ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS TEL AVIV 002454

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:
--------------

U.S. Elections

--------------
Key stories in the media:
--------------

All media led with and extensively reported on Election Day in the
U.S. A headline in Yediot reads: QMcCain Is Everything that America
Has Believed in; Obama Belongs to the New America.Q The Jerusalem
Post quoted Israeli experts as saying that Sen. Obama will win the
Jewish vote. Major media reported that a turning Democratic tide is
expected to sweep more Jews into Congress.

HaQaretz reported that Britain is pressing the EU to be stricter
about labeling imports produced in West Bank settlements, leading
Jerusalem officials to fear a confrontation with London over the
settlements issue. They say the latest moves are aimed at applying
diplomatic pressure on Israel in a bid to stop construction in the
settlements.

The Jerusalem Post reported that Likud has issued a clear policy
directive against Israeli talks with Iran to advisers of both U.S.
presidential candidates, as well as to representatives of the State
Department. Major media reported that MK Yuval Steinitz is behind
this initiative. Yediot reported that Yuval Rabin, the son of the
assassinated PM, is considering voting for Benjamin Netanyahu.


Leading media reported that on Sunday PA President Mahmoud Abbas
ruled out the possibility of clinching a peace agreement with Israel
by the end of the year.

Leading media reported that, despite the High Court of Justice's
recommendation to consider amending the indictment filed against
Lt.-Col. Omri Burberg and one of his subordinates, who were involved
in firing at a bound Palestinian detainee during an anti-security
fence demonstration, the Military Judge Advocate Brig.-Gen. Avichai
Mandelblit decided to charge them with the sole count of conduct
unbecoming an officer.

All media reported that yesterday Nachman Shai, chairman of the
United Jewish Communities and former IDF Spokesman, announced that
he was joining Kadima and would run in the party's primaries for the
Knesset.

The Jerusalem Post reported that, citing a delay resulting from last
yearQs teachersQ strike, the Education Ministry came under hash
criticism for failing to issue required matriculation certificates
to dozens of Israeli-Arab students hoping to begin their university
studies in Jordan.

Leading media reported that 150 employees of the local Kodak plant
were fired and that the production line was sent to China.

--------------
U.S. Elections:
--------------

Summary:
--------------

The independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized: QIsrael, which
says it is looking for a partner on the Arab side, must also examine
the nature of the new American partner, because without him, it will
have trouble finding an Arab partner who will agree to serious
negotiations.

The conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized: QThe
Qbest president for IsraelQ is the man who can best internalize the
scale of the Iranian menace, and most effectively persuade Americans
-- and responsible players in the international community -- to stop
the mullahs before it's too late.

Diplomatic correspondent Shimon Shiffer wrote in the
mass-circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot: QIf [Obama] gets
elected, Israeli pressure [about Iran] will not fall on attentive
ears.

Military correspondent Amos Harel wrote in the independent,
left-leaning HaQaretz: QIt's hard to ask Israelis to look at the
wider picture with the threat of an Iranian bomb floating overhead,
but an Obama victory would have a plethora of positive implications
that don't necessarily have any connection to the Middle East.

Editor-in-Chief Amnon Lord wrote on page one of the nationalist,
Orthodox Makor Rishon-Hatzofe: Q[ObamaQs] victory will be a reminder
of the euphoria mingled with hatred that occurred in Israel with
Ehud BarakQs victory over Netanyahu 1n 1999. The talk was about
hope and peace -Q what we got was a war of terror, fear, and
enmity.

Block Quotes:
--------------


I. "Change Needed in the U.S."

The independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized (11/4):
QIsrael, which says it is looking for a partner on the Arab side,
must also examine the nature of the new American partner, because
without him, it will have trouble finding an Arab partner who will
agree to serious negotiations.... The two presidential candidates,
Democratic Senator Barack Obama of Illinois and Republican Senator
John McCain of Arizona, have made a point of demonstrating their
commitment to Israel's security. Neither, it may be believed, would
deviate from the brave alliance between the two countries. However,
after eight years of a conservative Republican president, the
question arises: Has the time come for a new American policy in the
region? A policy that will afford diplomacy a major role, that will
back serious negotiations with Iran, that will assist the
negotiations between Israel and Syria and will extend practical
support to the Arab initiative and to ending the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict? This kind of new policy needs a new leader to conduct it,
a leader who is not committed to his predecessor's ideological
fetters and is prepared to listen seriously to new ideas. Israel
should hope for this kind of leader.


