ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS TEL AVIV 002250 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. Tony Blairs' Mission ¶2. Mideast -------------- Key Stories in the Media: -------------- Israel Radio quoted the Quartet's Special Envoy, Tony Blair, as saying after his meeting with President Shimon Peres that: "I think there is a sense of possibility, but whether that sense of possibility can be translated into something, that is something that needs to be worked at and thought about over time." Leading media reported that Tony Blair met on Monday with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Vice Prime Minster Haim Ramon. According to the media, the main topic of discussion was the regional conference planned for this fall. Blair was quoted as saying that the conference should have substance and not just be a photo opportunity. Following Blair's meeting with FM Livni, the latter said that she told him that he is coming at a critical moment and can help create a breakthrough. Blair is scheduled to meet Palestinian officials and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday. In response to Hizbullah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah's statement on Sunday that his organization is capable of hitting every part of Israel, Ha'aretz quoted a senior military source as saying that although Hizbullah managed to restore many capabilities, its missiles cannot reach every part of Israel. Yediot reported that Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayad used the 600 million dollars that was unfrozen by Israel to pay salaries to all Palestinian state employees, including senior Hamas members. Ha'aretz cited security officials in the Palestinian Authority as saying that Hizbullah's influence on Fatah's Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades has been checked in recent months. Ha'aretz cited British Prime Minister Gordon Brown as saying in a press conference on Monday that he does not rule out military action against Iran. He also added that he believes that economic sanctions are the best way to convince Iran to abandon its nuclear aspirations. The Jerusalem Post reported that the IDF is launching a campaign asking Israelis who served in the IDF and live in the Diaspora to volunteer at West Bank checkpoints. The Jerusalem Post reported that the High Court of Justice ruled on Monday that the state must change the route of the security fence near Modiin Illit in order to cause less damage to Palestinian villagers. The decision will result in 20 more hectares being left on the Palestinian side. Leading media reported that for the second time in two months, US and Iranian representatives will meet in Iraq to discuss that country's internal situation. The media reported that a Qassam rocket hit a house in the Western Negev on Monday. No injuries were reported. -------------- ¶1. Tony Blairs' Mission: -------------- Summary: -------------- Diplomatic correspondent Aluf Benn opined in the independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz: "From Israel's point of view, Blair's mission is a great opportunity. There are few with his standing, connections and experience in the world.... If anyone is going to mediate, it might as well be Blair and not someone who is less of a friend. The possible alternatives, such as U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice or the European Union's Javier Solana, are not as promising." Diplomatic correspondent Shimon Shiffer wrote in the popular, pluralist Maariv: "Israelis who have spoken with Blair got the impression that he intends to become the principal player in the international mediation effort in the region instead of Javier Solana and others. His role model is former US President Bill Clinton. We will probably see Blair muster all of his charm and unique rhetorical abilities to promote the resolution he envisions for this conflict." Commentator Anshel Pfeffer wrote in the independent, conservative Jerusalem Post: "What Rice didn't say, of course is that, no matter how close an ally Blair has been to the Bush administration, the real business of getting the two sides to talk to each other is still an American monopoly.... Right now, it doesn't seem as if those who are sending Blair have any real interest in his success." Block Quotes: -------------- ¶I. "Bear-Hug Policy" Diplomatic correspondent Aluf Benn opined in the independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz (07/24): "In anticipation of Tony Blair's visit in his new role as Quartet envoy, the Prime Minister's Bureau has decided to adopt a 'bear-hug policy.' From Israel's point of view, Blair's mission is a great opportunity. There are few with his standing, connections and experience in the world.... If anyone is going to mediate, it might as well be Blair and not someone who is less of a friend. The possible alternatives, such as U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice or the European Union's Javier Solana, are not as promising. Olmert will seek to use Blair's talents to disseminate the following message: that Israel wants an agreement with the Palestinians that it does not want to hold on to the territories, and that it is honestly interested in bolstering Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. Blair can also serve as a useful conduit with the Saudis and others in the Arab world.... Blair's mission will officially