ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS TEL AVIV 001587 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: -------------- ¶1. Mideast ¶2. Iran -------------- Key stories in the media: -------------- Ha'aretz reported that Israel is waiting for Hamas to forward it another list of Palestinian prisoners whom it proposes to exchange for kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. The paper noted that Israel rejected most of the names suggested by Hamas two months ago. Ha'aretz cited security sources as saying that the deal is being postponed due to the escalation in violence the Gaza Strip. Leading media reported that in a report submitted to the Congress and State Department by Lt. Gen. Keith Dayton, the top American security envoy to the Palestinian Authority, he criticized Israel for its failure to help define a 'security horizon' for the Palestinians and its refusal to ease conditions in the Palestinian Authority. Ha'aretz reported that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will meet US President George Bush on June 19, 2007 in Washington. According to the paper, Olmert will try to use the US trip as an opportunity to change the agenda in Israel from domestic politics to progress on the diplomatic front. Ha'aretz reported that according to IDF sources the main reason that Israel does not want to start a ground operation in the Gaza Strip is fear that a war with Syria might break out in the summer. Maariv reported that the largest organization of civil servants in Britain, UNISON, will decide on June 19 whether to impose an economic and cultural boycott on Israel. Leading media reported that Fatah and Hamas are scheduled to meet in Cairo to discuss a cease fire with Israel and how to lower tensions between the two parties. According to the Jerusalem Post, three other Palestinian factions have also sent representatives to the Cairo talks. All media reported that 100 IDF combat reservists who live in Sderot told PM Olmert that they will not do any reserve time as long as Qassam rockets are being fired at Israel. Israel Radio reported that a first sign of life of British reporter Alan Johnston was published Friday in a video posted on an Islamic militant Web site. In the video Johnston said he is being treated well and calls for the lifting of international sanctions against the Palestinian government. The Lebanese Minister of Communications, Marwan Hamadah, was quoted as saying in an interview with Nazareth-based Arabic-language Assennara, following the Security Council decision to create an international court to try the murderers of former Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri, that such a decision protects the sovereignty of Lebanon and prevents interference from Syria. The media coordinator for Hamas in Lebanon, Rafat Morra, was quoted as saying in an interview with Arab-language Kul Al Arab that the number of Palestinians in Fateh Al Islam is just 20 of 300 members. The Palestinians in Lebanon are not responsible for Fateh Al Islam's entrance into the Naher Al Bared camp. The Palestinian refugees live in a miserable situation and most have fled to Al Badawi camp. -------------- ¶1. Mideast: -------------- Summary: -------------- Senior columnist and longtime dove Yoel Marcus wrote in the independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz: "If the political deck is reshuffled and an experienced defense minister is appointed, this could provide Olmert with the push he needs to get started on a political initiative based on the Saudi plan, in cooperation with U.S. President George W. Bush, and seriously explore the messages that are secretly passing back and forth between Syria and Israel." Block Quotes: -------------- "A Stronger Government" Senior columnist and longtime dove Yoel Marcus wrote in the independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz (06/01): "The way things look now, not only will the Olmert administration stay put for another year, at least, but it could grow stronger if two heavyweights like Barak and Ayalon -- the general and the admiral, as Peretz sneeringly calls them -- are brought in. If the political deck is reshuffled and an experienced defense minister is appointed, this could provide Olmert with the push he needs to get started on a political initiative based on the Saudi plan, in cooperation with U.S. President George W. Bush, and seriously explore the messages that are secretly passing back and forth between Syria and Israel." -------------- ¶2. Iran: -------------- Summary: -------------- Diplomatic correspondent Herb Keinon wrote in the conservative, independent Jerusalem Post: "When Mofaz and Burns meet in Washington, they will still focus on trying to get to Iran's brain through the pocketbook. But unless the Iranians show some sign of stepping down, their next meeting -- at the strategic dialogue planned for the winter -- might very well concentrate on dealing with other options altogether." Block Quotes: -------------- "Exhausting Efforts" Diplomatic correspondent Herb Keinon wrote in the conservative, independent Jerusalem Post (06/01): "Sderot is bleeding in the basement, the Arab Peace Initiative is resting on the living-room table, and the idea of talks with Syria is again crawling in through the attic window. But when the US and Israel sit down in Washington on Thursday for another round of strategic talks, the only real focus will be on the one real threat to the entire house: Iran.... Israel and the US are, for the most part, on the same page regarding Iran and the steps that now need to be taken. Yet there still remains one real point of disagreement, and that has to do with the time line.... The time line is obviously key in determining when to throw up one's hands and say that the diplomatic process has been exhausted, and that there is now no other choice but to act militarily. That point has not yet arrived -- and when Mofaz and Burns meet in Washington, they will still focus on trying to get to Iran's brain through the pocketbook. But unless the Iranians show some sign of stepping down, their next meeting -- at the strategic dialogue planned for the winter -- might very well concentrate on dealing with other options altogether." JONES