ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS TEL AVIV 001084 STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA, NEA/PPD WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE, SIT ROOM NSC FOR NEA STAFF SECDEF WASHDC FOR USDP/ASD-PA/ASD-ISA HQ USAF FOR XOXX DA WASHDC FOR SASA JOINT STAFF WASHDC FOR PA CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL FOR POLAD/USIA ADVISOR COMSOCEUR VAIHINGEN GE FOR PAO/POLAD COMSIXTHFLT FOR 019 JERUSALEM ALSO ICD LONDON ALSO FOR HKANONA AND POL PARIS ALSO FOR POL ROME FOR MFO SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR IS SUBJECT: ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION -------------- SUBJECTS COVERED IN THIS REPORT: -------------- ¶1. Israel-Syria Talks ¶2. Iran -------------- Key stories in the media: -------------- The top story in all of the major media outlets was the announcement of indirect peace talks with Syria. Most media linked the timing of the announcement with the lifting of the gag order on the bribery investigation into PM Olmert. Both Yediot and Maariv bannered: "Investigation and Peace," which in Hebrew sounds like "striving for peace." Olmert was quoted as saying last night that he has "reached the conclusion that the chances in this case outweighed the risks, and with this hope, today we embark on this path." He added that "it's always better to talk to shoot." The Jerusalem Post quoted Turkish sources as saying that Israel and Syria understand that a future peace agreement will include a full Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights, as well as Syria's distancing itself from Iran and an end to "aiding and abetting" Hamas and Hizbullah. Ha'aretz quoted a senior Turkish official as saying that Ankara is impressed by the upbeat mood and that it hopes that by next month there might even be a direct meeting between Israelis and Syrians. Ha'aretz reported that Olmert tried to soften the Americans' stance during President Bush and Vice President Cheney's visits to Israel, and that he was backed by Defense Minister Barak. Israel Radio reported that FM Tzipi Livni told French FM Bernard Kouchner that Israel will accept nothing less from Syria than its total disengagement from terror (Hamas, Hizbullah, etc.) and Iran. Ha'aretz believes that Israel might request billions of dollars from the U.S. in the event of a peace treaty with Syria. Maariv wrote that in a treaty with Syria, Israel hopes to resolve water rights, receive cheap oil, and open up overland access to Europe. The media also reported on several polls (see the poll section below) in which two-thirds of the respondents said they do not support leaving the Golan for peace and an overwhelming majority also connect the announcement to Olmert's legal troubles and do not believe he has the legitimacy needed to enter into serious negotiations. The Jerusalem Post quoted a senior law enforcement official as saying that the National Fraud Unit believes that Olmert made "personal use" of the funds he received from New York financier Morris Talansky. The newspaper further quoted the official as saying that Shula Zaken, Olmert's former bureau chief and secretary of many years "knowingly handed the funds." All media cited notes that Zaken wrote and e-mails she sent Olmert. Leading media quoted Hamas as saying yesterday that Egypt is expected to announce today that efforts to reach an agreement with Israel have failed. Hamas spokespeople placed the blame on Israel for this development, saying that Israel did not want to give up anything in exchange for the truce. Israel Radio reported that this morning a suicide bomber blew up an explosives-laden truck on the Gazan side of the Erez Crossing. No Israeli was harmed. Islamic Jihad and a fraction of Fatah claimed responsibility for the attack. Israel Radio quoted Secretary Rice as saying yesterday: "We would welcome any steps that might lead to a comprehensive peace in the Middle East. We are going to work very hard on the Palestinian-Israeli front. We hope for the best on the Israeli-Syrian side and we do believe that there is work to be done vis-a-vis the outstanding issues with Lebanon, as well." Leading media quoted White House Press Secretary Dana Perino as saying that the U.S. does not object to the talks but "the United States, Israelis and many others" are concerned about Syria's support for Hamas and Hizbullah. The Jerusalem Post quoted Israeli defense officials as saying that they are concerned that Hizbullah would use its newly-gained veto power in the Lebanese cabinet to prevent the renewal of UNIFIL's mandate this summer. Major media reported that yesterday the French Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Jewish activist Philippe Karsenty, overturning a lower court decision that he had libeled France 2-TV and its Jerusalem correspondent Charles Enderlin when he accused them of knowingly misleading the world about the death of the Palestinian child Muhammad al-Dura in Gaza in 2000. Last night France 2-TV reported that it would appeal to the Cour de Cassation (the court of last resort in France). Ha'aretz -- and other media previously -- reported that the USTR's 2007 watch list of countries where intellectual property is not respected, names Israel as one of the countries that are a "focus of increased bilateral attention". The Israeli case deals mainly with legislation regulating the ability to produce generic drugs and to distribute them both in Israel and overseas. Ha'aretz quoted several sources involved in the issue as saying that the Israelis believe it is not their lax legislation hat is keeping them on the list, but rather the pressure exerted by American pharmaceutical companies to protect their products from Israeli generic versions. The Jerusalem Post reported that yesterday in Eilat Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter defended the millions of dollars of funding that the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) -- a "Jewish-Evangelical