Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TELAVIV576
2006-02-08 11:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

Tags:  IS KMDR MEDIA REACTION REPORT 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 TEL AVIV 000576

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:
--------------

Mideast

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

All media (banners in all media, except Yediot) quoted
comments made by Acting PM Ehud Olmert in an interview
with Channel 2-TV last night that Israel "will separate
from the majority of the Palestinian population that
lives in Judea and Samaria [i.e. the West Bank], and
this will obligate us to leave territories where Israel
is today." Olmert said that Israel would retain Ariel,
the Jordan Valley, Ma'aleh Adumim, Gush Etzion, and
"united Jerusalem" within its permanent borders.
Israel Radio reported that politicians from the right
and left criticized Olmert's remarks.

Israel Radio quoted FM Tzipi Livni as saying in
Washington on Tuesday that Israel has no interest in
the collapse of the PA. Ha'aretz reported that Livni
is expected to ask Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
to continue its pressure on the PA's leadership.
Ha'aretz and Maariv quoted Minister Livni as saying
during her meeting Tuesday with King Abdullah of
Jordan: "As far as we are concerned, the outcome of the
elections in the PA is very problematic. It is
important for us to bolster awareness of this in the
international community and we need to talk about it
loud and clear, and not start backing down from the
demand to dismantle the terror organizations. A
demand should continue to be posed to Abu Mazen to meet
the commitment he made before the elections." Livni
stated that Israel would not engage in any contact with
the new Palestinian government if Hamas is a member of
it. She posed three conditions for holding talks with
the organization nonetheless: "Only if Hamas abandons
the path of terror, recognizes the State of Israel and
honors all the agreements that were signed until today
between Israel and the Palestinians." Maariv wrote
that King Abdullah did not agree with this position,
and asked Livni not to rule out at the present stage
talks with the new Palestinian government: "It is

important not to ignore the new Palestinian government
even before it has announced its agenda. It is
necessary to deal with the new reality that has been
created after Hamas's victory in the elections, and to
work to renew the peace process." Maariv reported that
Abdullah also warned of the collapse of the Palestinian
Authority, and urged the international community to
continue to transfer funds to it. Maariv reported
that responding to a reporter's question, Livni
addressed the issue of the Palestinians' welfare:
"Israel is aware of the need to care for the
Palestinians. We have no interest in making them live
under conditions of poverty. Therefore we have tried
to make a distinction between the policy of Israel's
security needs and the need to enable the Palestinians
to lead a normal life."

Israel Radio reported that Egypt and Saudi Arabia are
trying to convince Hamas to accept the Saudi peace
initiative, which calls for Israeli withdrawal from all
territories occupied since 1967 in return for
recognition of Israel and normal relations. The radio
reported that Khaled Mashal, the head of Hamas's
political bureau, does not rule out such a possibility.
The Jerusalem Post reported that Sheikh Yasser Mansour,
No. 5 on the Hamas national list told the newspaper
that if Olmert "wants to find a solution [to the Israel-
Palestinian conflict] he must accept less than he
wants." The Jerusalem Post quoted Musa Abu-Marzouk,
the deputy head of Hamas's political bureau as saying
in an interview with AP: "When historic Palestine is
reinstated, they [the Jews] can come and live among us.
They will have a Palestinian nationality." Ha'aretz
reported that Hamas is demanding that PA Chairman
[President] Mahmoud Abbas give it control of three
Palestinian security services as part of a transfer of
authority to the new government that Hamas will form in
the wake of its parliamentary victory last month. The
newspaper wrote that Abbas is thought to view the
request unfavorably. Ha'aretz reported that in talks
over the last few days with Egyptian intelligence chief
Omar Suleiman, Hamas decided to extend the period of
"calm," during which it agrees not to attack Israeli
targets.

