in Hebrew Ed.) wrote that Russia
and China are siding with the West for now on the issue
of Iran's nuclear program, but that aggressive measures
against Iran are still a long way off. Ha'aretz wrote
that International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors have
discovered documents proving that Iran intends to build
a nuclear bomb.

Both Ha'aretz and The Jerusalem Post published
interviews they held on Tuesday with Ismail Haniyeh, a
senior Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip. In Ha'aretz,
Haniyeh was quoted as saying that Hamas will oppose the
transfer of control of the PA's security forces to PA
Chairman [President] Mahmoud Abbas. In The Jerusalem

Post, Haniyeh was quoted as saying: "Earthquakes are a
symbol of destruction, while Hamas is talking about
construction." Maariv reported that Hamas is
considering adopting an Iran-like regime. Israel Radio
cited the London-based Al-Hayat as saying that Hamas
and Islamic Jihad met in Damascus Tuesday, and that
Islamic Jihad promised it would not disturb Hamas. The
radio reported that Abbas will visit Egypt today to
discuss with President Hosni Mubarak Hamas's victory in
the Palestinian legislative elections. Yediot reported
that Abbas is interested in Egypt mediating between the
PA and the Hamas leadership, and that Egyptian
intelligence chief Omar Suleiman will bring Khaled
Mashal, the head of Hamas's political bureau, from
Damascus to Cairo for a meeting with Abbas. The
Jerusalem Post quoted Western diplomatic officials as
saying that Abbas, in recent talks with the Quartet
principals, asked for support for a transitional
government so the PA could put its financial house in
order, get out of the shadow of the Israeli elections,
and give Hamas time to contemplate the fact that it now
has to govern.

Leading media reported that FM Tzipi Livni will visit
Cairo today to discuss the Hamas victory. Speaking on
Israel Radio, she said that is very important that
Egypt, the leading nation in the Arab world, support
the position of the international community against the
establishment of a terrorist state in the PA-controlled
territories.

A high-ranking IDF officer was quoted as saying Tuesday
in an interview with The Jerusalem Post that Hamas has
yet to suspend its efforts to perpetrate terrorist
attacks against Israel despite having won the
elections.

Leading media reported that on Tuesday, Congresswoman
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL),chair of the Subcommittee
on the Middle East and Central Asia and a senior member
of the International Relations Committee, introduced
the first legislative response to Hamas's victory in
the PA elections. Cosponsored by Democrat Tom Lantos,
the suggested legislation includes some extremely harsh
measures. However, Ha'aretz cited the belief of
Washington sources that some of them will not be
included in the final draft of the legislation.
Ha'aretz wrote that there is good reason to believe
that the U.S. administration will try to moderate the
language of the new legislation. Israel Radio said
that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee
(AIPAC) is behind the initiative.

All media reported that on Tuesday, an Israeli
policeman was seriously injured and two wanted men from
Islamic Jihad were killed in an incident near Jenin.
Yediot cited Islamic Jihad as saying that its revenge
will shock Israel.

Major media reported that on Tuesday, the Tel Aviv
District Court sentenced Lebanon-born Danish citizen
Iyad Al-Ashwah, accused of conspiring with Hizbullah,
to 33 months in jail, in accordance with a plea bargain
he had made with the prosecution.

Ha'aretz reported that thanks to the intervention of
the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, the
Interior Ministry's Population Administration will
streamline the process for granting residency permits
to the spouses of East Jerusalem residents.

All media reported that on Tuesday, the Kadima party
presented its list of 50 candidates for the Knesset.
The first spots on the list are Acting PM Ehud
Olmert's, veteran statesman Shimon Peres's, and
Livni's. Former Shin Bet head Avi Dichter and Defense
Minister Shaul Mofaz are fifth and eighth on the list,
respectively. Major media reported that former PM Ehud
Barak, Tafnit leader Uzi Dayan, and the remnants of the
Shinui Party are negotiating the possibility of running
for the Knesset on a united slate under the Tafnit or
Shinui name. The Jerusalem Post reported that the
Israeli Arab parties are urging Israel to talk with
Hamas.

