ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS TEL AVIV 001293 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 CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL FOR POLAD/USIA ADVISOR COMSOCEUR VAIHINGEN GE FOR PAO/POLAD COMSIXTHFLT FOR 019 JERUSALEM ALSO ICD LONDON ALSO FOR HKANONA AND POL PARIS ALSO FOR POL ROME FOR MFO SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR IS SUBJECT: ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION -------------- SUBJECTS COVERED IN THIS REPORT: -------------- Winograd Probe Into 2nd Lebanon War -------------- Key stories in the media: -------------- Israel Radio quoted State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack as saying in Tuesday that on Thursday representatives of the Quartet will meet in Sharm el-Sheikh with Egyptian, Jordanian, Saudi, and Syrian officials. Maariv reported that President Bush will be the special guest of former cabinet minister Natan Sharansky at a conference on democracy and international security that Sharansky will convene in Prague early in June. All media highlighted opposition to PM Ehud Olmert in the ranks of his party, Kadima. The Jerusalem Post quoted an official close to Olmert as saying that Knesset members allying themselves with him had begun discussing ways for Olmert to negotiate an "honorable departure" from his office. The Jerusalem Post bannered: "Kadima Rebellion Gathers Pace," and Makor Rishon-Hatzofe: "Crumbling In Kadima." Leading media reported that Olmert is expected to warn FM Tzipi Livni at a meeting between the two today that she cannot continue to undermine him and still hold her position as deputy premier. Major media (banner in Yediot and Maariv) said that Livni is demanding Olmert's resignation. Ha'aretz reported that on Tuesday Olmert and his aides were highly critical of what they said was Livni's open and active role in efforts within Kadima to remove Olmert. Ha'aretz quoted sources in FM Tzipi Livni's bureau as denying on Tuesday that the FM was in any way involved in efforts by coalition whip Avigdor Yitzhaki to rally Kadima Knesset members against Olmert. Yitzhaki told IDF Radio this morning that he will resign his post of coalition coordinator if Olmert does not step down. Media reported that Livni is expected to make a statement about Olmert at today's cabinet meeting that The Jerusalem Post said could decide whether the opposition to Olmert will escalate into full-scale rebellion. However, Ha'aretz quoted sources in Kadima affiliated with Livni as saying that she intends to tell Olmert -- perhaps even during their meeting today -- that he should resign, since he has lost the support of the public. These sources also maintained that Livni intends to resign, taking into consideration that her time as FM is probably limited anyway because Olmert is not likely to be in power for much longer. However, Ha'aretz quoted other senior sources in Kadima as saying that Livni is still debating whether to resign or strongly criticize Olmert, and that she is still open to the possibility of him leading efforts at reform. Ha'aretz quoted some Kadima sources as saying that if Livni resigned, she would receive broad public support, and this would increase her chances of taking over the premiership and the leadership of Kadima from Olmert. Electronic media quoted Olmert as saying at a cabinet meeting this morning that no one should draw too hasty conclusions from the Winograd report. Maariv reported that the Labor Party's Central Committee will present Kadima with an ultimatum, most likely on May 10: Only if Olmert is replaced at the head of Kadima will Labor remain in the government coalition. Leading media reported that cabinet ministers Eli Yishai, and Avigdor Lieberman, respective leaders of Shas and Yisrael Beiteinu, have agreed to back Olmert. Leading media reported that today Olmert will present the cabinet with a proposal to "adopt the main points of the Winograd report" and work toward implementing its recommendations. Ha'aretz said that, under this proposal, the government will set up a task force, headed by a retired defense official (other major media reported that former IDF chief of staff and former cabinet minister Amnon Lipkin-Shahak has agreed to assume this responsibility),which will flesh out the committee's recommendations for improving the decision-making process on diplomatic and security issues. The group will be asked to formulate a plan and present it within 30 days. Ha'aretz wrote that a special ministerial committee headed by the PM will then approve these proposals and supervise their implementation. In addition to Olmert, the committee will include Livni, Vice PM Shimon Peres, Defense Minister Amir Peretz and Ministers Shaul Mofaz, Eli Yishai and Avigdor Lieberman. The Jerusalem Post reported that three high-level bodies, Israel's National Security Council, the Foreign Ministry, and the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, hope to increase their influence on defense planning in the aftermath of the report. Ha'aretz reported that, in its interim report, the Winograd Commission extensively addressed the Foreign Ministry's role and the fact that from the first few days of the war it prepared the diplomatic ground that led to Security Council Resolution 1701 that brought a cease-fire. The report also warned against what it described as the army's excessively dominant role in the decision-making process in political-defense issues and stressed that the Foreign Ministry was not sufficiently included in the staff work during the war. Ha'aretz reported that the commission will publish the testimonies of Olmert, Defense Minister Peretz, and former IDF chief