Maariv reported that on Monday the White House brought
the U.S. administration's foreign aid appropriations
bill to the U.S. Congress, which provides for USD 2.56
billion in aid to Israel -- including USD 2.28 billion
in military aid, USD 240 million in civilian aid, and
USD 40 million designated for a fund to help relocating
refugees. The newspaper said that U.S. aid to Israel
increased by USD 60 million compared to the previous
year and that the bill states that Israel is a vital
ally of the United States and a partner in the war on
terror, and in the struggle for achieving peace in the
Middle East. Maariv also reported that Egypt will
receive USD 1.3 billion in military aid and USD 495
million in civilian aid. Maariv wrote that Washington
conditioned its aid to Cairo on the allotment of at
least USD 50 million to institutions promoting
democracy and human rights. The newspaper reported
that Jordan will receive around USD 450 million in
civilian and military aid, and the PA will receive USD
150 million through USAID.

All media reported that on Tuesday, two Fatah (Al-Aqsa
Martyrs Brigades) operatives were killed in an IAF
strike in the Gaza Strip. Maariv and Israel Radio
quoted UN Secretary-General as saying that while Israel
has the right to defend its citizens, targeted killings
are akin to "executions without trial." Annan also
criticized Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel. The
media reported that four Qassam rockets were fired at
Israel on Tuesday, and that the numbers were similar in
previous days. This morning, Israel Radio reported
that the IDF killed an armed Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades
activist who was trying to get close to the Israel-Gaza
border and wounded two others.

Ha'aretz reported that an investigation it conducted
revealed that the deal Israel reached with the PA and
Egypt on operating the Rafah border terminal does not
allow Israel to prevent the entrance of terrorists from
Egypt into the Gaza Strip.

Ha'aretz and The Jerusalem Post reported that on
Monday, the Anglican Church's General Synod decided to
divest from companies whose products are used by Israel
in the territories. The Jerusalem Post reported that
the former archbishop of Canterbury, Lord George Carey,
told the newspaper that he was "ashamed to be an
Anglican" following the vote.

In its lead story, Yediot reported that Israel's
National Insurance Institute (the equivalent of the
U.S. Social Security Administration) distributes
allowances to hundreds of Hamas activists, including
Muhammad Abu-Tir, the movement's No. 2. Yediot cited
the National Insurance Institute as saying that the
situation can only be changed by amending the existing
legislation.

Last night, Channel 10-TV continued to reveal comments
made by Shin Bet head Yuval Diskin more than a month
ago. He was quoted as saying that the late PA Chairman
[President] Yasser Arafat had been surprised by the Al-
Aqsa Intifada and only followed suit. Channel 10-TV's
Washington correspondent Gil Tamari said that the U.S.
administration was angered by comments made by Diskin:
"When one dismantles a regime in a state ruled by a
strong tyrant you get chaos, as was the case in Iraq.
I am not sure I don't miss Saddam [Hussein]."

Israel Radio reported that the Danish observers in
Hebron left the city for Tel Aviv because of the risk
posed to them in the wake of the Muhammad cartoon
controversy. The station quoted State Department
spokesman Sean McCormack that the contest of Holocaust-
related cartoons announced by the largest-circulation
Iranian newspaper Hamshahri is "outrageous." Major
media quoted Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei as
saying on Tuesday that the publication in Western
countries of the Muhammad cartoons is an Israeli plot
deriving from Israel's anger at Hamas's election
victory in the PA.

Yediot reported that for the first time, a delegation
of Pakistani businessmen will come to Israel in May to
visit the "Agritech 2006" exhibition. The newspaper
quoted the members of the delegation as saying that
they intend to explore the possibility of purchasing
advanced mechanical agricultural equipment and new
technologies for raising crops in desert and
mountainous areas.

Yediot advised Israelis wishing to visit the U.S.
during the Passover holiday (in April) to request a
U.S. visa interview now.

The Jerusalem Post reported that last week the Zionist
Organization of America warned of the "hateful nature"
of an upcoming conference at Georgetown University in
Washington -- the Palestine Solidarity Movement
conference slated to take place February 17-19 -- whose
organizers say boycotting Israel is: "a moral
imperative ... and a declaration to defend human
life.... Israel must be characterized as a pariah
state."

Maariv reported that the Foreign Ministry has taken
under its wings an Israeli rock band, "Orphaned Land,"
which has thousands of fans in the Arab countries.