Ha'aretz and Yediot reported that a few days ago, the
Defense Ministry gave 2.4 million shekels (around USD
515,000) to 28 Palestinians who were tortured by the
IDF and the Shin Bet. The payment was made after an
out-of-court settlement was reached with the
plaintiffs, who agreed that suits filed in the Tel Aviv
Magistrate and District courts would be withdrawn.

All media reported that on Tuesday, the Palestinian
film "Paradise Now" won an Oscar nomination for best
foreign-language film of the year.

Maariv reported that the Italian newspaper Il
Reformista awarded its prize of "man of the year in
politics" to PM Ariel Sharon.

Major media reported that on Tuesday, the High Court of
Justice reconfirmed the legality of the expected
extradition of underworld kingpin Zeev Rosenstein to
the U.S.

Citing news agencies, The Jerusalem Post and Ha'aretz
reported that on Tuesday, the U.S. Senate confirmed the
nomination of Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. as an associate
justice of the Supreme Court.

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

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

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

Independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized: "The
international community, which is engaged in a
difficult battle against fundamentalist Islam, has a
rare lever here for achieving its goals. It must
remain united and exploit this lever to the fullest."

Diplomatic correspondent Aluf Benn wrote in Ha'aretz
(February 1): "Kadima is not seeking a permanent
agreement, but rather improved management of the
conflict."

Yossi Alpher, coeditor of the Israeli-Palestinian web
site bitterlemons.org, a former director of the Jaffee
Center for Strategic Studies, and a former advisor to
PM Ehud Barak, wrote in Ha'aretz: "The unintentional
outcome of American policy is now in danger of hurting
us seriously."

Hebrew University Political Science Professor Yehezkel
Dror, the recipient of the prestigious 2005 Israel
Prize for his work in public policy and strategic
planning, wrote in the conservative, independent
Jerusalem Post: "It's way past time Israel designed a
radically innovative, long-term grand strategy toward
the future Palestine."

Former Israeli Representative to the UN Dore Gold wrote
in popular, pluralist Maariv: "Hamas spokesmen are not
always cautious and sometimes expose the identification
with global jihad."

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


I. "A Determined World"

Independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized
(February 1): "It is impossible not to be impressed by
the international community's determined and vital
stance [in the wake of the elections in the Palestinian
Authority].... Nevertheless, it is already possible to
distinguish differences in nuance between the
Americans, who seek to emphasize the stick of
sanctions, and the Europeans, who prefer to hold out
the carrot of aid. There are grounds for believing
that, in the long run, the Bush administration -- which
came up with the plan to democratize the Middle East --
will take an uncompromising and threatening line toward
Hamas, while the Europeans and the UN will prefer a
'wait and see' approach.... The international
community, which is engaged in a difficult battle
against fundamentalist Islam, has a rare lever here for
achieving its goals. It must remain united and exploit
this lever to the fullest."

II. "Managing the Conflict"

Diplomatic correspondent Aluf Benn wrote in Ha'aretz
(February 1): "Kadima is not seeking a permanent
agreement, but rather improved management of the
conflict. It's offering to stabilize a new border that
will keep the Palestinian masses out of the Israelis'
sight, and bring home the settlers and soldiers from
the hills of Samaria [the northern West Bank] and the
ravines of Judea [the southern West Bank]. The
withdrawal will end the status of occupation, which is
unpopular in the world, and move the conflict to one of
a border dispute between two sovereign countries, 'who
will settle their differences through negotiations,' as
Olmert said. Thus, Israel will be freed of disturbing
international pressure and of a reputation as an
oppressive occupation regime."

III. "What Should Israel Do?"

Yossi Alpher, coeditor of the Israeli-Palestinian web
site bitterlemons.org, a former director of the Jaffee
Center for Strategic Studies, and a former advisor to
PM Ehud Barak, wrote in Ha'aretz (February 1): "Until
now, official Israel has been remarkably tolerant of
President George W. Bush's democratic reform plan for
the Arab Middle East, even though that plan has
empowered these radicals. After all, the U.S. is our
ally, American lives are at risk in Iraq and
Afghanistan, and it behooves us to support the U.S.
effort in the region. But the unintentional outcome of
American policy is now in danger of hurting us
seriously. It's time to look for persuasive ways to
say, 'With respect, Mr. President, your approach is
wrong. Democratization cannot take the form of
elections that install militant anti-democratic
Islamists. Desist'.... Sadly but necessarily, we have
to at least contemplate eventual military action to
remove Islamist threats on more than one neighboring
front.... Many of our neighboring regimes, led by Egypt
and Jordan, share some or all of our concerns. The
situation calls for quiet but expanded coordination
with them."

