ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS TEL AVIV 003441 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. Iran ¶2. Mideast -------------- Key stories in the media: -------------- The release of the U.S. National Intelligence Assessment on Iran received top billing in major media. The Jerusalem Post headlined "US: Iran Stopped Its Nuclear Arms Program 4 Years Ago". Ha'aretz reported that PM Ehud Olmert, FM Tzipi Livni, and Defense Minister Ehud Barak were briefed on the report's content while in Washington last week. According to the paper, GOI sources in Jerusalem told the newspaper on Monday that the Bush administration appears to have lost its sense of urgency towards Iran's nuclear program, making a military strike in 2008 increasingly unlikely. The Jerusalem Post reported that Israeli and American concerns over Iran's nuclear program are not alleviated. Israel Radio, which cited initial satisfaction in Jerusalem over the U.S. report, quoted senior Israeli defense sources as saying that the picture has not changed and that 2009 remains a critical date for the program. Yediot, which quoted Israeli defense experts as saying that the only difference between the U.S. and Israel lies in interpretation and that the report is a blow to Israel's attempts to convince the world an urgent solution is needed before Iran reaches the point of no-return. Ha'aretz quoted PM Olmert as saying on Monday that he hoped to reach an agreement with the Palestinians as soon as possible even though he has refused to set a time line. "We refused to set target dates, but we want to hold negotiations at the pace required, to try to reach an agreement as quickly as possible," he was quoted as saying at a meeting with Kadima Knesset members. Olmert emphasized that Annapolis was not a meeting for negotiating or reaching a deal, but that it was certainly an important opportunity to start talks to reach an agreement on Kadima's basic platform: two states for two peoples. He added, however, that there are stumbling blocks to be overcome. "We do not belittle either the difficulties or the chances; neither the uncertainty nor the lack of necessary responses that we still consider vital, which the Palestinian leadership must meet." Ha'aretz also reported that at the meeting FM Livni gave a positive assessment of the results from Annapolis. The Jerusalem Post reported that Israel, the PA, and the U.S. are working to launch three parallel tracks to keep the Annapolis process alive and active: (1) bilateral negotiations; (2) implementation of the Roadmap, including the U.S. monitoring mechanism; and (3) encouraging Arab countries and the international community to produce a favorable regional environment for advancing a two-state solution. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was quoted as saying on Monday SIPDIS in an interview with The Jerusalem Post that she sees a "strong desire" in Israel to aid Palestinian economic development, though she acknowledged the difficulties posed by security concerns. Israel Radio reported that last night the IAF bombarded a HAMAS target in the central Gaza Strip. The radio quoted Palestinians as saying that two people were killed and two others were wounded on the hit of a suspected training base. The radio reported that another HAMAS activist was killed in a clash with the IDF. Ha'aretz reported that Health Ministry officials confirmed to Ha'aretz on Monday that Israeli hospitals are no longer authorized to schedule medical appointments for Palestinians without first providing the security services with the patients' names for vetting. The policy change requires hospitals to disclose patients' profiles to the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, (COGAT),which is a unit in the Defense Ministry that is entrusted with coordinating civilian issues between the government, the IDF, international organizations, diplomats, and the PA. Only after patients are approved by the security services are hospitals allowed to summon the patients for an appointment inside Israel. A Health Ministry official told Ha'aretz that the procedure is designed to prevent infiltration by suicide bombers via bogus appointments. Ha'aretz quoted Physicians for Human Rights-Israel as saying that the new policy constitutes another hurdle that sick Palestinians will have to overcome in order to receive basic medical treatment for their conditions. Maariv reported that in the last few days security at the Prime Minister's offices in the Knesset has been increased. Shin Bet is apparently concerned that the offices could be attacked with rockets. The Jerusalem Post and Israel Radio cited a HAMAS denial of Red Cross reports that Gilad Shalit may be allowed to receive visits by the international organization or correspond with his family. Israel Radio reported that the Yesha Council of Jewish Settlements in the Territories plans to thwart Defense Minister Barak's compensation plan for settlers if they leave the West Bank. The Jerusalem Post and other media quoted the Indian press as saying that the September launch of an Israeli spy satellite from India, which now faces months of postponement, was canceled due to "last-minute" pressure by the U.S. The Jerusalem Post quoted Israeli and Palestinian officials as saying that Israel has held up the transfer of 25 Russian armored vehicles to Palestinian police in the West Bank, because the Palestinians want to have them mounted with machine guns. The Jerusalem Post reported that Peace Now charges that thousands of structures in scores of West Bank settlements are illegal and that demolition orders for them have been ignored. It further alleges