JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (5/19): PALESTINIANS: BUSH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 JERUSALEM 000845 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 (5/19): PALESTINIANS: BUSH IGNORING ISRAELI VIOLATIONS -------------- Main Stories: -------------- For a third day, the dailies extensively report on Palestinian "disappointment" regarding remarks made by President Bush before the Israeli Knesset on May 15. The dailies report President Abbas commenting, "We are not satisfied with Bush's speech and it made us angry." Al-Hayat Al-Jadida opens with a red banner headline reading: President Abbas says, "Neither Washington nor others can give the green light for surrendering Jerusalem." Al-Ayyam's lead story quotes Abbas stating, "there are no understandings [with the Israelis], it is more of an exchange of opinions... distances [between positions] are still great." The dailies summarize the visit of President Bush by saying that he left the region in a state of more "frustration". The papers also note that Bush's May 17 speech before the World Economic Forum in Sharm el Sheikh did not live up to Arab expectations and did not make mention that Palestinian statehood nor the conclusion of a final agreement would happen soon. The dailies particularly focus on comments made by Egyptian President Mubarak that, "whoever thinks that Arabs will agree to any agreement that does not fulfill the hopes of the Palestinian people, is mistaken." Mubarak added that Palestinian President, "Abbas needs a just and honorable solution," continuing, "not solving the Palestinians' issue will encourage terrorism." Front page related coverage of President Bush's regional visit, highlights Secretary Rice's expectations that peace negotiations will be "extensive." Al-Quds carries an AFP report with Rice confirming that, "Israeli and Palestinian negotiators unofficially discussed a peace agreement." The dailies report that Israeli Foreign Minster Livni said, "it is best not to rush an agreement between the Palestinians and Israelis." White House spokesperson Stephen Hadley is quoted in dailies admitting that, "Bush has nothing to announce regarding notable progress in the peace process." Dailies report on the meeting of President Bush and Palestinian Premier Fayyad in Egypt on May 18. Al-Ayyam reports that Fayyad explained to Bush steps that he feels are necessary for the success of the political [negotiation] process. Fayyad listed the need to resolve the following issues in order of priority: Israeli settlement activity, Israeli security [military] action and the removal of checkpoints and freedom of movement. Fayyad added that, "everything is meaningless if settlement activity continues." Palestinian Presidential spokesperson Abu Rudaynah denies rumors that Palestinian President Abbas intends to resign if peace efforts do not succeed, front pages announce. Abu Rudaynah states that, "this news is baseless, and President Abbas is determined to continue working on achieving the Palestinian dream of an independent state." Negative coverage dominates front pages concerning Israeli intentions to conduct a military operation in the Gaza Strip. Al-Ayyam reports under a red banner that Israeli Premier Olmert will make a decision regarding a Gaza operation, "very soon." Linked reports highlight that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is deepening because of fuel shortages. Other Gaza reporting focuses on a call by Hamas leader Ismael Haniyah on Egypt to re-open the Rafah border crossing in the event that Israel fails to approve a Gaza truce. Reporting is rounded out by all dailies with an AFP story about a JERUSALEM 00000845 002 OF 003 call by Osama bin Laden to lift the "siege" on Gaza. Preparations for the Palestinian Authority's (PA) Palestine Investment Conference in Bethlehem wins positive coverage in all dailies. The dailies note that more than 400 Arab businessmen received permits to participate in the conference. Weekend coverage on the conference highlighted the role of PA security forces in ensuring the security of conference participants. Al-Ayyam front-paged a weekend report featuring the White House press release of the names of the US Presidential Delegation members traveling to Bethlehem to participate in the investment conference. -------------- Sunday, May 18 -------------- Front pages dedicated extensive coverage to the meeting of President Bush with Palestinian President Abbas on May 17 in Egypt. Al-Quds opened with, "Bush pledges to Abbas that he will work on achieving the dream of a Palestinian state." According to Al-Ayyam, Abbas insisted that, "any agreement should include all [final status] issues." The dailies also ran comments by PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat revealing that,"President Abbas expressed to Bush his disappointment over Bush's remarks in front of the Knesset." Al-Quds reported that Bush replied by saying, "I am the first American president who talked about a Palestinians state, and I am absolutely determined to achieve this during my term." Ma'an news agency reported that the Israeli military removed a roadblock which previously closed off the southern entrance of the West Bank city of Hebron. The removal had been postponed several times before because of protests by Israeli settlers claiming that removal threatens their security. The road, which links the city of Hebron to a nearby industrial zone, has been closed since the beginning of the second Palestinian Intifada. -------------- Saturday, May 17 -------------- Pessimism accompanied coverage of the visit of President Bush to Israel and his remarks before the Israeli Knesset. Al-Hayat Al-Jadida opened with, "Palestinian disappointment following Bush's Remarks." The dailies reported that Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told Reuters: "Bush should have told the Israelis that, 1 mile from where he was speaking, there is a nation that has lived in disaster for 60 years. He should have told the Israelis no one could be free at the expense of others. He missed this opportunity and we are disappointed." Al-Hayat Al-Jadida front-paged an AFP story entitled "the diplomacy of Bush left tremendous disappointment in the region." Efforts for a truce between Israel and Palestinians in Gaza received front-page coverage in the dailies. All dailies reported that Hamas spokesperson Aiman Taha confirmed on May 16 that Hamas has delayed their visit to Cairo until next week. On the other hand, the dailies reported that Tel Aviv has asked Cairo to resume mediation on the issue of the release of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. In other Gaza news, coverage highlighted that unidentified gunmen blew off the door of the Rosary Sister's school in the center of Gaza city. -------------- BLOCK QUOTES: -------------- JERUSALEM 00000845 003 OF 003 ¶1. Independent Al-Quds carried its daily editorial entitled "Important dots above many words!" (5/19): "...The American President repeated in his speech [May 18], in Sharm Al-Sheikh that a solution is possible before the end of the year. He called upon Israel to ease the suffering of Palestinians and to work against what he described as 'terrorism'. As if the only obstacles to reaching a peace agreement are Israeli military checkpoints. Again, Bush ignored all [other] Israeli violations that destroy peace efforts. Violations like settlements, the wall, isolating Jerusalem, the siege, and military campaigns as will as extreme Israeli positions in negotiations with Palestinians... In the end, all that Israel and the United states need to understand is that Arabs and Palestinians will not accept that the current situation continues. Israel is hiding behind peace slogans that have never been implemented. And the United States is taking a biased stand towards Israel without pressuring it to respond to the peace efforts. It is not logical to keep talking about peace while the vision of two states is at a stalemate with no real steps towards making peace." WALLES