IV. "Israel Needs a 'Grand Strategy'"

Hebrew University Political Science Professor Yehezkel
Dror, the recipient of the prestigious 2005 Israel
Prize for his work in public policy and strategic
planning, wrote in the conservative, independent
Jerusalem Post (February 1): "It's way past time Israel
designed a radically innovative, long-term grand
strategy toward the future Palestine; one nested within
an overall regional and global political-military
approach. As far as possible, such an effort should be
coordinated with the U.S. (and other willing
countries); but if necessary, Israel should act on its
own.... [IN any case], in a vacuum, further unilateral
withdrawals could increase support for Hamas....
Allowing a future Palestine to develop its military
capabilities is a sure prescription for disaster --
especially in the long term, and not just for Israel
but (more immediately) for Jordan.... As far as
influencing thinking is concerned, this could ideally
be achieved by some kind of international trusteeship
that would take charge of teaching, influencing
religious exhortations, reforming the educational
curriculum and fostering mass media that socialize for
tolerance."


V. "In the Service of World Islam"

Former Israeli Representative to the UN Dore Gold wrote
in popular, pluralist Maariv (February 1): "Many
commentators tend to separate Hamas from world jihad
terrorist organizations such Al Qaida.... [But] Hamas
spokesmen are not always cautious and sometimes expose
the identification with global jihad. For instance,
after the disengagement, Mahmoud Zahar declared: 'We
are part of a great world program called the World
Islamic Movement.' He expressed his confidence that
the disengagement would raise the mood of the Arab and
Muslim world, and influence the struggle in Iraq and
Afghanistan as well. On January 30, the leader of the
Islamic movement in Jordan declared that Hamas's
victory was the model for an Islamic takeover of
additional regimes. Including Jordan.... Thus, the rise
of Hamas strengthens the Israeli need for maintaining
'defensible borders', and, through them, preserving
regional stability as a whole."

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

2. Israel-NATO Relations:
--------------

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

Uzi Arad, Chairman of the Herzliya Conference and
Chairman of the Atlantic Forum of Israel, who was a
senior advisor to former prime minister Binyamin
Netanyahu, wrote in mass-circulation, pluralist Yediot
Aharonot: "Jerusalem should follow with interest the
upcoming meeting of the NATO defense ministers, in
which ... the idea of Israel's membership may be
discussed."

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

"Is Israel Headed For NATO?"

Uzi Arad, Chairman of the Herzliya Conference and
Chairman of the Atlantic Forum of Israel, who was a
senior advisor to former prime minister Binyamin
Netanyahu, wrote in mass-circulation, pluralist Yediot
Aharonot (February 1): "Italian Defense Minister
Antonio Martino recently announced that in his opinion,
the time has come to include Israel in NATO as a
regular member, and he intends to raise the issue at
the meeting of NATO defense ministers next week.
Martino emphasized further that any future aggression
against Israel would be considered an act of aggression
against all the NATO states, and such recognition will
undoubtedly contribute to the stability in the
region.... NATO's interest in including Israel stems
from the heightened involvement of the alliance in the
greater Middle East, and recognition of the potential
contribution that Israel is capable of making, due to
its experience and capabilities.... It would appear
that recently, more favorable winds have been blowing
in Europe. Moreover, the strategic understandings
between the U.S. and Israel, which were formulated
between then-prime minister Netanyahu and President
Clinton, and subsequently ratified by their successors,
including President Bush's letter of commitments from
April 2004, successfully anchor Israel's right to
defend itself -- on its own.... Jerusalem should follow
with interest the upcoming meeting of the NATO defense
ministers, in which, as mentioned above, the idea of
Israel's membership may be discussed."

JONES