alliance" -- has put toward the GOI's City of Non-Violence program. Major media reported that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer arrived in Israel yesterday for a three-hour visit to inaugurate the company's new R&D center in Herzliya. The ceremony was attended by President Shimon Peres. The media quoted Ballmer as saying that "Microsoft is as much an Israeli company as an American company," adding that the proportion of Microsoft employees per capita in Israel was similar to that in the U.S. Maariv reported that 300 of 1,500 historic Jerusalem buildings slated for preservation have been pulled down. Channel 2-TV commissioned a poll, whose results it presented last night: Do you support or oppose a concession of the Golan in the framework of a peace treaty? Oppose: 70%; support: 22%. Do you believe that the timing of progress in the negotiations is related to Olmert's investigation? Yes: 57%; no: 32 %. Do you believe that Olmert's decision to conduct negotiations with Syria is legitimate? No: 58%; yes: 33%. Ha'aretz cited a recent survey by the right-leaning Maagar Mohot research institute that found that about two-thirds (68%) of Israelis object to withdrawing from the Golan Heights even for peace with Syria -- more than those who object to dividing Jerusalem for ending the conflict with the Arab world. -------------- ¶1. Israel-Syria Talks: -------------- Summary: -------------- The independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized: "This is the moment to tell Olmert: Turn over every stone. Let the investigations continue as if there were no peace talks, and let the peace talks continue as if there were no investigations -- and perhaps it will turn out to be a blessing in disguise." Diplomatic correspondent Ben Caspit wrote on page one of the popular, pluralist Maariv: "I hope that we wake up to a reality in which there is peace and no Talansky, but we are liable to wake up to a reality in which there is Talansky but no peace. And we are going to have to learn to live with that." Middle East affairs commentator Dr. Guy Bechor, a lecturer at the Interdisciplinary Center, wrote in the mass-circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot: "From a great strategic asset for Israel, the Golan Heights [may] become a burden, which [would] add its part in the broadening struggle for Israel's liquidation." Eytan Haber, veteran op-ed writer and assistant to the late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, wrote in Yediot Aharonot: "We Israelis once claimed that Arab countries act ... against Israel out of 'domestic needs.' Israelis are now saying the same about our Prime Minister." Senior op-ed writer Akiva Eldar commented in Ha'aretz: "The Arab peace initiative that was born in Beirut solved the dilemma of 'Syria or Palestine first'.... It is a shame that the choice between territorial assets and strategic assets falls on Israel at [this] time." The conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized: "A peace treaty with Syria is in Israel's strategic interest -- but not at any price." Editor-in-Chief Amnon Lord wrote in the editorial of the nationalist, Orthodox Makor Rishon-Hatzofe: " Facing the four-way Iranian-Hamas-Hizbullah-Iran strategic pressure, Olmert decided on a redeeming diplomatic step. If at this stage his steps can lack responsibility, in the future they may be disastrous." Block Quotes: -------------- ¶I. "Turn Over Every Stone" The independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized (5/22): "Now, at this blatantly late hour, another historic opportunity is being offered the Prime Minister of Israel and the members of his government, to try to challenge the peace declarations that have been consistently coming from Syria for some time. The Israeli government is currently headed by a person immersed in criminal investigations and under the most serious suspicions. The fear that this is spin meant to extricate Ehud Olmert from the investigations, which politicians voiced yesterday from the right and left of the political spectrum, is not completely unfounded. Nevertheless, this hour of opportunity must in no way be allowed to pass by.... This is the moment to tell Olmert: Turn over every stone. Let the investigations continue as if there were no peace talks, and let the peace talks continue as if there were no investigations -- and perhaps it will turn out to be a blessing in disguise." II. "Investigate as if There Were no Peace, Make Peace as if there Were no Talansky" Diplomatic correspondent Ben Caspit wrote on page one of the popular, pluralist Maariv (5/22): "There is not nor will there ever be anything more important to the State of Israel than an historic peace accord with Syria. An accord of that kind must push Syria away from the 'axis of evil,' diminish Hizbullah, and contribute to IranQs isolation. An accord of that kind will oblige Israel to part with a beloved tract of land, the Golan Heights. An accord of that kind, had it been achieved by one of Olmert's predecessors, would have produced a dramatic change on the map of the entire region and our situation, at present, would have been far better than it currently is. But all of Ehud Olmert's predecessors, five prime ministers, failed. They preferred two Palestinian cats in the bag over one Syrian lion on the Golan Heights.... It is true that peace between Israel and Syria is important, but cleaning out our filthy political stables is no less important. That is why we need to investigate as if there were no peace, and to make peace as if there were no Talansky. I hope that we wake up to a reality in which there is peace and no Talansky, but we are liable to wake up to a reality in which there is Talansky but no peace. And we are going to have to learn to live with that." III. "The Day after the Agreement" Middle East affairs commentator Dr. Guy Bechor, a lecturer at the Interdisciplinary Center, wrote in the mass-circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot (5/22): "When Assad's regime is toppled, the Golan Heights will become the radical spearhead against Israel, and not only from Syria: From Iran, Afghanistan, and more. The terror will be doubled: From Lebanon and the Golan Heights. Life in the north will become an intolerable nightmare. Instead of being empty of residents, the Golan Heights will be populated with a million fanatic Syrians. It will become a bone in Israel's throat, like the Gaza Strip, which can neither be swallowed nor regurgitated. The Sinai Peninsula is so large that the situation there can always be reversible. With Jordan, we did not cede anything, and with the Palestinians we can always reoccupy any territory. But with Syria, the situation will be different: From an empty buffer zone, the Golan will become a densely populated anti-Israel territory for generations. From a great strategic asset for Israel, the Golan Heights will become a burden, which will add its part in the broadening struggle for IsraelQs liquidation. Our generations to come will not forgive anyone who does this to them." IV. "Spin for Peace" Eytan Haber, veteran op-ed writer and assistant to the late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, wrote in Yediot Aharonot (5/22): "All Israeli prime ministers have refrained from paying the price [for peace with Syria]. Thus, they always backed down from their agreements.... Spin or no spin, the talks will go on until they ripen -- or they will stop for real reasons, but not because of spin. We Israelis once claimed that Arab countries act ... against Israel out of 'domestic needs.' Israelis are now saying the same about our Prime Minister." ¶V. "Once Again, Syria First" Senior op-ed writer Akiva Eldar commented in Ha'aretz (5/22): "The Syrians and the Lebanese, the Palestinians and the Jordanians, the Egyptians and the Saudis, all have had a common denominator as of March 2002. The Arab peace initiative that was born in Beirut solved the dilemma of 'Syria or Palestine first.' For the first time, Israel has the opportunity to choose between holding onto all the territories or reaching peace with all the members of the Arab League. Not merely any peace but normalization of its ties with the surrounding countries.... It is a shame that the choice between territorial assets and strategic assets falls on Israel at a time when the State Prosecutor's Office is about to reach a decision over the fate of the leader on whose shoulders the responsibility rests. However, should it transpire that what we have is a chance to create a historic change in the life of a nation -- peace with all the countries of the region -- no person, no matter how important, should be allowed to miss it." VI. "Peace for the Golan?" The conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized (5/22): "What matters most now is what Syria is offering to make a withdrawal worth Israel's while.... For Israelis to take its overtures, seriously, Damascus would have to disconnect itself totally from the Iranian mullahs. Rather than helping arm Hizbullah, Syria would have to isolate it.... A deal with Syria could also potentially bolster relative moderates among the Palestinians, but not if Syria continues to host the Hamas leadership in Damascus. From state-sponsor of terror, it would have to transform itself into strategic opponent of terror. Nor can Israel afford a deal perceived as being with Bashar Assad's Alawite clique alone.... A peace treaty with Syria is in Israel's strategic interest -- but not at any price. Jerusalem is being called upon to make irrevocable concessions in return from the promise of Syrian goodwill." VII. "Olmert Corrupts Peace" Editor-in-Chief Amnon Lord wrote in the editorial of the nationalist, Orthodox Makor Rishon-Hatzofe (5/22): "Corrupting peace means creating a situation of distrust from the part of the public regarding [the links between Olmert's investigation and the talks with Syria].... This also happened in the past during the contacts with the Palestinians... Facing the four-way Iranian-Hamas-Hizbullah-Iran strategic pressure, Olmert decided on a redeeming diplomatic step. If at this stage his steps can lack responsibility, in the future they may be disastrous." -------------- ¶2. Iran: -------------- Summary: -------------- Washington correspondent Shmuel Rosner wrote in the independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz: "Anyone who presumes to say at this point whether [President Bush] will use force to stop Iran's nuclear program, or will pass the problem on to the next administration, is suffering from baseless presumption." Block Quotes: -------------- "Will He or Won't He Attack? It's Doubtful Bush Knows" Washington correspondent Shmuel Rosner wrote in the independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz (5/22): "President George W. Bush has nearly eight months left, and anyone who presumes to say at this point whether he will use force to stop Iran's nuclear program, or will pass the problem on to the next administration, is suffering from baseless presumption: It's doubtful whether Bush himself knows the answer to that question.... The U.S. Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, appeared Tuesday before the Senate defense appropriations subcommittee. [He said that] talking to the Iranians might be possible, but "the key here is developing leverage, either through economic or diplomatic or military pressures.... The Iran with which it might, perhaps, have been possible to talk in 2003 is not the Iran of today. More importantly, the United States is not the same U.S. Then it was at the height of a lethal display of power -- following victory in Afghanistan and a speedy occupation of Iraq..... But the Iran of today is in another bargaining position, while the U.S., worn down by years of war, suddenly seems a lot less intimidating.... Gates ... is ... one of the more cautious [U.S. statesmen]. If he said 'military,' he meant surely that such a possibility exists." JONES