of staff Dan Halutz in two weeks. Ha'aretz also wrote that the commission's interim report left out many vital issues, including the home front and Israel's diplomatic moves during the war. The daily reported that those issues will only appear in the final report, scheduled for release in another five months. The media reported that on Thursday a mass rally will be held in Tel Aviv in the aftermath of the publication of the Winograd Commission's interim report. The media reported that marchers are converging on Tel Aviv. The Jerusalem Post reported that, following the publication of the Winograd report, the Arab media are trumpeting signs of Israel's defeat. The newspaper also reported that Palestinian leaders are warning about an Israeli backlash in the Gaza Strip. Ha'aretz and The Jerusalem Post reported that the State Prosecutor's Office told the High Court of Justice that Olmert has asked Peretz to prepare a plan by the end of May (according to Maariv, within two months) for evacuating illegal outposts. The plan would call for a gradual evacuation of illegal outposts from simpler to more complex evacuations, based on a number of parameters. These include the expected amount of opposition; outposts that have already been served with legal notices, allowing for their immediate evacuation; small outposts; and outposts on private Palestinian land. Ha'aretz quoted Peace Now, which is among the petitioners to remove the outpost of Migron, as saying on Tuesday that the "government is trying to gain time; instead of setting a precise date for the evacuation of the outposts, it is postponing it for two more months. The state is avoiding the issue by not saying which outposts are involved." Ha'aretz and Maariv quoted the spokesman for the Yesha Council of Jewish Settlements in the Territories, settlements, Yishai Hollender, as saying that the state's response to the High Court was "very surprising since the Prime Minister knows the issue of the outposts can be solved through dialogue with the settlement leaders. The Prime Minister knows that the Defense Minister cannot do everything and that he should appoint a team to solve the problem." Ha'aretz quoted the settlers' group Homesh First as saying that as long as illegal Arab construction was not being dealt with, the demand to remove the outpost constituted "persecution of the settlers for the sole purpose of political survival. Not only will Olmert fail in this mission, Homesh will be rebuilt." Homesh was one of the four northern West Bank settlements evacuated in 2005 along with the settlements in the Gaza Strip. Makor Rishon-Hatzofe also mentioned Olmert's request of Peretz. The Jerusalem Post and Makor Rishon-Hatzofe cited the latest annual report of the US Trade Representative (USTR),which found that Israel does not respect intellectual property rights. Makor Rishon-Hatzofe reported that the USTR's report obstructs Israel's bid to be admitted to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Makor Rishon-Hatzofe cited the Industry, Trade, and Labor Ministry's response that Israel abides by all international treaties to which it is a signatory, and that it provides adequate protection to right-holders in all felids. Yediot reported that Jewish children from Hebron stole furniture from local Palestinians in order to kindle bonfires for the traditional holiday of Lag Ba'omer. All media reported that this morning Attorney General Menachem Mazuz will hold a hearing in the case of Israeli President Moshe Katsav, who is expected to face a trial over alleged sexual offenses. Makor Rishon-Hatzofe quoted the PA newspaper Al-Hayat Al-Jadida as saying that Falastin, the first independent Palestinian daily, will be officially launched on Thursday. All media reported on the alleged killing of Abu Ayyub al-Masri, the leader of Al-Qaida in Iraq. US officials said they could not confirm the reported death. In an unrelated development, Yediot reported that a mixed Jewish-Muslim family from Iraq secretly immigrated to Israel several days ago. Maariv reported that the Jewish Agency is trying to bring to Israel thousands of Iraqi Jews who converted to Islam. Yediot quoted former CIA Director George Tenet as saying in a book he has just published that he had influenced former US President Bill Clinton not to release convicted spy Jonathan Pollard, who was expected to be freed as part of the Wye Agreement. The Jerusalem Post reported that the Rabbinical Council of America postponed the scheduled announcement of an agreement with Israel's Chief Rabbinate on recognizing each other's Orthodox conversions on Monday, after a misunderstanding became evident following an article in The Jerusalem Post. The Jerusalem Post reported that US software giant Microsoft Corp. plans to spend USD 100 million over the next five year to expand activities and investments at its Israeli R&D centers in the areas of telecom, Internet, security, and digital entertainment, including the expansion of its Herzliya Pituah facility. Additionally, Microsoft designated its offices here as a "Strategic R&D Center, one on only three in the world outside the US, with the other two being in China and India. Ha'aretz published the results of a poll that it conducted on Tuesday with the Dialog institute and was directed by Prof. Camil Fuchs of Tel Aviv University: -Forty percent of respondents favor elections (51 percent in a parallel Yediot poll),especially on the right wing. Sixty-eight percent (65 percent in the Yediot survey),want Olmert to resign, an almost identical percentage that appeared in previous polls on this question. Ha'aretz said that, in this sense, the major shock of the Winograd report has not left its mark