JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (10/02): BUSH-ABBAS MEETING -

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 001829 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 (10/02): BUSH-ABBAS MEETING - "JUST A PROTOCOL FAREWELL" Please note that in observance of the Eid Al Fitr holiday, Palestinian dailies were not printed on September 30 and October 1. -------------- Main Stories: -------------- Wafa and Ma'an online news agencies quote Palestinian Authority President Abbas describing his recent visit to the White House as, "successful." Abbas explains that President Bush feels that Palestinians have met their responsibilities. This "positive report," Abbas continues, will make it easier for Palestinians to work with the next U.S. administration. Wafa also reports that Secretary of State Rice telephoned Abbas to follow up on matters related to his recent visit to Washington. Ma'an reports that the Palestinian Authority (PA) has published the names of 38 Hamas sympathizers who have been released from PA detention centers in the West Bank. Hamas, however, disputes that any release occurred, according to report. In related news, the on-line media quote Iran's spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reaffirming his commitment to "stand by" Hamas leaders in Gaza. According to the reports, Khamenei told Iran's state-run tv that Hamas leader Haniyyah will, "never have to stand alone," and that Haniyyah is a "mujahid," or holy warrior. Palestinian news agencies confirm that the Israeli army will no longer use "US-manufactured" cluster bombs. The on-line media also note that the Israeli military has ended its two-day "siege" on the West Bank and Gaza, during which all crossing points were closed for the Jewish new year celebration. -------------- BLOCK QUOTES: -------------- ¶1. Independent Ma'an online news agency publishes an article about the recent White House meeting between President Bush and Palestinian Authority President Abbas, written by political advisor to Abbas, Ahmad Abdul Rahman(10/02): "[I]t was just a protocol farewell meeting, nothing more, since Mr. Bush is a lame duck, as they say in America. There was nothing new... Abbas [repeated what he told the] UN General Assembly; that he demanded full withdrawal [by Israel from the West Bank], a comprehensive solution, opposition to any partial solution, that the issues of Jerusalem and refugees must not be excluded [from negotiations]; in other words, that any solution that is not comprehensive or complete and does not include all issues will be rejected. Mr. Bush listened to these words." Walles