JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (06/23): POSITIVE REACTION TO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 001062 SIPDIS STATE PASS BBG STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA, NEA/PPD WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE, SIT ROOM NSC CMC WASHINGTON DC FOR POLAD JERUSALEM ALSO FOR ICD LONDON FOR HKANONA AND POL - TSOU PARIS ALSO FOR POL ROME FOR MFO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KMDR KPAL KWBG KPAO IS SUBJECT: JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (06/23): POSITIVE REACTION TO FAYYAD'S SPEECH -------------- Main Stories: -------------- Palestinian print coverage is neutral in tone with Al-Ayyam and Al-Hayat Al-Jadida running the text of the speech in full and Al-Quds front page running extensive excerpts . Al-Hayat Al-Jadida leads with and Al-Quds and Al-Ayyam run front page coverage on the Palestinian Authority Premier Fayyad's visit to Al-Quds University in Abu Deis on June 22 during which he called on the Palestinians to unite and end the internal division. Fayyad urged the Palestinians to support the establishment of the Palestinian state and the promotion of good governance and institutional building so that the Palestinian state can become a reality in two years, and will live side by side with Israel in a comprehensive peace, according to coverage. Fayyad considered the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's June 14 speech as vague and lacked commitment to the two state solution. Al-Ayyam leads with wire report on recent developments in the prisoners' exchange between Israel and Hamas. According to coverage that also appears in Al-Quds and Al-Hayat Al-Jadida front pages, the Israeli government has submitted a new proposal to the Egyptians that aims at concluding the prisoners' exchange between Hamas and Israel and will include the releasing of 1000 Palestinian prisoners as well as the release of Israeli captured Shalit, reporting concludes. The riots in Iran continue to have front page coverage in the dailies and lead coverage in Al-Quds. Hundreds of the Iranian protestors were arrested and some were wounded during the demonstrations in different Iranian cities. Al-Ayyam runs lead photos for an Iranian young lady who was killed by the Iranian forces during the protests in Iran. Al-Quds runs front page coverage citing wire on the King Abdullah of Jordan assuring during his meeting with the British Prime Minister Brown in London on June 22 that Israel must stop all provocative measures that threaten chances of reaching a peace settlement in the region and jeopardizes the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. King Abdullah urged the international community to take serious measures to support reaching a comprehensive and regional peace that will end the Palestinian Israeli conflict based on establishing a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza and ensures at the same time the security of Israel. Al-Quds runs front page coverage citing wire that the Palestinian Authority President (PA) Abbas decided to release most of the Hamas detainees from the PA detention centers in 24 hours as a good will gesture to support the national unity talks, according to coverage. Al-Quds runs front page coverage on the Israeli government which decided to open all of the Gaza commercial crossing points on June 22 for three days to allow access to aid materials to the Strip, according to coverage. Al-Ayyam runs front page coverage on settlers attacking Palestinians in the West Bank cities and confiscating more than 40 dunums in Nahallin village in Bethlehem area on June 22 with full support from the Israeli soldiers. -------------- BLOCK QUOTES: -------------- 1) Hafith Al-Barghuti opines in Al-Hayat Al-Jadida official daily JERUSALEM 00001062 002 OF 002 under the title, "The speech of Bar Ilan, the speech of Al-Quds",(06/23): " It is obvious from the location that Prime Minister Fayyad chose for his speech that he believes that Jerusalem is the capital of the Palestinian state... Fayyad seemed optimistic in his tone about the capabilities of the PA to lead a state... unlike Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu who does not seem ready to believe in a Palestinian state." 2) Al-Quds independent daily runs an editorial under the title, "Dr. Salam Fayyad's speech," (06/23): "The speech was rational and comprehensive... it provided a clear description of the current situation in the Palestinian Territories and motivates all parties to reach a settlement that will end the conflict... The speech stressed that the Palestinian Authority is the sole representative of the Palestinian people and is in charge of enforcing law and order." 3) Hilmi Al-Ghul opines in Al-Hayat Al-Jadida official daily under the title, "What distinguishes Fayyad's speech," (06/23): "Although the speech was meant to present the new [PA] government's agenda, it was basically a reaction to Netanyahu's statements and perceptions about the Israeli Palestinian conflict... having Premier Fayyad present the official Palestinian reaction to these statements clearly reflects how much this man is trusted by the Palestinian leadership and conveys a firm message to all parties who try to undermine his authority." WALLES