on the people. - "Were elections for the Knesset to be held today, which party would you vote for?" (Results in Knesset seats -- in brackets, seats in current Knesset.) -Likud 30 (12); Labor Party 21 (19); Kadima 14 (29); Yisrael Beiteinu 11 (11); Shas 10 (12); National Union-National Religious Party 8 (9); United Torah Judaism 7 (6); Meretz-Yahad 6 (5); Gil - Pensioners' Party 2 (7); Arab parties 11 (10). Maariv printed the results of a TNS/Teleseker Polling Institute survey: -"In the wake of the Winograd report, do you believe that Olmert should resign his position?" Yes: 72.8 percent; no: 17.4 percent. -Depending on the configuration of party leaders during elections held today, respondents would grant Likud 30 to 37 Knesset seats, Kadima from 12 to 22 seats, and Labor 12 to 22 seats. The three major Hebrew-language dailies found that Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu is the most popular politician among Israelis. -------------- Winograd Probe Into 2nd Lebanon War: -------------- Summary: -------------- Senior columnist Nahum Barnea wrote on page one of the mass-circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot: "[Foreign Minister Tzipi] Livni has decided to be prime minister. She is convinced that she can do it. She wants to. And one can presume that in her estimation, the position will soon be available." Diplomatic correspondent Ben Caspit wrote on page one of the popular, pluralist Maariv: "Today and tomorrow will be fateful for Ehud Olmert.... Tzipi Livni, on the other hand, will finally have to make a decision." Senior op-ed writer Uzi Benziman commented in the independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz: "From the point of view of the Prime Minister and Defense Minister, it makes no difference whether the commission concluded that they conducted themselves perfectly last summer or were utter failures: They are staying in their seats." Chief Economic Editor Sever Plotker opined in Yediot Aharonot: "[Olmert's] government was born with a severe defect in the backbone, and it will die with no backbone at all." Ha'aretz editorialized: "The Knesset and the political parties must change the government soon by appointing an agreed-on candidate like Shimon Peres, who would serve until elections at an agreed-on future date." The conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized: "Alongside the failures of leadership, the [Winograd] report makes plain that glaring conceptual and organizational dysfunction contributed crucially to what went wrong in the Second Lebanon War." ¶P. Hovav wrote in the ultra-Orthodox Yated Ne'eman: "Israel did not enjoy ... heavenly assistance during the Second Lebanon War.... What caused [its failure] is the 'sin of arrogance' that transpires from the spirit of the report, which says that the only thing needed to win a war is to run operations without failures." Block Quotes: -------------- ¶I. "Livni's Time Has Come" Senior columnist Nahum Barnea wrote on page one of the mass-circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot (5/2): "The Winograd report caused a serious shakeup in at least one senior minister. Tzipi Livni read the report, heard the prime minister announce that he would not resign, and launched a feverish series of talks. Livni on the day after the report is determined to be different from Livni on the day before. The difference can be summed up in one short sentence: Livni has decided to be prime minister. She is convinced that she can do it. She wants to. And one can presume that in her estimation, the position will soon be available. She is deliberating what to do: Should she wait for the government's collapse or should she take action, resign from the government and thereby possibly hasten its end. It is reasonable to assume that she will choose an intermediate path today, and hold a clarification meeting with Olmert of a confrontational nature. The question is more tactical than strategic: The first signs of the coalitionQs disintegration appeared on Tuesday.... Olmert reached the conclusion that Livni has a character problem, and Livni reached the conclusion that Olmert has a character problem. Politicians know how to overcome differences of views. They have a harder time dealing with differences of characters. Tzipi Livni does not have an orderly plan for battling Olmert. That is not how she works. But she has apparently become convinced that her time has come to come down from the bleachers to the field. She will not be awaited there by green grass, but rather by a mud bath. It will be interesting to see whether she is cut out for it." II. "His Fate Is Already Sealed" Diplomatic correspondent Ben Caspit wrote on page one of the popular, pluralist Maariv (5/2): "Today and tomorrow will be fateful for Ehud Olmert.... The political commotion that is being waged now between everyone is unprecedented in its fiery passion, and in the endless political possibilities and scenarios that it generates. It is a perspiring, vocal cockfight, from which only one rooster will come out alive. If it is Olmert, he will win a life expectancy of a few more months, until the big cat comes along and devours him. Tzipi Livni, on the other hand, will finally have to make a decision. Until today she has spent an entire career devoid of real decisions or risks. Now it has come, and today she has to choose. It is a tough and life-endangering decision." III. "Stiff-Necked" Senior op-ed writer Uzi Benziman commented in the independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz (5/2): "There is no surprise in Olmert's refusal to resign, on the grounds that the Winograd Commission did not specifically make such a