MEDIA REACTION ISRAEL'S ELECTION - TOKYO

UNCLAS TOKYO 001679 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR, EAP/J, EAP/P, PM; USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI; SECDEF FOR OASD/PA; CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ISRAEL'S ELECTION - TOKYO LEAD STORIES: Most Thursday morning papers front-paged reports concerning the results of a screening of high school textbooks by the Education Ministry that revealed most texts have been changed to reflect the GOJ's position on such issues as territorial disputes and history-related matters. The business daily Nihon Keizai led with General Motors plan to sell its stakes in Isuzu Motors to Mitsubishi Corp. and Itochu Corp. ¶1. "Can Kadima Form Stable Government?" The top- circulation, moderate Yomiuri editorialized (3/30): "A change in Israel's policy toward the Palestinians is unlikely.... The centrist Kadima Party finished first in Tuesday's general election. The ruling party has pledged to remove Jewish settlements from the West Bank and fix a border with the Palestinians.... Israel should demarcate the border through talks with the Palestinians, as a unilaterally decided border is unlikely to remain secure. It is thus all the more important for the Palestinians to change their position in order to realize the resumption of peace talks with Israel. ¶2. "A Hamas government has been formed in the Palestinian areas, and its leadership refuses to abandon armed struggle or accept Israel's right to exist, making it difficult for other countries, let alone Israel, to sit down with Hamas. Hamas should adopt a more realistic policy. At a minimum, it should heed international calls to reject the use of violence, recognize Israel's right to exist, and observe previous agreements between the Palestinian Authority and Israel." ¶3. "New Kadima Administration in Israel: No Compromise, No Progress in Middle East Peace" An editorial in the moderate Tokyo Shimbun commented (3/30): "While the centrist Kadima Party finished first in Israel's general election, the Palestinian areas are under the control of the fundamentalist party Hamas. Although both sides remain wide apart in their positions, there can be no peace in the Middle East without them making a compromise.... Palestinian Prime Minister Haniyeh has hinted at his readiness to hold talks with Israel if Israel respects the establishment of a Palestinian state. Haniyeh has also proposed dialogues with the U.S. and other countries, an epochal move that should be praised. ¶4. "The unproductive Arafat-Sharon era is over, replaced by Kadima and Hamas. It is clear that peace talks will remain frozen unless both sides modify their positions.... The US, Europe, and Arab nations should strongly advise the two parties to sit at the negotiating table and make compromises." DONOVAN