MEDIA REACTION - GAZA STRIP CEASEFIRE - TOKYO

UNCLAS TOKYO 006716 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 - GAZA STRIP CEASEFIRE - TOKYO LEAD STORIES: Most Monday morning papers front-paged an Israel-Palestinian agreement on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. ¶1. "US Applying Pressure for Resumption of Israel- Palestinian Dialogue" Riyadh correspondent Kanazawa of the business-oriented Nihon Keizai commented (11/27): "The Gaza Strip ceasefire accord that Israel and the Palestinian Authority reached will likely be the first step toward resuming Israeli-Palestinian dialogue, which has been at a standstill since June 2005. The US appears eager to act as a mediator, a move it hopes will lead to an improvement of the situation in Iraq. If the US is successful, the Middle East peace process, which has been stalled since the formation of the Hamas government, will be set in motion again.... The US appears to have applied strong pressure on both Israel and the Palestinian Authority. President Bush plans to visit Jordan on Wednesday for talks with King Abdullah and Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki. There had originally been plans for Bush to hold a three-way meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Olmert and Palestinian President Abbas at the same time, and the chances of this taking place may yet reemerge.... The Bush administration has no choice but to address the Middle East peace process in order to get support from Arab moderates and European nations on Iraq and other issues." SCHIEFFER