that public officials as well as construction companies were involved in the illegal construction. Leading media quoted Olmert as saying at the Knesset on Monday that the government will provide communities living under the threat of missiles the necessary defensive measures, but it will not make an unlimited investment in such means. His remarks came in response to criticism at the way authorities handled the home front during the Second Lebanon War. Leading media reported that contradicting the PA's view, Egypt allowed 700 Palestinians to leave through the Rafah crossing for the hajj. Ha'aretz cited the PA's concern that HAMAS activists would take advantage of the religious occasion to reach training camps in Iran and Lebanon. The Palestinians' travel was not coordinated with Israel, which only heard about it afterwards. Leading media reported that on Monday the Jerusalem District Court sentenced Hamdi Quran, who assassinated cabinet minister Rehavam Zeevi in 2001, to two life terms plus 100 years in prison. Ha'aretz reported that U.S. "Marranos," who believe that their ancestors were Jews who fled Spain and Portugal during the 15th century, are seeking a home in Israel, but that they are not welcome. -------------- ¶1. Iran: -------------- Summary: -------------- Diplomatic correspondent Aluf Benn and Washington correspondent Shmuel Rosner wrote in the independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz: "However successful or flawed [the new U.S. intelligence] report may be, there is a new, dramatic reality, in all aspects of the struggle against the Iranian bomb: The military option, American or Israeli, is off the table, indefinitely." Military correspondent Alex Fishman wrote on page one of the mass-circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot: " Israel has no intention of either slowing or stopping its efforts [against the Iranian nuclear program]. Only now we are going to be, maybe, a bit more on our own." Historian and defense expert Dr. Cellu Rosenberg wrote on page one of the nationalist, Orthodox Makor Rishon-Hatzofe: "The American intelligence agency would do well to put pressure on the President and on the Secretary of State to adopt a heavy-handed policy against Iran." Block Quotes: -------------- ¶I. "The End of the Military Option" Diplomatic correspondent Aluf Benn and Washington correspondent Shmuel Rosner wrote in the independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz (12/4): "Intelligence officers, like anyone else, 'are reluctant to change their minds' and admit they made a mistake or were caught by surprise. So the U.S. intelligence services should be given credit for trying to correct their mistake.... Professionals will now argue passionately, continuing the debates between Israel's assessment (an Iranian bomb in 2009-2010) and the American one (a bomb in 2012-2013). The Americans failed to explain on Monday how they reached their new conclusions.... It does not really matter. However successful or flawed this report may be, there is a new, dramatic reality, in all aspects of the struggle against the Iranian bomb: The military option, American or Israeli, is off the table, indefinitely." II. "Coping Alone" Military correspondent Alex Fishman wrote on page one of the mass-circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot (12/4): "There can be no doubt that the folks in Tehran are celebrating. [The new U.S. intelligence] report was a blow ... to the fight that Israel has been waging in the international arena against the Iranian nuclear program..... The Israeli security establishment does not understand where the Americans got the information as if the Iranians decided to suspend their nuclear weapons production program in 2003 and have not renewed it since. The information the Israeli espionage agencies have, which is the same information that the Western espionage agencies have, is that the Iranians, under diplomatic pressure, indeed suspended the process of producing fissionable material for military purposes in 2003. However, that information also stipulates that the Iranians renewed that process some two years later and that that process has continued to this very day. Officials in the Israeli security establishment have been careful not to argue publicly with the leaders of the American espionage agencies, but behind closed doors Israeli officials are convinced that the American agencies are simply mistaken in their assessments.... Security officials stress that Israel will continue to adhere to its ... assessments. Even if there is a disparity of information with the Americans, Israeli officials say, the two sides are in full agreement on the core issue: the connection between the current regime in Iran and its determination to obtain nuclear weapons is a danger to world peace.... Israel has no intention of either slowing or stopping its efforts. Only now we are going to be, maybe, a bit more on our own." III. "American Fantasy" Historian and defense expert Dr. Cellu Rosenberg wrote on page one of the nationalist, Orthodox Makor Rishon-Hatzofe (12/4): "Apparently Iran is continuing with its plans, with the help of anti-Western countries, i.e., Russia and China, and any American attempt, even by the famous intelligence agency, not to take this seriously and postpone the inevitable, is not very respectable. The American intelligence agency would do well to put pressure on the President and on the Secretary of State to adopt a heavy-handed policy against Iran. The sooner the pressure is levied, the better for everyone. And if this pressure does not help, the U.S. must ... employ a great military force to chop down the