JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (8/29): PEACE NEGOTIATIONS -

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 001621 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 (8/29): PEACE NEGOTIATIONS - REFUGEES AND INTERNAL PALESTINIAN DIVIDES -------------- Main Stories: -------------- With large, above-the-fold photos of the Palestinian Authority (PA) President, Mahmoud Abbas, and the Lebanese President, Michel Suleiman, the three dailies lead with news about Abbas' visit to Lebanon on August 28 and his meeting with Suleiman at the Presidential Palace in Lebanon. During his visit, Abbas confirmed that he agrees with Lebanon's position of rejecting the permanent resettlement of Palestinians in Lebanon, stating that the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon have the right of return. The three dailies front-page a DBA report about Egypt's intention to send experts and security advisers to the Gaza Strip if the comprehensive Palestinian national dialogue succeeds. According to the report, this Egyptian assistance will help to stabilize and normalize conditions throughout the Gaza Strip. In related coverage in Al-Quds, Fatah confirmed in a report issued on August 28 its support for Egyptian efforts to bridge the gap between the Palestinian factions and reunite the Palestinian homeland. The three dailies report that Israel reopened the three commercial crossing points in the Gaza Strip on August 28: Sofa, Karni and Nahal Oz. This decision came in response to a request from Egypt that the crossings be re-opened before the start of the holy month of Ramadan. The three dailies highlight news about the departure of the two "Free Gaza" boats from the Gaza Strip on August 28. According to these reports, the boats will take to Cyprus one Palestinian family (a mother and 4 children) who have Cypriot citizenship, as well as a child requiring medical treatment travelling with his father. Citing different agencies, all dailies report that eleven Palestinians were injured on August 28 during clashes with Israeli soldiers during a demonstration close to areas of land that Israel plans to confiscate in order to establish a "separation wall" in Ni'lin village, near Ramallah. Al-Hayat Al-Jadida covers news about an agreement signed between the Palestinian Authority and the German government on August 28. According to the agreement, the German government will donate $5 million for the establishment of five police stations in the Jenin governorate. Citing Wafa, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida reports that Hamas took over the Al-Nuseayrat municipality in the Gaza Strip on August 28, dismissed its [Fatah] mayor and village counselor, and appointed other Hamas members in their stead. Al-Hayat Al-Jadida cites an AFP report that the father of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who has been held captive by Hamas since 2006, accused the Israeli government in an August 28th interview on Israeli Radio of not making maximum efforts to release his son. -------------- BLOCK QUOTES: -------------- ¶1. Independent Al-Quds runs an editorial entitled, "The Return and not the Permanent Resettlement" (8/29): "[T]he declarations of the [Palestinian Authority] President Mahmoud Abbas in Beirut confirm...that the Palestinian refugees object to the idea of permanent resettlement [in Lebanon]...and that their only goal is to JERUSALEM 00001621 002 OF 002 return to their homeland, Palestine. And, since their return cannot be achieved unless there is an intensive and continuous Arab and international effort, the Arab brothers must take on this role and make use of their high positions in the international arena to achieve their return...[P]utting pressure on the Palestinian refugees and making their lives hell is not the appropriate solution and will prevent their resettlement. It can even increase complications and lead to more encounters and violence which threatens the internal Arab peace... " ¶2. Al-Ayyam runs an editorial by a regular columnist, Muhammad Yaghi, entitled, "This is not the time for Reconciliation" (8/29): "[I]t seems that there are enormous pressures on the Palestinian side to achieve a political agreement with Israel before the end of Bush's presidency. The American President, who discovered the Israeli-Palestinian conflict too late, seems to insist on adding his touch on this conflict, and gave [the Palestinians] ideas such as making the reform of the Palestinian Authority a priority above the negotiation process. And, he gave Israel promises and guarantees on the Palestinian rights' account. Now, we...are worried about Rice's declarations that the issues are being discussed... regardless of the pressures, we trust that these pressures will not be heard by anyone. The current Palestinian [internal] situation does not allow for any political agreement with Israel. Even if [an agreement] happens, in view of this current division and conflict, it will not be the start of the end of occupation. On the contrary, it will set up a Palestinian-Palestinian conflict..." WALLES