ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS TEL AVIV 000460 SIPDIS 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 ¶3. U.S.-Israel Relations ¶4. DPRK -------------- Key stories in the media: -------------- All media reported that on Wednesday afternoon a student at the Sapir College near Sderot was killed by a Qassam rocket and that Grad-style Katyusha rockets landed in Ashkelon. Israeli strikes in Gaza killed 13 Palestinians, including three children and a baby, and media reported that among those killed were five Hamas members trained abroad for a special mission. The media also played up an air strike against the Palestinian Interior Ministry near Palestinian (Hamas) PM Ismail Haniyeh's office in Gaza City. (Israel Hayom bannered: "IDF Hints: Haniyeh Is Not Immune.") Ha'aretz quoted a senior defense official as saying that the Israeli response to the rocket fire on Sderot and Ashkelon is expected to be particularly harsh, and that Israel does not intend to let Hamas's decision to escalate go unanswered. Leading media quoted Defense Minister Ehud Barak as saying that the solution to the Qassam problem will come soon. However, PM Ehud Olmert was quoted as saying in Tokyo on Thursday morning, that Israel will not change its overall policy. "What is happening today happened a week ago, and is likely to happen in the near future," he was quoted as saying. Olmert added: "We are in a war which sometimes exacts a high cost, and sometimes does not. We will continue fighting in order for the danger to the residents of the south to end. This is a long process, and a painful one, and we haven't any magic formulas to solve this today. We are suffering painful blows, but are returning more painful blows." Israel Radio reported that Olmert told Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Tokyo that Hamas is pushing Israel to the edge of its patience. The Jerusalem Post quoted unnamed government sources as speculating that Barak will take a more aggressive line within the government than Olmert as he is "looking to prove himself" before the next election. Maariv's online service NRG and Israel Radio quoted PA Chairman [President] Mahmoud Abbas as saying in an interview with the Jordanian daily A-Dustur that he has not ruled out a future renewal of the armed struggle against Israel. Abbas was quoted as saying that he fired the first bullet at Israel back in 1965, that it was his organization that taught the Arabs the path of "resistance" and that Hizbullah was taught in Fatah training camps. Abbas said in the course of the interview that at this stage he is opposed to the armed option, but added that he does not rule out a return to a military battle in the future. . The Jerusalem Post quoted PM Olmert as saying after talks with Japanese PM Yasuo Fukuda on Wednesday that Israel and Japan will cooperate in efforts to stop development of nuclear weapons by Iran and North Korea. Leading media reported that on Tuesday, during a presidential debate with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama stressed his "stalwart" support for Israel and his ties to American Jews. Obama stated his belief that Israel's security was "sacrosanct" and criticized African-American leader Louis Farrakhan, who had endorsed him, calling his anti-Israel and anti-Semitic statements "unacceptable and reprehensible." The Jerusalem Post reported that on Tuesday UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called suicide bombing an "unacceptable political weapon." He was quoted as saying that he will speak to the President of the General Assembly about holding a special session on the issue. Ban spoke during a private meeting with officials from the Simon Wiesenthal Center, who urged the UN to designate suicide bombing a crime against humanity. Ha'aretz reported that as the UN prepares for a follow-up meeting next year to its 2001 World Conference against Racism, Canadian Senator Jerry Grafstein has proposed a counter-conference of human rights activists to combat anti-Semitism Yediot reported that over the past year right-wing former strategic affairs minister Avigdor Lieberman collaborated with former Meretz leader Yossi Sarid on issues of national security and the Iranian nuclear threat. In a paid ad in Ha'aretz (English Ed.),conservative activists, including former cabinet minister Uzi Landau (Likud),addressed the people of Israel and Sen. John McCain, saying, 'The jihadist' Palestinian state the U.S. State Department proposes to wedge between [Israel and Jordan] would guarantee a quick end to the peace and visibility of both these American allies. It would, in short order, become the enshrined capital of radical Islam." Ha'aretz reported that "Eyes Wide Open," a new documentary film that follows American Jewish tourists in Israel and explores their complex and sometimes strained relationship with the Jewish State debuts tonight at the Jerusalem Cinematheque. -------------- ¶1. Mideast: -------------- Summary: -------------- The independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized: "The decision as to whether, how and when to embark on a [military] operation [in Gaza] will remain in Israel's hands. We must hope that this decision will be both daring and level-headed." Military correspondent Alex Fishman wrote on page one of the mass-circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot (2/28): "IsraelQs policy is unclear, non-aggressive, inconsistent, and the cause of the ongoing failure on the Gaza front." The conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized: "What the Hamas-inspired murderous rocket fire across the Gaza border should long since have made plain to all ... is that even territory cleared of every last vestige of Israeli presence does not sate the appetite of the Islamists." Editor-in-Chief Amnon Lord wrote in the nationalist, Orthodox Makor Rishon-Hatzofe: "Israel has no security policy.... In Sderot and other communities [aggression] has been going on forever." Block Quotes: -------------- ¶I. "On the Edge in the South" The independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized (2/28): "The dozens of rockets that were fired on Wednesday from the Gaza Strip -- one of which killed Roni Yehiah, a 47-year-old father of four -- have placed the IDF on the threshold of a major raid into the Palestinian territory. Crossing this threshold is soon liable to be seen as a necessity that cannot be condemned, but it can still be prevented. Responsibility for the escalation lies entirely with the Palestinian side; in other words, the Hamas government.... Although the situation has worsened, a massive invasion of Gaza is not unavoidable, if outside forces can be harnessed to decree restraint on Hamas -- primarily U.S. President George W. Bush and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, whose senior emissaries are investing a great deal of diplomatic effort which has been unsuccessful so far in cooling the flames. The U.S. Secretary of State and the Egyptian Intelligence Minister, both of whom are scheduled to arrive in Israel in the coming days, can and must make it clear to Hamas that if Israel is pushed into crossing the fence in Gaza should the efforts fail, the world will be understanding. The decision as to whether, how and when to embark on an operation will remain in Israel's hands. We must hope that this decision will be both daring and level-headed." II. "The Price of Restraint" Military correspondent Alex Fishman wrote on page one of the mass-circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot (2/28): " IsraelQs policy is unclear, non-aggressive, inconsistent, and the cause of the ongoing failure on the Gaza front. The political echelon does not want to take over the Gaza Strip, nor is the army eager to return to wallow in Gaza. Everyone in the top political and military echelon knows exactly what we shouldn't do, but nobody wants to take risks -- political or military -- to put out the fire. So what do we do? They haven't a clue.... It is unthinkable that after Hamas's attack on Wednesday, the Hamas leadership continues to be exempt from threats to its life. Hamas's military and political infrastructure must be dealt with. This can be done even before the 'large-scale ground operation' that nobody in Israel is ready for. But the political echelon is so scared of a deterioration that won't take this middle step for fear of giving Hamas a pretext to go crazy. The problem is that paradoxically, this inaction will in fact bring about a ground operation sooner. They (Hamas) realize that Israel's strategy begins and ends with 'controlling the height of the flames.' Israeli restraint is perceived by them as hesitancy. When the threats to their lives begin and end with newspaper headlines, they stop taking the threats seriously. Hamas's responses to IDF activity will become more impudent and more aggressive, more Israelis will be killed and maimed, public pressure will increase, and we will then find ourselves -- because of distorted policy -- in a war that we don't want at a time not of our choosing." III. "Insatiable Extremism" The conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized (2/28): "It is long past time for the learned diplomats of the UN, and all too many other international statespeople, to stop excusing the Islamist supremacists and ignoring their avowed and insatiable ambitions. This newspaper recognizes that for Israel to remain at once Jewish in character and democratic, it must relinquish territory to which it claims a biblical and historic right and separate from the Palestinians. It looks forward to the day when the Palestinians will live peacefully, and independently, alongside Israel. But Sharon's 'disengagement' did not advance that day. And the failure is that of the Palestinians. A mindset that loathes Israel more than it seeks its own freedom will not be remade by Israeli withdrawal or endless international funding and sympathy.... Under Ehud Barak, Ariel Sharon, and now Ehud Olmert, we have sought somehow to separate from the Palestinians. What the Hamas-inspired murderous rocket fire across the Gaza border should long since have made plain to all, however, is that even territory cleared of every last vestige of Israeli presence does not sate the appetite of the Islamists -- who, terribly, happen to constitute the parliamentary leadership freely elected by the Palestinian public, and the murderous sole rulers of Gaza." IV. "Academic Cover" Editor-in-Chief Amnon Lord wrote in the nationalist, Orthodox Makor Rishon-Hatzofe (2/28): "Israel has no security policy.... The Israeli military and political leadership adjusts theories and goals to reality.... How can one explain that Israel is flooded with