JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (11/04): "TIME FOR AMERICA TO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 001991

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 (11/04): "TIME FOR AMERICA TO
LEAD"

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Main Stories:
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Reports and photographs of U.S. presidential candidates and voters
dominate above the fold coverage on the front pages of Al Ayyam and
Al Quds. Both papers note the historic aspect of the elections. Al
Quds runs a smaller, highlighted front page article on the topic.
Al Ayyam wonders if "a black man can really enter the White House,"
and runs additional coverage on inside pages including a highlight
about Syria's satisfaction over President Bush's departure from
office.

Al Hayat Al Jadida leads with a photo of a frightened Palestinian
youth, holding his hands up in surrender amidst Israeli soldiers,
one of whom has his weapon trained on the boy. The photo captures
events during a November 3 incursion by Israeli military into Farah
refugee camp, north of the West Bank city of Nablus. The paper's
lead article highlights statements by "an Arab diplomat" commenting
that Palestinian reconciliation talks in Cairo are at a crossroads
and stressing that if talks fail now, reconciliation would, "have to
wait for years to come." The paper continues and an Al Quds
front-page report notes that Palestinian Authority President Abbas
has pledging to do his best to ensure the success of talks.
Meanwhile, Al Ayyam and Ma'an report on statements by Hamas chief
Misha'al calling for Abbas to attend sessions of more
"comprehensive" talks that would include discussions on arrests of
Hamas activists by the Palestinian Authority.

All front pages highlight President Abbas' visit to Romania and his
statements that there will be no peace agreement with Israel until
new administrations are in place in Israel and the United States.
In related reporting, Al Ayyam and Al Hayat Al Jadida front page
statements by Israeli Foreign Minister Livni dismissing any
possibility of Israeli agreement to a "soft, interim" agreement with
Palestinians, before the end of 2008.

Al Ayyam and Al Hayat Al Jadida highlight front page reports about
Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians on November 3. Al Ayyam
publishes two front page reports, noting that three Palestinians
were attacked in Hebron, where settlers also attacked a Palestinian
boy and stole his olive harvest. Al Hayat Al Jadida reports that
Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian cars on a Jericho road. The
paper quotes Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Fayyad stating
that, "aggressive practices by settlers against (Palestinian)
farmers will badly affect the future of the peace process." The
paper also reports that Israeli military dismantled four settlement
outposts near Ramallah. Finally, Al Quds front page reports that
Britain is taking stronger measures against the import of products
from Israeli West Bank settlements and urging E.U. member states to
do the same.

The three papers front page statements by Jordanian King Abdullah
rejecting any change to the Islamic identity of Jerusalem, in a
response to Israeli excavations and construction near the Old City
of Jerusalem. Abdullah's statements were made in a November 3
meeting with UNESCO in Amman.

The three papers front page reports that Hamas member Aziz Dwayk was
taken from Israeli detention to a hospital for urgent surgery. The
papers report that Hamas holds Israel responsible for Dwayk's
health.

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JERUSALEM 00001991 002 OF 002


BLOCK QUOTES:
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1) Al Quds editorial opines under the title, "Which settlement
outposts are they talking about?" (11/04): "The Israeli cabinet has
decided to stop direct and indirect funding to what it referred to
as 'settlement outposts'... Israeli Minister Haim Ramon frankly
stated that the Palestinians are subjected to a racial
discrimination policy [by Israel] and that the Israeli settlers are
enjoying treatment that they do not deserve... Is this a belated
wakeup to the practices of Israeli settlers, that we know well and
have suffered from for years? Could this promised measure [to stop
funding] be the beginning of a new policy? We very much doubt that,
since the talk about settlement outposts suggests that there are
"legal," regulated settlements, which is not true. If this issue
were discussed seriously, it would have to discuss settlements as a
whole thereby seeking a serious horizon for realizing peace."

2) Columnist Abu Sariyya writes in Al Ayyam under the title,
"American elections: The world awaits change" (11/04): "Unless
there is a great surprise, Barack Obama will be sworn in as the next
U.S. President... There is a need [for the U.S.] to give [Arab]
people the right to self determination and to arrange their internal
affairs in Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine, free of American
interference as is the case in Iraq or the case of the U.S.
replacing the U.N. and even the Quartet as the "manager" of
Israeli/Palestinian dialogue, as has happened since Annapolis... It
is time, then, for America to "lead" the world... instead of using a
"big stick" as the Republican Bush administration has done".

Walles