JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (6/04): A CALL FOR A ONE-STATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000938 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 (6/04): A CALL FOR A ONE-STATE SOLUTION -------------- Main Stories: -------------- Coverage of Israeli Prime Minister Olmert's visit to Washington dominates all front pages. Reports focus on comments from the June 3 White House daily briefing that, "Bush is not worried about the future of Olmert." Al-Ayyam leads with, "Bush rewarded his visitor Olmert with a 'security package' of a sort that America has never before given to any state." Related coverage in the dailies highlights that Secretary Rice "is pushing" for a peace agreement as Olmert begins his visit to Washington. Papers also note Rice's June 3 remarks to AIPAC, especially her assurance that the goal of reaching an agreement on a Palestinian state," will endure beyond the current U.S. leadership." Coverage downplays possible positive outcomes of the visit, focusing instead on the impact of Olmert's "scandal" which is seen as diminishing his political decision-making power. The dailies report that Israeli Premier Olmert has approved the building of "884 new houses in settlements" in the Jerusalem area. Related coverage again highlights official Palestinian condemnation through PLO statements. Al-Quds reports that the Israeli High Court has criticized Israeli policies that were preventing Fulbright Gaza students from traveling abroad for university studies. The daily reports that the Court has given the Israeli Government two weeks to "revise its policies." Positive coverage appears in the dailies about the imminent start of a new security "campaign" by Palestinian security forces in several cities in the northern West Bank, including Alfara'a, Tulkarim, Aqaba, Tamun, and Tubas. A inside page photo of U.S. Consul General Walles and Palestinian President Abbas introduces an Al Quds' report about the two officials' June 3 meeting in Ramallah. The article inaccurately reports that Abbas handed Walles a letter for President Bush. Abbas and Walles discussed "latest developments" and the results of Abbas' meeting with Israeli Premier Olmert, according to the article. -------------- BLOCK QUOTES: -------------- ¶1. Independent daily Al-Ayyam runs an op-ed by veteran columnist Hani Habib, entitled "Routine or rescue?" (6/04): "As always, when [Palestinian] President Abbas meets with [Israeli Premier] Olmert, we hear, read and see comments, criticism and repeated statements that contain nothing new... Endless, useless meetings... these talks have become routine and are a mechanism that is allowed to continue only because both sides have no alternative. Both sides are biding their time, waiting for a miracle at a time when miracles no longer exist..." ¶2. Independent daily Al-Ayyam runs an op-ed by columnist, Majed Kayali entitled, "The legitimacy of a new Palestinian political vision" (6/03): "... a group of activists and intellectuals in Palestinian society have found answers to many questions in suggesting a, "project for a new political vision," based on what has been accomplished by Palestinian national movements... this new vision focuses on three dimensions that are related to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict: The first is related to the national JERUSALEM 00000938 002 OF 002 goal of a two-state solution. After being adopted 34 years ago, it is no longer a practical solution, given Israeli policies on the ground... the second is a call to return to a one-state solution with a secular and democratic state... this call gains its credibility from the failure of 'an independent state solution,' in light of developments on the ground." WALLES