JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (9/15): A "MULTIPOLAR" WORLD AND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 JERUSALEM 001716 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 (9/15): A "MULTIPOLAR" WORLD AND THE PEACE PROCESS -------------- Main Stories: -------------- "Greater Israel is over... anyone who talks that way is delusional," according to Israeli Premier Olmert, whose comments to the Israeli cabinet on September 14 lead coverage in Al Quds and Al Ayyam. In separate reporting, all front-pages highlight Olmert's condemnation of recent attacks by Jewish settlers on two West Bank villages near Nablus, describing the attacks as "murderous." The reports detail the number of Palestinians injured and damage to Palestinian agricultural land, downplaying official Israeli statements promising to deal firmly with settler violence. Remarks by HAMAS leader Khalid Mish'al stating that there will be no legitimate Palestinian president after January 2009 unless new elections are held, is front page news in all dailies. Al-Ayyam leads with the story under the headline, "Mish'al initiates battle over the Presidency, refusing to recognize the legitimacy of the [PLO] Executive Committee." Other stories quote Palestinian Authority President Abbas noting that Palestinian law will be the basis for resolving the issue. Citing Israeli daily Yediot Ahranut, Al-Ayyam front-pages a report that Palestinian Authority President Abbas and Israeli Premier Olmert will meet on September 16 to discuss, "among many peace process issues," proposed compensation for "Jewish settlers" who would voluntarily move from their West Bank homes. Al-Quds front-pages several stories quoting international leaders condemning Israeli West Bank settlement activities. Spanish Foreign Minister Moratinos, who visited Ramallah on September 14, is reported describing the expansion of settlements as an "obstacle" to any future agreement between the two sides. Jordan's King Abdullah and EU foreign policy chief Solana are also quoted criticizing Israeli settlement activities in the West Bank. In related reporting from the weekend, Palestinian Authority President Abbas told the press after his meeting with Moratinos that, "We will ask the new US administration to support the peace process immediately after it is elected." Abbas also held weekend meetings with Norwegian Special Coordinator for the Middle East and Special Envoy of the Russian President on September 13, according to weekend coverage. Al-Ayyam quotes Bassam Zakarnah, head of the union for Palestinian Authority (PA) employees, confirming that the PA has agreed to pay employees their September salaries and 50 percent of their benefits by the end of the month. The closure of all Gaza crossings by the Israeli Government is highlighted in all dailies. Citing a statement issued by Israeli Defense Minister Barak's office, reports state that the closure is a response to the September 14 firing of a missile from the Gaza Strip on the Israeli town of Sderot. -------------- Weekend stories -------------- Sunday, September 14, 2008 Al-Quds led with comments by an American expert from the conservative Washington think tank, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, regarding a probable Israeli attack on Iran. The JERUSALEM 00001716 002 OF 003 expert notes that the "ideal" time for a strike would be after the November presidential elections, during the transition between administrations. If Barack Obama wins, the likelihood of an Israeli strike is higher than if John McCain wins because of Obama's and Biden's "appeasement policies" towards Iran and "less favorable views" of Israel, according to the story that first appeared in Gulf dailies. All dailies report on the killing and injuring of West Bank Palestinians by Israelis. Front pages highlighted that armed "Jewish settlers" attacked the Nablus area village of Asira Al-Qibliya after a Palestinian intruder stabbed and lightly wounded an Israeli boy in an "illegal Jewish outpost." Al-Ayyam leads with news of the killing of a Palestinian teenager by Israeli Defense Forces near Bethlehem on September 13. Palestinian Authority (PA) Premier, Salam Fayyad was shown on front pages feeding a little girl at an orphanage in Hebron during a September 13 Iftar. In remarks, Fayyad again called for an end to internal Palestinian division and reunification according to the plan proposed by PA President Abbas. Saturday, September 13, 2008 Front pages showed photos of worshipers performing the second Friday prayers of Ramadan at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque and throngs of other worshipers who were prevented from entering Jerusalem, standing behind the Qalandiya checkpoint near the West Bank city of Ramallah. The three dailies highlighted that more than 100,000 Palestinian worshipers performed the Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa, despite strict Israeli procedures imposed at West Bank checkpoints. All dailies led with a September 12 interview by Palestinian Authority President Abbas with Israeli daily Ha'aretz. Abbas raised doubts over the possibility of an early peace agreement before December and emphasized that the U.S. plays a central role in the peace process. He added that Israel must discuss (in negotiations) both its responsibility for the refugee problem and a practical solution to the right of return. "Palestinians who do not return to Israel will be able to return to Palestine, "the Palestinian leader further commented. The complete interview was published on the inside pages of the three dailies. -------------- BLOCK QUOTES: -------------- ¶1. Independent Al-Quds runs its main editorial under the title, "Partition on the Basis of International Legitimacy"(09/15): "in a statement seldom made by Israeli leaders, Premier Ehud Olmert said [on September 14] in an address to his government, that the dream of Greater Israel has ended [forever] and that maintaining otherwise is self-delusion, adding that this land must be divided [between Israel and] the Palestinians if Israel does not want to become a bi-national state. With this, Olmert clarified vital issues but also raised many questions... The strange thing about this position is the justification that Olmert offers for... the need to divide the land with the Palestinians - not in the interest of peace, security, or the welfare and prosperity of both peoples - but mainly because of his desire that Israel not become a bi-national state and remain a Jewish state, completely ignoring the rights of the Israeli minority [of Palestinians] living within the green line... Is [the proposed partition] the same partition of historical Palestine [1948 JERUSALEM 00001716 003 OF 003 borders] per international resolutions?... If the dream of Greater Jerusalem has vanished from the minds of Israeli leaders, they should seek to implement legitimate international resolutions and not to impose a new division that can never be a basis for peace, security or stability in the region". ¶2. Under the title "Has the Exception Become the Rule?" regular columnist Talal Okal opines in independent Al-Ayyam: "[t]he Palestinian negotiating team should have agreed to [conduct] a media campaign to expose the Israeli policies that are responsible for the failure of negotiations... Palestinians should take into account the role of international variables that are moving us towards a multi-polar world in which Russia will play a critical role... [and the EU will play a greater role], especially in Arab-Israeli peace negotiations, including Palestinian-Israeli negotiations. Negotiations have reached their final phase, for it is not expected that the current American administration will be capable of continuing [the process]. Probably, the September 26 meeting between Bush and [PA President] Abbas is the final attempt." WALLES