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