II. "America Decides"

The conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized (11/4):
QOn Iran, Obama views the regime as a threat to the U.S. and would
employ direct diplomacy to persuade Teheran to change its policies.
If that didn't work, he says, all options are on the table. McCain
promises to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, has pushed for
restricting Teheran's ability to import refined petroleum, and
pledges not to talk to the regime without pre-conditions. He's
criticized Obama for his willingness to enter into unconditional
negotiations. With regard to negotiations between Israel and the
Palestinians, Obama would take an activist approach to help reach an
agreement, but would not dictate the terms of peace.... McCain, like
Obama, supports the creation of a Palestinian state. He says he
would never force Israel into concessions with anyone that seeks its
destruction. He has made no statement on the 1967-plus formula.
He's promised to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to
Jerusalem.... Americans now decide whether to vote QCountry First
or QChange We Need.Q Those who would factor Israel into their
decision understand that our preeminent strategic concern is the
Iranian threat. The Qbest president for IsraelQ is the man who can
best internalize the scale of the Iranian menace, and most
effectively persuade Americans -- and responsible players in the
international community -- to stop the mullahs before it's too
late.

III. "On the Way to Iran"

Diplomatic correspondent Shimon Shiffer wrote in the
mass-circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot (11/4): QIf [Obama] gets
elected, Israeli pressure [about Iran] will not fall on attentive
ears. Senior officials in the current U.S. administration have
explained to their Israeli counterparts that returning to Tehran
will expose the extent to which the Iranian people want the
resumption of ties with the QGreat Satan.Q QLines for U.S. visas
will be the blaring evidence of the justness of the move,Q said the
senior officials. Khaled Mashal, the Chairman of HamasQs political
bureau, who appears on the blacklist of many countries around the
world, will also enjoy ObamaQs election. It can be assumed that the
ban on U.S. representatives to contact Hamas will be canceled.
Behind the laundered code name that appears in Barak ObamaQs
diplomatic dictionary Q- QengagementQ Q- stands the change that will
influence the new U.S. administrationQs relations with Israel: Obama
will not have figures, movements, or countries beyond the fence.
The U.S. presidentQs envoys will hold contacts with everyone....
But, despite everything, one must remember the circle closest to
Obama includes at least three figures from the Chicago Jewish
community who have been at his side since he began his course. They
will be also there during the harsh days of the relationship with
Israel.

IV. "Between Tehran and Mississippi"

Military correspondent Amos Harel wrote in the independent,
left-leaning HaQaretz (11/4): QSupport for Israel is rooted deep in
the heart of the Washington establishment. And, of course, we can't
scoff at the declarations of the candidate [Obama] himself, who has
reiterated his commitment to Israel. But there is one unknown in
Obama's foreign-policy equation: his attitude toward Iran.
Officials in Jerusalem won't say it out loud, but Obama's support
for renewing the dialogue with Tehran is making them very
uncomfortable.... It's hard to ask Israelis to look at the wider
picture with the threat of an Iranian bomb floating overhead, but an
Obama victory would have a plethora of positive implications that
don't necessarily have any connection to the Middle East, such as
for interracial relations in the U.S. and America's image around the
world. Even more important: Obama is poised to become president of
a country where just 50 years ago in some states a black man risked
being hung on the nearest tree merely for looking at a white woman;
a place where just 45 years ago Jewish civil rights activists were
murdered, their bodies thrown into a Mississippi delta swamp for
registering and encouraging black voters; where Martin Luther King,
Jr. was murdered by a white racist for daring to argue that blacks
deserved equal rights.


V. QGambling on Hope

Editor-in-Chief Amnon Lord wrote on page one of the nationalist,
Orthodox Makor Rishon-Hatzofe (11/4): QIt should be said that those
who read commentators and editorialists, in particular those of
right-wing newspapers in America, get the impression of acceptance
of a one-party regime in Washington, headed by President Obama. If
it turns out tomorrow that this is the American peopleQs decision,
there is room for wholeheartedly saluting that people.... Until the
mid-60s most African Americans did not have the right to vote....
[But ObamaQs] foreign policy is enigmatic and fraught with dangers.
A man who has befriended such spurious characters has never before
been elected president. His victory will be a reminder of the
euphoria mingled with hatred that occurred in Israel with Ehud
BarakQs victory over Netanyahu in 1999. The talk was about hope and
peace -Q what we got was a war of terror, fear, and enmity.

CUNNINGHAM