JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (7/11): FAYYAD'S PRACTICAL IDEAS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 001227 SIPDIS STATE PASS BBG STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA, NEA/PPD WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE, SIT ROOM NSC FOR ABRAMS CMC WASHINGTON DC FOR POLAD JERUSALEM ALSO FOR ICD LONDON FOR HKANONA AND POL - TSOU PARIS ALSO FOR POL ROME FOR MFO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KMDR KPAL KWBG KPAO IS SUBJECT: JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (7/11): FAYYAD'S PRACTICAL IDEAS FOR GOVERNANCE -------------- Main Stories: -------------- The visit of Palestinian Authority Premier Fayyad to the West Bank communities of Nablus city and Ni'lin village on July 10 attracts front page coverage in the three dailies. During his visit to Nablus, Fayyad emphasized that all Israeli actions against Palestinian institutions in Nablus are illegal and violate previous agreements and commitments and are therefore, "invalid." Fayyad also condemned the "escalation" of Israeli settlement activities and the construction of the separation barrier, while praising the steadfastness of villages affected negatively by the barrier. In related coverage, Al-Ayyam reports that 17 demonstrators were injured when Israeli soldiers dispersed a peaceful march protesting the separation barrier in Ni'lin village on July 10. Al-Quds leads with a photo of armed Israeli soldiers disbursing the foreign and Palestinian protestors. Front pages highlight that the, "Palestinian leadership is studying the possibility of halting communication with Israel until settlement activities stop." The comment was made by Yasir Abd-Rabbuh, Secretary of the Executive Committee of the PLO at a press conference on July 10. Abd-Rabbuh added that a decision to halt communications would be implemented upon the return of Palestinian Authority President Abbas from Paris. Front page headlines announce the first killing of a Palestinian by Israeli soldiers since the start of the Israel/Hamas truce in the Gaza Strip. The incident took place next to Kisofim crossing in the northern Strip on July 10. In response, Al-Aqsa Brigades fired rockets at Sderot "settlement" (city) in southern Israel. In contrast, Hamas arrested three Hamas activists who fired rockets at Sderot on July 10, the papers report. In an exclusive interview with Al- Quds on July 10, Hamas leader Musa Abu Marzuq announced that Cairo will soon host closed-door negotiations between Israel and Hamas regarding a prisoners exchange deal that could include the release of Israeli soldier Shalit. On an inside page, Al-Quds reports that three Palestinian Fulbright students, "who wish to benefit from a scholarship to the United States, despite Israeli actions that are preventing them from traveling," met on July 10 with U.S. Consulate officials at the Erez crossing point for visa interviews. The article is accompanied by a photo showing the three students waiting to cross the checkpoint to meet with U.S. officials on the Israeli side of the crossing. -------------- BLOCK QUOTES: -------------- ¶1. Independent Al-Quds runs its daily editorial entitled: "Dr. Fayyad's ideas to end division are practical and constructive" (7/11): "...out of a feeling of deep responsibility towards his people and the cause of his homeland, [Palestinian Authority Premier] Dr. Fayyad has laid out some constructive and practical ideas to end division between the West Bank and Gaza Strip. These ideas have two main elements: First, the formation of a national, non-factional caretaker government to run the country's affairs and prepare for legitimate, presidential elections. Second, Arab assistance in re-establishing Palestinian security capacities that are professional and would provide [interim] security for the Gaza Strip... Fayyad's ideas are practical, constructive, and realistic JERUSALEM 00001227 002 OF 002 which is why all Palestinian factions should happily accept and support them. Especially, since these ideas meet the needs of the Palestinian people, provide security, and pave the way for legitimate, presidential elections..." ¶2. Independent Al-Ayyam runs an editorial by former Palestinian National Council member, Azmi Al-Khawaja, entitled: "Settlement activities and the 'racist separation wall' are killing the peace process" (7/11): "... [Israeli] settlement activities continue as does the construction of the barrier that is swallowing up land. All this is happening in the absence of decision makers - mere condemnations are useless. If we compare the situation in 1996 to the current one, we find that there is a big difference in the [rate of] settlement expansion and the construction of the barrier. What [Palestinians] want is: a) reunification of the West Bank and Gaza Strip...b) a national unity government with an active Palestinian Legislative Council... c) an active PLO... d) a halt to negotiations with [Israeli leaders] Olmert and Livni because they are useless and because there can be no Palestinian state or guarantee of rights without the return of refugees, without Jerusalem, and without a complete Israeli withdrawal to the borders of 1967..." Walles