begin during his next visit, in mid-September, at which point a regional summit will be held. At that meeting, he will present Israel and the Palestinians his intentions and plans in greater detail. Among the possible disagreements with Israel, Blair believes that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is at the root of enormous international problems, and he also believes it can be resolved. He believes that the parties already know the solution and that all that is necessary is a good mediator. In Israel, the view is that things are a lot more complex, but they are willing to listen." II. "Want to be Clinton" Diplomatic correspondent Shimon Shiffer wrote in the popular, pluralist Maariv (07/24): "Tony Blair arrived in Israel and the region in order to assess where it would be best to begin to the reconstruction work on the ruins of American-British policy.... For years Blair has believed that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the source of all the woes and troubles of the Middle East and that resolving this conflict would radiate onto other conflicts and help stabilize the region. Blair tried to persuade President Bush to accept that premise from the beginning of Bush's term in office. The problem was that Bush responded belatedly to Blair's entreaties to show real involvement and to seize the reins in leading the effort to reach a political arrangement. One can assume that Blair's chances of success in the year and a half that Bush has left in the White House are not particularly high.... Israelis who have spoken with Blair got the impression that he intends to become the principal player in the international mediation effort in the region instead of Javier Solana and others. His role model is former US President Bill Clinton. We will probably see Blair muster all of his charm and unique rhetorical abilities to promote the resolution he envisions for this conflict. III. "The Believer" Commentator Anshel Pfeffer wrote in the independent, conservative Jerusalem Post (07/24): "You can accept what US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said about how there's enough work to go around and therefore Blair will be able to count himself lucky and probably pick up a Nobel Prize in the process if he succeeds in his narrow brief, developing the Palestinian economy and improving PA governance. What Rice didn't say, of course is that, no matter how close an ally Blair has been to the Bush administration, the real business of getting the two sides to talk to each other is still an American monopoly.... Right now, it doesn't seem as if those who are sending Blair have any real interest in his success. It's not only the smaller-than-hoped-for job description, or the lack of enthusiasm shown by some of the Quartet's members. He has no fixed office yet and it's still unclear what size staff he will have to carry out his job. And so far, he hasn't been promised a budget that he can use at his discretion to kick-start various programs. But according to everyone who has met him, Blair has inordinate faith in his personal powers of persuasion, and as incredible as it sounds, really believes that he can pull off something of the scale of the peace agreement his government brought about in Northern Ireland -------------- ¶2. Mideast: -------------- Summary: -------------- Senior columnist and longtime dove Yoel Marcus wrote in the independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz: "Olmert sees the road to his political resurrection as strengthening Fatah leaders in the West Bank.... Is he serious? Can he do it? Today, when there is no king of Israel, when every mistake in the book has been made, when the public is sick and tired of its leaders and pining for a political upheaval, is it possible that the next king of Israel will be Ehud Olmert -- this time with an agenda?" Block Quotes: -------------- "Olmert, King of Israel?" Senior columnist and longtime dove Yoel Marcus wrote in the independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz (07/24): "Up until a few days ago, most political commentators said that Olmert was living on borrowed time and would soon be forced to resign.... But this Sunday, Olmert invited 150 Kadima wheelers and dealers to a powwow at his official residence. There ... he declared that the news of his political death is premature. Olmert is convinced that he will survive both the Lindenstrauss and Winograd reports.... Olmert's new strategic goal is to guard the Palestinians in the West Bank from a Hamas takeover. Just a few months ago, Israel was saying Mahmoud Abbas was a weakling. Now Israel is feeding him spinach and padding him with money, arms and good will gestures.... Israel, which has never been eager for an international conference, is now pleased as punch with the U.S. initiative. Olmert sees the road to his political resurrection as strengthening Fatah leaders in the West Bank with money, arms, compromises and releasing prisoners. He wants Hamas supporters in Gaza to watch what is happening in Ramallah and its environs with a sinking heart, and see that there are other options. Is he serious? Can he do it? Today, when there is no king of Israel, when every mistake in the book has been made, when the public is sick and tired of its leaders and pining for a political upheaval, is it possible that the next king of Israel will be Ehud Olmert -- this time with an agenda?" CRETZ