JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (12/05): HAMAS "WALKING INTO THE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 002196 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 (12/05): HAMAS "WALKING INTO THE ISRAELI LINE OF FIRE" -------------- Main Stories: -------------- Israeli settler violence sparked by the Israeli military's December 4 evacuation of settlers from the Rajabi house in Hebron, dominates all front pages. In reporting and photos, the dailies document widespread rioting by settlers throughout the West Bank causing injury to dozens of Palestinians and property damage to Palestinian mosques, homes, cars, and grape vines. Papers add that settlers blocked roads near Nablus and Jericho, pelting Palestinian cars with stones, while settlers near Qalqilia painted area mosques with Stars of David and "racist" slogans. In other "settler" news, Al Hayat Al Jadida's front page reports that the Israeli police have arrested two Jewish youths, suspected of stabbing a Palestinian in Jerusalem on December 3. All dailies report that Palestinian public outrage over settler violence is mounting, putting greater pressure on the Palestinian Authority (PA) to take action and protect the public. Several Palestinian leaders, including PA President Abbas, his advisor Nabil Abu Rudaynah and chief PLO negotiator Erekat criticized Israel for failing to control settler rioting. Abbas and Abu Rudaynah called on the UN Security Council to meet and discuss the violence and provide protection for Palestinians. Erekat commented that settler rioting undermines the peace process. All papers front page reports on Israel allowing entry on December 4, to a limited supply of PA-provided fuel and medicine into the "besieged Gaza Strip." Banks are still closed and have failed to pay salaries to PA employees because of a shortage of cash caused an Israeli block on PA money transfers to Gaza, the papers report. Al Hayat Al Jadida also front pages reports on Israel allowing foreign journalists to enter the "besieged Gaza Strip" after an almost month-long ban. The front pages of Al Quds and Al Ayyam report the Arab League condemns the Israeli "siege" on Gaza and notes that Israel continues to block a Libyan ship with humanitarian aid from docking along the Stip. Al Hayat Al Jadida's front page cites Reuters in quoting a Libyan representative at a December 4 UN Security Council meeting, describing the Israeli "interception" of the ship as an act of piracy. The Security Council held the meeting upon Libya's request, but failed to reach any decision on condemning Israel, reporting notes. Citing AFP, Al Ayyam's and Al Hayat Al Jadida's front pages report on "harsh criticism" leveled against Israel at the UN Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva on December 4, upon review of Israel's human rights record. Al Ayyam runs front page details of a French draft document formulating EU strategies on several issues including the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The document confirms EU readiness for a greater role in moving towards a "peace agreement." In the document, the EU states that it plans to continue calls on Israel to freeze settlement activities, allow for freedom of movement and the reopening of Gaza crossing points in a bid to encourage economic revival in the Palestinian Territories. The EU also expresses readiness to "reactivate" their observer mission at the Egypt-Gaza Rafah crossing point. Al-Quds headlines that Middle East Envoy Tony Blair revealed that "Palestinian and Israeli negotiators have reached an unannounced agreement." The article, written by the paper's Washington correspondent, does not specify the date of Blair's comment, noting only that it was made, "as he departed Washington after a two-day visit." Blair is further quoted asserting that the key to regional JERUSALEM 00002196 002 OF 002 stability lies in the resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the establishment of a Palestinian state. Blair applauds the nomination of Hillary Clinton as the next Secretary of State and praises President Bush and his administration for exerting "tremendous effort despite a very difficult situation." The article notes that Blair plans a late December visit to the West Bank and hopes to visit Gaza as well. Al Hayat Al Jadida's front page cites AFP in quoting White House spokesperson Perino announcing that President Bush will give a speech on December 4 listing his achievements in the Middle East. Bush is expected to speak about universal agreement on the two-state solution. Al Hayat Al Jadida reports on an inside page that USAID Director Howard Sumka attended the celebration of the completion of a USAID-funded project to renovate Rafidiyyah hospital in Nablus on December 4. Sumka is quoted saying that the 1.2 million project was done in partnership with the Palestinian Authority. -------------- BLOCK QUOTES: -------------- 1) Rajab Abu Sarayyah opines in Al Ayyam under the title, "Decisive weeks"(12/05): "In two weeks the truce with Israel will expire... then, the U.S. president-elect will assume office... the way to [Hamas'] salvation is clear, Gaza must return to the [Palestinian] national and Arab body politic or it will walk right into the Israeli line of fire." Walles