institutes and interdisciplinary centers ... and that all are busy analyzing security and strategic affairs?.... For over a year and a half, the Israeli leadership keeps repeating the failure of the Second Lebanon War, which ended after a month and a half. In the south -- in Sderot and other communities -- this has been going on forever." -------------- ¶2. Iran: -------------- Summary: -------------- Senior military affairs analyst Reuven Pedatzur wrote in the independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz: "If ... by the end of George Bush's term -- the U.S. President does not order a military operation against Iran's nuclear sites, it is doubtful whether it would be possible to prevent Iran from turning into a nuclear state. Jerusalem must start getting used to this and prepare for a 'new Middle East.'" Block Quotes: -------------- "Iran's Great Victory" Senior military affairs analyst Reuven Pedatzur wrote in the independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz (2/28): "IAEA Director Mohamed ElBaradei played into the Iranians' hands again. Not only did he help their president to celebrate in Tehran, he also gave them another extension on their way to completing their nuclear weapons development. Once again, as expected, ElBaradei missed the opportunity to unite the international community around the efforts to prevent Iran's nuclearization.... Even if Russia and China do not object, as expected, and the Security Council adopts the [sanctions] proposal, it is doubtful whether this would unduly upset the Iranians. The conclusion is that if during the coming year -- by the end of George Bush's term -- the U.S. President does not order a military operation against Iran's nuclear sites, it is doubtful whether it would be possible to prevent Iran from turning into a nuclear state. Jerusalem must start getting used to this and prepare for a 'new Middle East.'" -------------- ¶3. U.S.-Israel Relations: -------------- Summary: -------------- Liberal columnist Larry Derfner wrote in the conservative, independent Jerusalem Post: "The record on Obama as an anti-Semite or enemy of Israel is utterly blank.... Depicting him as an anti-Semite or an enemy of Israel is the stuff of a hate campaign." Block Quotes: -------------- "Islamophobia, Obamaphobia" Liberal columnist Larry Derfner wrote in the conservative, independent Jerusalem Post (2/28): "I support John McCain for president, and I think Obama is too inexperienced in military and foreign affairs to be president now. But as far as anyone has been able to find out, he has never made anything even close to an anti-Semitic or anti-Israeli remark in his life -- unless you think that expressing sympathy for Palestinians, and preferring Middle East diplomacy to Middle East war, is inherently anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic. There are lots of Jews in America and Israel who do think this way, and if Obama wins the Democratic nomination as expected, we are going to be hearing more from them.... The record on Obama as an anti-Semite or enemy of Israel is utterly blank. He's not a Muslim, either.... Even in politics there is a red line, and on the other side of that red line is what's called a hate campaign. Deliberately drawing attention to Obama's middle name, Hussein, is the stuff of a hate campaign. Depicting him as an anti-Semite or an enemy of Israel is the stuff of a hate campaign. For information on how you can become part of it, contact Republicans Abroad in Israel." -------------- ¶4. DPRK: -------------- Summary: -------------- Chief Economic Editor Sever Plotker opined in the mass-circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot: "Rather than showing a softening of the North Korean regime, the New York Philharmonic Orchestra's visit to Pyongyang demonstrated the distortion of thought in America and the darkening of its values." Block Quotes: -------------- "Would the Orchestra Have Played in 1938 Berlin?" Chief Economic Editor Sever Plotker opined in the mass-circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot (2/28): "The New York Philharmonic Orchestra flew this week to the North Korean capital, enchanting for one evening the ears of its residents -- more exactly, those of the senior members of the Communist Party, in a superb concert..... Indeed, this was a historic moment. America's cultural elite opened its arms to embrace the darkest, most murderous, and most crazed regime on earth.... I watched the live broadcast of the American networks; I read the stories from there as they appeared in the U.S. newspapers, and I shuddered. What happened to the reporters and broadcasters' natural critical sense? What happened to their liberal world view?.... Of course the orchestra collaborated with tyranny.... The visit of the orchestra to Pyongyang resembles those of 'progressive' Western writers and artists in Stalin's Soviet Union during the peak of red terror and the great famine. They were welcomed like kings in Moscow, a city haunted by purges, whose residents were highly frightened by night visits by NKVD agents. [The Western visitors] reported on the Soviet citizens' joy of life.... Rather than showing a softening of the North Korean regime, the New York Philharmonic Orchestra's visit to Pyongyang demonstrated the distortion of thought in America and the darkening of its values." JONES