ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS TEL AVIV 002007 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: -------------- Mideast -------------- Key stories in the media: -------------- The Jerusalem Post reported that PA Foreign Minister Riad al-Malki told the Israel Council on Foreign Relations in Jerusalem yesterday that not a single word has been set on paper and that there is no real agreement on the smaller points, let alone the core issues, of a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians. Major media quoted the Prime Minister's Office as saying that, in what is seen as a sign of significant progress toward resolving the issue of settlement expansion, the cabinet is set to discuss, but not yet vote on, an evacuation-compensation plan for settlers in the West Bank on Sunday. The initiative, first proposed by Labor and Meretz politicians years ago and being handled at the cabinet level by Vice Premier Haim Ramon, would compensate settlers who move within the Green Line. The plan was praised by left-wing politicians and vilified by right-wing ones. Makor Rishon-Hatzofe and Israel Radio reported that Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz is opposed to the plan, sayng that it would weaken Israel. The radio quoted FM Tzipi Livni as saying that the plan would be carried out after the borders are defined. The Jerusalem Post quoted Attorney General Menachem Mazuz as saying yesterday that Olmert's government must be careful about using its powers -- particularly in negotiations -- since it is about to resign. Leading media quoted DM Ehud Barak as saying yesterday that, while Jerusalem would remain the capital of Israel, heavily populated Arab neighborhoods could become part of the future Palestinian state as part of a peace agreement. Israel Radio quoted PA sources in Ramallah as saying that Barak's offer does not include the holy sites and is unacceptable to the Palestinians. Major media reported that on Sunday the police will recommend that PM Ehud Olmert be indicted on three counts. This morning Israel Radio quoted Al Arabiya-TV as saying that Syria has decided to cancel the fifth round of talks with Israel. The radio later quoted President Bashar Assad as saying that the cause of the delay in the talks is the resignation of Olmert's chief of staff Yoram Turbowicz, who headed the indirect talks with Syria in Turkey. Assad was also quoted as saying that he is looking forward to the time when Olmert's successors withdraw from all occupied territories. Media reported that French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is visiting Damascus, offered to support direct Israel-Syria talks. Maariv reported that PM Olmert's visit to Russia in ten days' time will focus on pushing forward the negotiations with Syria. Ha'aretz reported that, with less than two weeks until the Kadima primary, a new poll puts FM Livni 20 percentage points ahead of Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz (see below). Yediot quoted Livni as saying in reference to Mofaz that generals naturally belong in the army. The Jerusalem Post quoted insiders close to Mofaz as saying that the coalition he would put together if he was chosen to replace Olmert as Kadima chairman would almost certainly include the Labor Party, and possibly the National Religious Party. Last night Channel 2-TV reported that a terror cell was following and carrying out surveillance on El Al crews staying in a hotel in Toronto. The cell was arrested and El Al changed the guidelines issued to its employees. Media quoted the security establishment as saying that the cell appeared to be planning an attack on the Israelis and that the terrorists apparently belonged to Hizbullah. Major media reported that yesterday, in a conference call, Democratic vice-presidential candidate Sen. Joseph Biden talked to representatives of the Israeli/Jewish media. Ha'aretz reported that Biden told the daily that he and Barack Obama share support for Israel, and that they will act as catalysts of the peace process. Biden was quoted as saying that John McCain's solution of the Israeli-Palestinian problem passes through Baghdad. The Jerusalem Post quoted Biden as saying that Israel should be able to take whatever action it feels necessary to defend itself from Iran, pressing his Israel credentials even as he lashed out at AIPAC and those who have criticized his record toward Israel. Leading media wrote that, during a meeting with AIPAC officials, Republican vice-presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin expressed her support for Israel's security Ha'aretz reported that the Defense Ministry's Civil Administration has admitted that issuing an order to build two new homes at the outpost of Jabel Artis, north of the settlement of Beit El, was wrong, and that it was issued for the wrong plot, which according to the registry is private Palestinian land. Ha'aretz noted that this admission makes little difference to the owners of the property, now that the construction is completed. Ha'aretz reported that settlers trying to make a case against the decision of former DM Amir Peretz to evacuate a home they acquired on the outskirts of Hebron nearly two years