The media reported on, and Maariv highlighted, the rise
of the USD's representative rate to 4.719 shekels on
Tuesday.

--------------
Mideast:
--------------

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

Political parties correspondent Yossi Verter wrote on
page one of independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz:
"Whoever wanted to believe [Acting PM Ehud Olmert]
believed him. Election-eve statements have a very
limited value."

Diplomatic correspondent Aluf Benn wrote in Ha'aretz:
"The American umbrella will have value only after its
details are hammered in terms of joint operational
planning.... Otherwise it will remain up in the air, as
an expression of support by the U.S. administration for
its favorite candidate, Olmert."

Nationalist writer Uri Dan commented in the
conservative, independent Jerusalem Post: "Now that
Hamas has come out of the Palestinian closet in all its
murderous glory, most Jews realize that this is the
true face of the Palestinian people."

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


I. "Vague Sentences, Liberally Scattered"

Political parties correspondent Yossi Verter wrote on
page one of independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz
(February 8): "The clearest statement Olmert made [in
the interview he granted Israel's Channel 2-TV on
Tuesday] related to Israel's final borders, which will
be determined, he said, after the elections.
Settlement blocs, a united Jerusalem, the Jordan
Valley, Gush Etzion and Ariel will be under Israeli
control. And of course, the Roadmap. Whoever wanted
to believe him believed him. Election-eve statements
have a very limited value. It's enough to recall the
interviews Ariel Sharon gave on the eve of the 2003
elections -- interviews in which the sole accurate
detail is the date of their publication. This
interview, and additional interviews Olmert plans to
give in the weeks remaining until the elections, are
intended to remove him from the beneficent shadow of
Sharon (whose name, by the way, was mentioned only a
few times last night, and only toward the end of the
interview). If it were up to Olmert, he would remain
in Sharon's shadow until the elections, but that is not
the way leadership is built."

II. "The Umbrella and its Circumstances"

Diplomatic correspondent Aluf Benn wrote in Ha'aretz
(February 8): "The declaration by President George W.
Bush that the United States will protect Israel from
Iranian attack, even militarily, is a milestone in the
relationship between Washington and Jerusalem, and a
step on the road to formalizing a defense pact between
the two countries.... Bringing Israel in under the
American umbrella constitutes a change in the
administration's stance, which over the past year
backed up Israeli hints of a possible attack on
Iran.... [However,] Bush's declaration relates to a
specific enemy, Iran, and not to other threats that
Israel will deal with by itself. Important as it is,
the Bush declaration is still far from being a formal
defense pact, anchored in a written agreement and
approved by the Senate. The American umbrella will
have value only after its details are hammered in terms
of joint operational planning, and with an
understanding of the circumstances in which the U.S.
will offer its assistance to Israel. Otherwise it will
remain up in the air, as an expression of support by
the U.S. administration for its favorite candidate,
Olmert."

III. "Hamas Saved Israel"

Nationalist writer Uri Dan commented in the
conservative, independent Jerusalem Post (February 8):
"The Hamas victory in the Palestinian Authority will
save the Jews from themselves. Allah, not just the
generals, works overtime for the Jews in order to
rescue them from their politicians' chronic
blindness.... Arafat's salami plan for Israel's
destruction was a great success. Most of our
politicians and media were willing to join Arafat's
dance of death as they turned a blind eye when he
fostered not only Fatah and the Al-Aqsa Brigades, but
also Hamas.... Now that Hamas has come out of the
Palestinian closet in all its murderous glory, most
Jews realize that this is the true face of the
Palestinian people. The Palestinian people are proud
of their 'democratic' choice of a movement that turned
suicide bombers into their only industrial product,
dedicated to their dream of eradicating the Jewish
state.... And just as Arafat woke the Jews up with his
human bombs to the cruel reality of their lives in
their wonderful country, so will Hamas, which has
stockpiled a huge arsenal of weapons and explosives --
exactly for this purpose. The awakening of the Jews
will once again cost many lives, and will come only
after they are roused once again from the powerful
brainwashing of Jewish politicians and journalists.
But it will come thanks to Hamas."

JONES