JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (10/07): PALESTINIANS NOT

UNCLAS SECTIO 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 001847 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 (10/07): PALESTINIANS NOT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT INTERNAL TALKS IN CAIRO -------------- Main Stories: -------------- Al Quds leads with, "Hammad: Dialogue mustsucceed in order for new elections to proceed." Qoting Palestinian Authority (PA) Presidential poitical advisor Nimer Hammad, the story notes that the advisor calls upon all Palestinian factions t engage in the internal Palestinian talks to be eld in Cairo, "with goodwill." Hammad also calls or no further discussion regarding reports aboutPA President Abbas running for office in future elctions, stating that the issue is not under discssion. Al Ayyam leads with, "Hamas delegation t Cairo presents four vetoes of proposals for a tehnocrat government and new elections." The paper qotes Hamas objections to establishing a technocrt government, conducting reform to security in Gza (not the West Bank),disregarding previous elction results and "dealing with Gaza separately." The lead story in Al-Hayat Al-Jadida quotes Palestnian Authority (PA) President Abbas confirming tat the PA, "will adhere to whatever Arabs decideregarding [Palestinian] national unity. Those wo do not accept [the decision], will have to bear the consequences." Abbas' statements came during is visit to India, where he also commented that,"peace negotiations with Israel shall continue twards a comprehensive agreement that does not leav out any issues ... [however], this year will, inevitably, end without a peace agreement." Al Quds' front page reports that Middle East Quartet Envoy Tony Blair will arrive in Egypt on October 9 to prepare for a meeting of representatives from the Quartet, Palestinian and Israeli negotiating teams. The world economic crisis is featured on all front pages. Running wire stories, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida runs a headline, "black day in world markets," while Al Ayyam's headline notes that the crisis is "rocking Wall Street... U.S. calls for unified global action." Al Quds runs a large, highlighted box with four wire stories from Paris, New York, London, and Tel Aviv, describing the impact of the crisis in each capital. Al-Hayat Al-Jadida and Al Ayyam report on their front pages that Hamas "legislators" decided in a "parliament session" that Palestinian Authority President Abbas' term will end on January 8, ¶2009. They also called upon Abbas to task the elections committee with preparing for new elections. Hamas "Legislative Council Deputy Speaker" Ahmad Bahr chaired the session and is quoted calling for national reconciliation, while another Hamas official Faraj Al Ghoul, is quoted stating that the Palestinian Legislative Council's deputy speaker will take office after Abbas. Al Quds' publishes the results of a public opinion poll conducted by Near East Consulting on its front page. The poll shows that 63% of Palestinians want Palestinian Authority President Abbas to continue in office, while 37% do not. The poll also revealed that 88% of Fatah supporters want Abbas to stay in office. Al Quds notes in a prominent front page story that Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Fayyad announced that the PA will pay next month's salaries to public employees. Fayyad comments came after the PA's weekly cabinet meeting. He also stated that he expected the financial situation of the PA to be better next year. Al Ayyam's front page highlights comments from the meeting offering the ministers' support for the "steadfastness" of the old city of Hebron and calling for a lifting of Israeli barriers and check-points. Al-Hayat Al-Jadida highlights news that the cabinet has approved funding for cultural activities in Jerusalem to celebrate the city as the "Arab cultural capital of 2009," which is part of a UNESCO- affiliated program. Al-Hayat Al-Jadida reports in a front page story that Palestinians