ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS TEL AVIV 001961 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. Mideast ¶2. Iran -------------- Key stories in the media: -------------- Ha'aretz cited a Reuters report of a Russian diplomat as saying that the Russian navy will make more use of Syrian ports as part of an increased military presence in the Mediterranean. The Jerusalem Post reported that Israel is continuing its cautious policy regarding the conflict in Georgia, with Israeli plans to send humanitarian aid not only to Georgia, but also to North Ossetia. The Jerusalem Post reported that Anatoly Yurkov, the charge d'affaires at Russia's embassy in Tel Aviv, told the newspaper that Moscow appreciated the balanced position Israel had taken throughout the crisis, as well as its "low profile." Citing the East Jerusalem newspaper Al-Quds, Israel Radio quoted a senior official in the PA Chairman's bureau as saying that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had informed Israel and the Palestinians that the U.S. administration would aim to establish an international mechanism to compensate the Palestinian refugees. The senior official added that Secretary Rice had urged the parties to reach understandings about the holy sites in Jerusalem, and about arrangements, both administrative and security, for ties between both parts of the city. He was quoted as saying that Secretary Rice spoke for the first time about a Palestinian state within the 1967 lines, with border revisions. Makor Rishon-Hatzofe cited the London-based Al-Hayat as saying that Ahmed Qurei, the head of the Palestinian negotiating team, told Rice on Tuesday that the Palestinians would demand the dissolution of the settlements Ma'aleh Adumim and Ariel. The reason for the Palestinian demand is that those two settlements disrupt Palestinian territorial contiguity. Yasser Abed Rabbo, the secretary of the PLO Executive Committee, told Aljazeera-TV that he demanded that Rice compose a document that would clarify the achievements of the negotiations to date. The goal is to submit this document to the next U.S. administration so as not to be forced to begin the talks once again from scratch. Maariv reported that Livni is increasing the margin between her and Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz in the Kadima primary polls (see under: Polls). Despite earlier reports that Israel will open the border crossings with Gaza this morning, Israel Radio reported that they will remain closed following rocket fire on Israel. Ha'aretz reported that Israel is not expected to prevent 12 Palestinian students, who have been accepted by foreign universities, to sail from Gaza to Cyprus on the boats that brought peace activists to Gaza. Ha'aretz quoted activists as saying that they will not be passing through Israel's territorial waters. Israel Radio quoted an IDF officer as saying that Israel will not let people involved in terror leave Gaza. Maariv cited the defense establishment's concern about such a development. The Jerusalem Post reported that the Israel Navy may detain the boats today. Maariv reported that Labor Party veterans and senior ministers are considering deposing Ehud Barak from the post of party chairman. Makor Rishon-Hatzofe reported that in a religious publication Rabbi David Rosen (the rabbi of the Zemach Institute) called Peace Now activists "mosers" -- a Talmudic term denoting Jews informing on other Jews to non-Jews. The notion was popular among right-wing Jews before Yitzhak Rabin's assassination. Makor Rishon-Hatzofe reported that Peace Now has complained to the Attorney General about the Rabbi. All major media reported that "peace fighter" Abie Nathan passed away yesterday in Tel Aviv at the age of 81. Nathan flew a solo peace flight to Egypt in 1966, for which he was arrested in Israel. His "Voice of Peace," a radio station transmitted from a ship in the Mediterranean, started regular broadcasts in 1973. Nathan was one of the first Israelis who met with Yasser Arafat, when this was against the law. All media reported that an Israeli construction manager was kidnapped outside his home in Nigeria on Tuesday night. All media reported that yesterday State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss presented a special report on alleged wrongdoings by PM Ehud Olmert (as Industry, Trade, and Labor minister) when he pushed the $300 million Aquaria resort project near Eilat, despite reports that proved the project's lack of economic viability. Maariv reported that the State Prosecutor' Office insists on Moshe Talansky testifying. Maariv reported that Jerusalem District Prosecutor Eli Abravanel told the court that the Prosecutor's Office will facilitate Talansky's appearance at the cross-examination. The Jerusalem Post reported that Israel welcomed the UN Security Council's decision yesterday to renew UNIFIL's mandate in southern Lebanon, even though Jerusalem would have liked -- and has indeed raised the matter in numerous capitals over the past few months -- to see the peacekeepers' rule of engagement strengthened. Ha'aretz reported that African border infiltrators arrested by the IDF while crossing into Israel from Sinai are now being immediately returned to Egyptian territory. Dozens of illegal immigrants were returned to Egypt this past week, leading human rights groups to petition the High Court of Justice for a temporary injunction against the expulsions. On Tuesday, Ha'aretz learned of the "immediate return" policy from soldiers serving on the Egyptian border, and the army confirmed the news yesterday. The same army sources said that the policy of immediate expulsion was dictated by senior political officials, and is being carried out with Egyptian cooperation. Maariv presented the results of a TNS/Teleseker poll taken among registered Kadima voters In a first round, Livni would beat Mofaz, 49 to 28%; Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter would garner 8.1 of the vote, and Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit 7.6% In a run-off, Livni would win over Mofaz, 53 to 34%. -------------- ¶1. Mideast: -------------- Summary: -------------- Columnist Ari Shavit wrote in the independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz: "[Tzipi Livni] must understand that she can not do all things better than others." Middle East affairs commentator Dr. Guy Bechor, a lecturer at the Interdisciplinary Center, wrote in the mass-circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot: "Russia is drawing near to Israel nowadays no less than it is to Syria, and perhaps even more so." Block Quotes: -------------- ¶I. "The Livni Paradox" Columnist Ari Shavit wrote in the independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz (8/28): "[Tzipi Livni's] report card is complex. The daughter of the operations officer of the Etzel -- the right-wing, pre-State paramilitary organization, commonly known as the Irgun -- she is an ethical and clearheaded Israeli woman, but she lacks experience and is weak on agenda. In a sense her candidacy for the premiership comes too early. This is a promising and interesting candidacy that ripened before its time -- a half-baked candidacy. Livni's chances are good to very good.... Being fed up with arrogant, wealthy and aggressive men has created a true desire for a different leadership. At the end of the summer of 2008, Livni is the different leadership.... The obvious solution is a Livni-Barak-Netanyahu government. Israel is already facing a dramatic security challenge. Within months Israel is liable to face a severe economic challenge as well. Tzipi Livni does not have the necessary abilities to deal with the two challenges on her own. However, if she rises above herself, she can be quite a good team leader.... In order to do the right thing Livni must demonstrate a degree of realism and a degree of modesty. She should admit that her meteoric rise has turned her head. She must understand that she can not do all things better than others. And she should once again become the devoted and concerned patriot that she was only a few years ago. The paradox remains a paradox: Only if Tzipi Livni understands that she is not yet worthy of being prime minister will she have a chance of being a worthy one." II. "A Slap in Assad's Face " Middle East affairs commentator Dr. Guy Bechor, a lecturer at the Interdisciplinary Center, wrote in the mass-circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot (8/28): "The Syrian President went off to Moscow with a package of proposals from which his generals assumed both sides stood to gain. The proposal included the following components: 1. Syria agrees that the Russians will deploy on its soil advanced surface-to-surface missiles to counter the American missile deployment in Poland that so enraged the Russians. 2. Syria agrees that Russian Air Force jets will use its airspace and soil. ¶3. The sea port in Tartus will be reopened. 4. Russia will gain a friendly military stronghold in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, at the gates to Europe, and with that will revert to being a regional super power. In return, Assad had hoped to ask for RussiaQs new surface-to-surface missiles, Iskander SS-26, as well as other weaponry.... How stunned he was when the Russians gave him a stinging slap on the cheek. Putin and Medvedev replied to his offer: Not interested. They don't want to begin another Cold War. The slap on the cheek was so stinging that the Russians refused to sell the Syrians the advanced missiles and added a number of additional conditions: first of all, they would not sell Syria any offensive weaponry, only defensive. Second, Syria would not be sold any weaponry that would violate the status quo of IsraelQs superiority over Syria. Third, everything needs to be paid for in cash, up front.... Russia is drawing near to Israel nowadays no less than it is to Syria, and perhaps even more so, against the backdrop of the million and a half former Russians who live in Israel and because of the high-tech industry that is very important for the Russian economy. The world in this era of globalization isn't going to revert to being black and white, and Assad isnQt going to find any Russian babushka with a magic solution waiting for him." -------------- ¶2. Iran: -------------- Summary: -------------- Intelligence affairs correspondent Yossi Melman wrote in the independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz: "[Senator Joseph Biden's] positions regarding Iran ... cannot be encouraging to the policy makers in Jerusalem.... [But] it could be that Biden, an experienced and canny politician, will change his approach and suddenly take a tougher line on Iran." Diplomatic correspondent Aluf Benn wrote in Ha'aretz: "A U.S. radar system in the Negev ... will bolster Israel's defense against Iranian or Syrian surface-to-surface ballistic missiles. The radar deployment will have historical significance: the first American base on Israeli territory." Block Quotes: -------------- ¶I. "Joseph Biden Has Shown Softness toward Iran" Intelligence affairs correspondent Yossi Melman wrote in the independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz (8/28): "[Senator Joseph Biden] is ... considered to be in the very middle of the mainstream of traditional support for Israel, though in the distant past, in 1981, he supported a tougher stance toward Israel. However, his positions regarding Iran, whose acquisition of nuclear weaponry tops Israel's list of security concerns, cannot be encouraging to the policy makers in Jerusalem. This is especially so in the context of the danger that in 2009, when Biden could well be vice president, Iran is liable to reach or even to go beyond the 'technological threshold' -- i.e., to achieve the capability that will enable it to develop nuclear weapons.... After the [2007 Senate] vote [on declaring the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization] Biden explained that he had opposed the proposal because 'I don't trust this administration.' Thanks to his position, Biden won praise from Press TV, which broadcasts in English and is considered the major propaganda arm of the Islamic government for shaping positive public opinion beyond the borders of Iran.... It could be that Biden, an experienced and canny politician, will change his approach and suddenly take a tougher line on Iran." II. "A Casually Deployed Radar System" Diplomatic correspondent Aluf Benn wrote in Ha'aretz (8/28): "Significant strategic changes often occur surprisingly quietly, without drawing the deserved attention. A clear example of this is the agreement last month for the deployment of a U.S. radar system in the Negev, which will bolster Israel's defense against Iranian or Syrian surface-to-surface ballistic missiles. The radar deployment will have historical significance: the first American base on Israeli territory. Israel has always had reservations about such a possibility and preferred to 'defend itself by itself' and retain maximum freedom of action. This time the deployment will be for the long term. The radar will be operated by civilians employed by the company that builds the system, contracted by the Pentagon, and by two U.S. soldiers. Military sources say that in the future the system will be handed over to the IDF. Until then, if it happens, an American flag will fly in the Negev." CUNNINGHAM