terrifying Iranian regime." -------------- ¶2. Mideast: -------------- Summary: -------------- Peres Center President Uri Savir wrote in Yediot Aharonot: "Contrary to many others, I am convinced that such an agreement can be reached even earlier than the end of 2008.. The key lies with the leadership on both sides." Yossi Ben-Aharon, who was director-general of the Prime Minister's Office under former prime minister Yitzhak Shamir, argued in the popular, pluralist Maariv: "There can be no doubt that the Americans will ... present demands by which Israel does not want to or cannot abide." Columnist Calev Ben-David wrote in the conservative, independent Jerusalem Post: "[Defense Minister Ehud] Barak's call for a [settler] compensation bill is a classic flanking move, at least in the public relations sphere." Peace Now Secretary-General Yariv Oppenheimer wrote in Maariv: "Following the Annapolis meeting, the Prime Minister is obligated to ... check whether Syria is willing to reach an agreement based on the principles of the peace treaty with Egypt." Foreign affairs commentator Adar Primor wrote in the independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz: "[The new British] administration, together with that of President Nicolas Sarkozy in France and Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, has created in the trinity of the main capitals of Europe a rare constellation of support for Israel." Block Quotes: -------------- ¶I. "How to Achieve a Breakthrough" Peres Center President Uri Savir wrote in Yediot Aharonot (12/4): "From my acquaintance and conversations with the Palestinians I am convinced that the Abu Mazen-Fayyad-Abu Ala [Ahmed Qurei] troika can lead to a permanent status agreement following intensive negotiations that would resolve core issues.... Contrary to many others, I am convinced that such an agreement can be reached even earlier than the end of 2008.. The key lies with the leadership on both sides. I admit having been impressed by Olmert's appearance and performance.... If we do not want to find ourselves in a few years facing HAMAS and Al-Qaida, the government must adopt a strategy that serves Israel's interests -- in this case, strengthening Abu Mazen through diplomatic negotiations, along with jointly fighting terror." II. "A Dangerous Statement at Annapolis" Yossi Ben-Aharon, who was director-general of the Prime Minister's Office under former prime minister Yitzhak Shamir, argued in the popular, pluralist Maariv (12/4): "The Annapolis statement says that a three-way U.S.-led security mechanism will be created to implement the Roadmap, as the American side plays the role of an arbiter monitoring implementation by both sides. This clause has dealt a harsh blow to Israel's status as a sovereign state and laid potential mines in the negotiations. There can be no doubt that the Americans will later present demands that Israel will not like or will be unable to meet." III. "Barak's West Bank Maneuvers" Columnist Calev Ben-David wrote in the conservative, independent Jerusalem Post (12/4): "[Defense Minister Ehud] Barak's call for a [settler] compensation bill is a classic flanking move, at least in the public relations sphere.... If Barak is serious about the measure, it's likely part of a broader political strategy in line with recent political reports that he may be looking for Labor to incorporate at least parts of Meretz in its fold prior to the next elections, offering voters a single clear alternative on the Zionist Left in a field split with a weak Kadima in the center and Likud as part of the fractured Right.... But [Barak] will also have to confront a settler community, and their supporters, determined not to surrender the right to claim new ones -- and Barak won't be able to buy his way out this challenge." IV. "A Chance for Syria to Disconnect from Iran" Peace Now Secretary-General Yariv Oppenheimer wrote in Maariv (12/4): "Syria's decision to return to the negotiating table with Israel is bold and dramatic .... Following the Annapolis meeting, the Prime Minister is obligated to leave aside assessments and commentaries and check whether Syria is willing to reach an agreement based on the principles of the peace treaty with Egypt.... If [Syria] stays out of the diplomatic process, it will return to the fold of Iran and sow the seeds of the next war along Israel's northern border." ¶V. "A Penguin in Pace of the Poodle" Foreign affairs commentator Adar Primor wrote in the independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz (12/4): "In [Gordon] Brown's new lexicon, one says fighting poverty and cluster bombs -- instead of radical Islam; multilateralism -- instead of a single-power world and a 'network of alliances' -- instead of a 'special relationship' with the United States. In Israel no one is upset by this analysis. First of all, it is said, the difference between Brown and Blair boils down to style, not essence.... While Blair continues to stand out in the international arena as the Quartet's envoy to the region, presumably Brown -- who at the moment is in any case bothered by scandals at home that are shaking up his party -- will also in future leave his Foreign Secretary David Miliband more rope than was left to his predecessors. As far as Jerusalem is concerned, this is good news... Miliband, and ultimately Brown as well, are faithful to the British tradition of Euro-skepticism and pro-Americanism. Their administration, together with that of President Nicolas Sarkozy in France and Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, has created in the trinity of the main capitals of Europe a rare constellation of support for Israel." JONES