recommendation. Throughout his public life, he has walked the fine line between what is acceptable and what is not, in a way that honest people would seek to avoid. The compass that guided him was not what is proper but what is technically permissible.... When Olmert (and Amir Peretz) refuse to reach the necessary conclusions and resign from the country's leadership, they relegate the commission's views to the status of a newspaper article. From the point of view of the Prime Minister and Defense Minister, it makes no difference whether the commission concluded that they conducted themselves perfectly last summer or were utter failures: They are staying in their seats." IV. "Born With a Defect in the Spine" Chief Economic Editor Sever Plotker opined in Yediot Aharonot (5/2): "The Olmert government was born with a severe defect in the backbone. This defect crippled and paralyzed it from the outset; hunched over and of small stature, it dragged itself down the staircase of history, without the ability to straighten up. Disabled from birth, it did not fight against its disabilities but rather became addicted to them, and will soon fall. It will fall not because of the Winograd report, which reads like an opinion about an unruly class, which was written in the teacher's room of an elitist school, but because the public became fed up with it many months ago -- in fact, immediately upon its founding.... Had Olmert appointed [Amir] Peretz as finance minister and Shaul Mofaz as defense minister, Hizbullah would have been deterred from kidnapping soldiers, knowing the iron hand of Mofaz, who broke the Intifada. Amir Peretz in the Finance Ministry would have opposed going to a retribution war -- while Amir Peretz in the Defense Ministry enthusiastically supported it.... Good leadership is tested by the ability of the leader to put the right people in the right positions, to prefer the general good to the good of the individual and to win the trust of the people being led. Olmert failed in these tests long before the Winograd Committee sat down to write the final version of its partial report. His government was born with a severe defect in the backbone, and it will die with no backbone at all." ¶V. "How to End the Crisis" Ha'aretz editorialized (5/2): "Image consultants, some of whom are also cabinet ministers, dug through the Winograd report and found a few sentences taken out of context, which they believe show that Ehud Olmert must remain Prime Minister to repair the defects the commission pointed out. But the main correction the current government must carry out is to replace an irresponsible Prime Minister. This Prime Minister, according to the report, is endangering the public well-being with conduct that is boastful and rash, and stems from baseless self-confidence and the methodical silencing of any attempt at debate and critique.... In the coming days the country will be judged by the response of its institutions and its citizens to the crisis. The Knesset and the political parties must change the government soon by appointing an agreed-on candidate like Shimon Peres, who would serve until elections at an agreed-on future date. The public must be on its guard and show those responsible the way out. Only after this happens can the necessary institutional changes be discussed, and management with greater responsibility and oversight be demanded in matters of state." VI. "Fixing the System" The conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized (5/2): "Apart from essential personnel changes at the national helm, as all but explicitly mandated by the Winograd Report, a no less critical transformation is one of mind-set and organization in the upper echelons, both military and political. Alongside the failures of leadership, the report makes plain that glaring conceptual and organizational dysfunction contributed crucially to what went wrong in the Second Lebanon War. These flaws appear to be endemic to the IDF and the civilian defense establishment. Indeed, they reappear from one inquiry commission's dismal findings to its successor's.... [Former head of Israel's National Security Council Maj. Gen. (res.) Giora]s Eiland proposed that the Prime Minister set up a staff responsible for political-security strategy, which would coordinate with the IDF, Foreign Ministry, etc. Before the last war, such a staff could have clued Olmert into the complexities of dealing with Hizbullah rocket fire and presented him with options, including for management of the shelled hinterland. Regrettably, this function was not established. It must be, as Israel prepares more effectively for emergencies to come." VII. "A Sin of Arrogance, Indeed" ¶P. Hovav wrote in the ultra-Orthodox Yated Ne'eman (5/2): "So this is it. It is now official: the war [in Lebanon] failed.... In order to clarify and complete the picture, it is advisable to add a small detail that was not mentioned in the commission's report: Israel's victories in all previous wars with the Arabs did not result from a successful conduct of those wars, but from a special assistance from Heaven that Israel enjoyed.... The conclusion of the war's failure is that in order to win wards, one should do everything to be worthy of heavenly assistance. Unfortunately Israel did not enjoy that heavenly assistance during the Second Lebanon War. In actual fact, the results of the war could have been gloomier.... It is not the 'sin of arrogance' of which Olmert, Peretz, and Halutz are being accused that caused the failure. What caused it is the 'sin of arrogance' that transpires from the spirit of the report, which says that the only thing needed to win a war is to run operations without failures." JONES