JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (11/13): UNITY - "BEFORE IT IS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 002029 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 (11/13): UNITY - "BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE" -------------- Main Stories: -------------- Al Quds leads with news of the failure of internal Palestinian dialogue in Cairo, noting that Egypt accused Hamas of undermining the dialogue for "regional agendas." Egypt also charged that Hamas has been using, "misleading positions and invalid pretexts," such as the issue of Hamas prisoners in Palestinian Authority (PA) detention, to mobilize public support for its boycott of talks. The paper also quotes "Arab diplomats" stating that Iran sought to intervene in the dialogue, and statements from the PLO Executive Committee accusing Hamas of foiling dialogue. PA President Abbas is quoted pledging to exert all efforts necessary to achieve national unity, according to reporting. All dailies run front page photos of Palestinian Authority (PA) President Abbas laying a cornerstone for a museum about the life of former PA President Arafat in Ramallah. In related news, the paper reports that Arafat's widow and daughter have expressed a willingness to return from their self-imposed exile in Tunisia to the West Bank. Al Ayyam and Al Hayat Al Jadida lead with news of an Israeli incursion into Gaza on November 12 that killed four Palestinians. Al Ayyam's lead photo shows an Israeli tank leaving Gaza after the incursion, while Al Hayat Al Jadida's lead photo shows medics carrying one of the dead Palestinian's body. In other Gaza news, all dailies note that Israeli Premier Olmert has formed a committee to tighten sanctions on Gaza and that the Israel Discount Bank has decided to stop money transfer to Gaza. The papers also report that a Texas jury is deliberating on a judgment in the pending law suit against the charitable organization "Holy Land", accused of transferring $12 million to Hamas. Finally, Al Quds' front page reports that Israel has prevented distribution of its newspaper for a seventh day in the Gaza Strip. Al Quds' front page reports that both president-elect Obama and Hamas deny that meetings were held before the U.S. presidential election between Obama's advisors and Hamas, as asserted recently by Hamas official Ahmad Yousef. Meanwhile, Al Ayyam's front page reports that URWA renewed its warning on November 12, that it will be forced to halt food aid distribution in Gaza if Israel does not reopen Gaza border crossings. All front pages report that Israeli Premier Olmert admitted on November 12 that Israel has intentionally discriminated against its Arab population since the establishment of the Israeli state. He continued that he wanted Israeli Arabs to be better integrated into Israeli society, according to the reports. Al Quds publishes front page statements by the King of Jordan and Saudi King calling for the resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The statements were made at the Interfaith Conference at the U.N. in New York on November 12. In related news, Al Hayat Al Jadida runs front page statements by former Israeli Premier Netanyahu calling for support to the Palestinian economy. The paper also announces that Israeli Premier Olmert revealed that his Foreign Minister Livni has reached agreement with the Palestinians on the issue of Jerusalem. In settlement news, Al Ayyam's front page reports that newly elected Israeli Jerusalem Mayor Barakat has called for the building of new houses in Israeli settlements in and around Jerusalem. The article JERUSALEM 00002029 002 OF 002 also reports that Israel's High Court has ordered a halt to the construction of 35 Israeli settlement apartment units in Beit El near Ramallah. In related reporting, Al Ayyam front pages a report that the Israeli military demolished two Palestinian houses near Ramallah on November 12. -------------- BLOCK QUOTES: -------------- 1) Jawad Bashiti writes in Al Ayyam under the title, "The president they are creating out of Obama" (11/13): "Rahm Emanuel was not selected by Obama, as we think, or as he himself thinks. He did not come to Obama, but rather he was sent to Obama... We have nothing but a "moral lobby" that can pray for Obama that Allah gives him insight and shows him the correct path. We forget the fact that the president there is not elected, and once he is elected, he is molded into [the desired form of leader]." 2) Azzam Abu Sud opines in Al Quds under the title, "Are we going bankrupt?" (11/13): "The failure of the [Cairo Palestinian] dialogue conference causes us to pray for peace upon [former Palestinian Authority President] Arafat's soul. He united us and after his death, we became dispersed. This failure will, sooner or later, make us summon up the courage to publicly declare that we will be bankrupt, politically, socially, morally, culturally, economically and religiously, unless we act before it is too late." Walles