ago, are seeking approval from the Civil Administration's Military Appeals Committee to have him testify. Ha'aretz reported that Arkady Gaidamak has decided to cease his business activity in Israel and concentrate all his efforts on a political career, which includes a candidacy in the upcoming mayoral race in Jerusalem. The controversial billionaire was quoted as saying that he intends to sell all his businesses in Israel in order to turn his attention to politics. Gaidamak's associates were quoted as saying that the tycoon has reached the conclusion that his business activities are undermining his political work. Meanwhile, Gaidamak held a clandestine, night-time meeting with the grand mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian Authority, Muhammad Ahmad Hussein, with the hope of harnessing the votes of residents of East Jerusalem. Although Arab residents generally do not participate in Jerusalem's municipal elections (though they are entitled to), Gaidamak is hoping to reverse that tendency, and hopes the mufti will encourage them to cast ballots this fall. His election committee estimates that if 30,000 of the 130,000 residents of East Jerusalem eligible to vote in the municipal elections were to support Gaidamak, he might be in a position to secure victory. Gaidamak was quoted as saying in conversations with aides, said that "there is no point in discussing the Al-Aqsa question when residents have no running water in their homes." Ha'aretz quoted Meir Porush, the ultra-Orthodox candidate running for Jerusalem mayor, as saying that Aryeh Deri will not compete for the post, as he would not want to split the ultra-Orthodox vote. A Yediot/Mina Zemach/Dahaf Institute poll found that secular candidate Nir Barkat would beat all other candidates. Yediot reported that Facebook profiles of applicants for U.S. visas might hamper their chances of getting accepted. The newspaper quoted a consular official at the American Embassy as saying that applicants have could be questioned about discrepancies between applicants' visa applications and data they listed on the social networking program. The Jerusalem Post reported that a collaborative network of hospitals in Israel, the U.S., the PA and apparently, in Jordan and Kuwait is being established to coordinate efforts to reduce medical errors. The Jerusalem Post quoted the Israel Antiquities Authority as saying yesterday that the remains of the southern wall of Jerusalem that was built by the Hasmonean kings during the time of the Second Temple have been uncovered on Mount Zion. Ha'aretz presented the results of a Dialogue poll taken among registered Kadima voters: Who would you vote for? Tzipi Livni: 40%; Shaul Mofaz: 20%; Avi Dichter: 6%; Meir Sheetrit: 5%; 29% are undecided. -------------- Mideast: -------------- Summary: -------------- Diplomatic correspondent Aluf Benn wrote in the independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz: "The best chance for an Israeli-Palestinian agreement now lies with the Gulf states." Senior Middle East affairs analyst Zvi Bar'el wrote in Ha'aretz: "Israel would not be able to refuse a direct meeting [with the Syrians], even if Washington decided not to take part." The conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized: "Could it be that Assad is once again dangling the possibility of peace with Israel as a way to renew contacts with Washington and Paris and end his international isolation? Then again, he may be sincere." Adi Mintz wrote in the nationalist, Orthodox Makor Rishon-Hatzofe: "An illegitimate government, run by an illegitimate Prime Minister and an illegitimate Vice Prime Minister [Haim Ramon, who was convicted of a sexual offense], is also fit to discuss illegitimate topics." Prof. Yehiam Weitz, historian, a faculty member of the department of Land of Israel studies at Haifa University, wrote in the popular, pluralist Maariv: "Those who wave this rusty slogan, '[Livni] will partition Jerusalem,' ignore the cityQs situation." Block Quotes: -------------- ¶I. "Troublesome New World" Diplomatic correspondent Aluf Benn wrote in the independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz (9/4): "Olmert's heirs will have to find their way in a reality in which America is still the strongest power, but is not alone.... From Israel's perspective, the change in the world is troublesome. Due to its dependence on the United States, Israel cannot play the powers against each other, as Syria and Iran do. Israel must therefore hope that America recovers from its crisis, and fast. But the new world also holds opportunities for Israel.... The best chance for an Israeli-Palestinian agreement now lies with the Gulf states, where an international economic and financial center is being developed. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar are giving Israel an economic opportunity it would be a shame to miss, and only a two-hour flight from Ben-Gurion International Airport. But they are demanding a price: the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.... Israel's new leadership will have to decide if the financial temptation is worth the emotional difficulty and internal conflict involved in a withdrawal from the West Bank, or whether it is more pleasant and convenient to hold on to the problematic status quo." II. "France Elbows U.S. Aside" Senior Middle East affairs analyst Zvi Bar'el wrote in Ha'aretz (9/4): "A senior diplomatic source close to the Turkish-mediated talks between Israel and Syria said the United States ha been persuaded that it should take part in the talks, but that France has 'pushed itself' into Syria; and French President Nicolas Sarkozy's participation in talks in Damascus have led the U.S. to cancel its decision for now. The source said that U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Welch was to have participated as an observer in the coming Israeli-Syrian meeting in Turkey, but that Washington was not prepared to be a 'tail' to the French and so Welch's participation was called off. The source also said Welch's participation was to have kicked off direct talks between the Israelis and the Syrians and it is not clear now when such talks will begin... In any case, Israel would not be able to refuse a direct meeting, even if Washington decided not to take part." III. "Assad's Charm Offensive" The conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized (9/4): "It is in Israel's long-term interest to have a peace treaty with Syria -- but not at any price. The extent of any withdrawal must parallel the depth of the peace offered. Yet we can't help but ponder why Assad's rhetoric veers so unsteadily between belligerence and conciliation. Israel must be clear-eyed, first of all, on the nature of the Syrian regime, which happens to be engaged in brisk military build-up and procurement.... Most significant of all ... are the increased political pressures on Syria's Alawite ruling clique. After suffering the great embarrassments of Israel's bombing of an alleged North Korean-supplied nuclear facility in September 2007 and the assassination -- five months later, and still unexplained -- in Damascus of Hizbullah operations chief Imad Mughniyah, Assad's regime now fears the international tribunal tasked with prosecuting Hariri's murderers. Could it be that Assad is once again dangling the possibility of peace with Israel as a way to renew contacts with Washington and Paris and end his international isolation? Then again, he may be sincere. If so, he should come to Jerusalem, or invite our premier to Damascus, and lay out his peace vision." IV. "Evacuation-Temptation Bill" Adi Mintz wrote in the nationalist, Orthodox Makor Rishon-Hatzofe (9/4): "The idea of bringing the evacuation-temptation bill before the cabinet this coming Sunday is a really 'good idea.' An illegitimate government, run by an illegitimate Prime Minister and an illegitimate Vice Prime Minister [Haim Ramon, who was convicted of a sexual offense], is also fit to discuss illegitimate topics.... The real test of the issue is not whether [the bill] has a chance of passing in the cabinet and the Knesset, it is the 'test of awareness' -- what will be left in public awareness, who will win the long-term battle.... All the left wing's plans until today have brought only terror: The Oslo Accords brought the exploding buses; the flight from Lebanon and the Camp David conference brought the second Intifada; the disengagement brought the Lebanon war. What will the new plan bring? The Palestinians have realized that the more terror they employ, the more Israel will continue to fold. How will the Palestinians view the continued capitulation? The answers we should give at this time are that one does not engage in profiteering with the soil of the Land of Israel, and someone who has devoted his life to receiving payments and benefits will not get dividends from the sale of the land of our homeland. Whoever thinks that by these methods he will weaken the strength of our hold on the Land of Israel, will soon discover how determined we are to deepen and expand this hold. Giving the correct answers will only strengthen our stand and our hold." ¶V. "Saving Jerusalem" Prof. Yehiam Weitz, historian, a faculty member of the department of Land of Israel studies at Haifa University, wrote in the popular, pluralist Maariv (4/9): "Those who wave this rusty slogan, '[Livni] will partition Jerusalem,' ignore the cityQs situation. For many years, Jerusalem has been in a process of deterioration: It is poor and unclean; the strong population is fleeing it; the younger generation does not even think of living there; the center of town is neglected and looks in some parts like a slum. Those who have lived there for many years, feel as if they are accompanying the city in its dying stages. This process stems, to a large degree, from the unification of the city. The decision on the unification was made in the days of the euphoria after the Six-Day War. Today, the decision from June 1967 appears as a long-term disaster, which inflicted a severe blow on the city and its natural development. Since then, Jerusalem has become a mixed city, which is forced to balance the fragile status quo, which draws all the cityQs energies and emasculates its character. Whoever loves Jerusalem must think of a proper arrangement for its future, in order to save the beloved and unfortunate Jerusalem." CUNNINGHAM