JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (01/12): ISRAEL SEEN AS IGNORING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 JERUSALEM 000109 SIPDIS STATE PASS BBG STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA, NEA/PPD WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE, SIT ROOM NSC FOR ABRAMS 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 (01/12): ISRAEL SEEN AS IGNORING INTERNATIONAL WILL -------------- Main Stories: -------------- All papers lead with coverage of "the war in Gaza." Al Hayat Al Jadida's front page photo shows a presumed phosphorous bomb exploding above a populous Gaza neighborhood, while Al Ayyam shows a man with burns across his face and torso from an alleged phosphorous bomb. Al Quds' front page highlights a photo of an infant with bloody face wounds. Al Quds and Al Ayyam lead reporting with the death of 54 and injury of 440 Palestinians, of which 28 were children, on January 11, "the 16th day of the aggression on Gaza," bringing the Palestinian death toll, to more than 4,000 injured. Al Hayat Al Jadida puts the January 11 Palestinian death toll at 38 and the total Palestinian death toll at 889, since Israeli military operations began in the Gaza Strip. All front pages report on Israeli use of white phosphorus bombs and run inside fact sheets about the weapon and calls made by local human rights groups for an investigation into Israel's use of these weapons. In coverage of American actions, all the papers cite AFP in front-page reports about president-elect Obama promising in an ABC interview to act on Middle East issues immediately after assuming office. The papers also report that Obama has formed a team ready to work immediately on Middle East and Iran issues. Al Quds cites Israeli daily Haaretz in front page statements quoting "close" Obama aids revealing that his administration might establish direct, possibly secret, contacts with Hamas, although, according to Al Quds, an official Obama spokesman has denied these reports. The paper also comments that there is growing belief in Washington that the isolation of Hamas has not been useful and that Obama's advisors will encourage him to establish low profile contacts with the group. In an inside report, Al Quds cites Israeli daily Yedeot Aharanot in reporting on a "heated, shouting" telephone call between Secretary Rice and Israeli Foreign Minister Livni who accused Rice of working against Israel and intending to vote for the recent UN Security Council resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza, until President Bush called Rice at the last moment and instructed her to abstain. The paper quotes Binjamin Ben Eliezer, a close aide to Israel's Defense Minister Barak stating, "I congratulate Condolicy (the paper adding in brackets that the name was deliberately "distorted") on concluding her service with this miserable resolution." The paper also notes that Rice has expressed concerns, in "closed" meetings, over the possible deterioration of the situation in the West Bank if "aggression" continues. In Israeli military news, Al Ayyam's front page cites news agencies in revealing an Israeli plan to occupy areas of the Gaza Strip, especially along the Egyptian border. Al Quds' front page cites DPA in reporting that Israeli soldiers, disguised in Hamas militant "uniforms", used medical vehicles to travel inside Gaza, where, according to Israel, Hamas leaders are hiding in the offices of foreign diplomatic missions. Al Ayyam's front page reports on Israeli military drills practicing to "invade" Gaza. The paper adds that the Israeli army has called up more reservists for combat in Gaza. Al Quds' front page, meanwhile, reports that Israeli artillery continued shelling Gaza neighborhoods on January 11, even during Israel's unilateral three-hour truce, adding inside, that the Israeli army killed Hamas leader Amir Mansy who commanded Hamas rocket attacks. Finally, Al Ayyam's front page cites DPA in quoting UNRWA reports that more Palestinians are taking shelter at UNRWA schools in Gaza, as Israeli planes dropped leaflets on Rafah asking, "half of the city residents" to leave the city. In diplomacy, Al Quds' front page cites DPA in quoting Israeli JERUSALEM 00000109 002 OF 003 officials, including Israeli Premier Olmert, stating that Israel's offensive in Gaza has achieved its goals and will soon be ended. All papers report on Gaza cease-fire talks between Palestinian Authority President Abbas and Jordan's King Abdullah in Amman on January 11. The papers also front page reports on intensified Egyptian efforts to achieve a Gaza ceasefire, with the Israeli side focusing on the smuggling tunnels issue and continuing to question the effectiveness of deploying international forces to Gaza. Al Hayat Al Jadida's front page cites news agencies in reporting that Egypt is satisfied with the progress of cease-fire talks with the Hamas delegation in Cairo. Al Quds' front page cites the New York Times in reporting that President Bush ignored an Israeli request to obtain bunker-penetrating bombs for use against Iran's major nuclear site in Natanz. The paper adds that President Bush informed the Israelis that he would allow for "sabotage" of Iran's nuclear arms capabilities. -------------- WEEKEND NEWS: -------------- Sunday, January 11 Palestinian Authority (PA) statements were highlighted on all front pages. All dailies quote PA president Abbas stating on January 10 that, "we are in a race against time to end the [Israeli] aggression and everyday there are more martyrs and more destruction." Abbas further called upon Hama to respond positively to the Egyptian cease-fire initiative and stop "wasting time" by offering "a large number of comments regarding the initiative." Abbas also assigned blame to Israel for the "bloodshed" in Gaza. Meanwhile, Abbas' Chief of Staff Al Hussayni warned of a "catastrophe" if Israel decides to target Gaza sewage facilities in its military operations. For its part, Hamas spokesman Misha'al was quoted on all front pages rejecting both a new truce in Gaza and the deployment of international forces there. Saturday, January 10 Lead headlines in all papers highlighted that, "Israel ignores UN Security Council Resolution and continues its aggression against Gaza." Front pages also noted that the resolution was welcomed by the Palestinian Authority leadership. "Rice: It is difficult for Israel to protect civilians in Gaza," according to an Al Ayyam front page headline that introduced reporting on the Secretary's January 9 statement. The same front page also highlighted that,"High UN Human Rights Commissioner calls for an investigation into war crimes in Gaza." Meanwhile, Al Quds' front page noted that Jordan recalled its ambassador from Israel, "in protest of Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip." -------------- BLOCK QUOTES: -------------- 1) Al Quds editorial is titled, "Red flag" (01/12): "Threats made by Israeli leaders... following the Israeli cabinet meeting, should be a red flag for the international community since these statements stressed an expansion of the continuing aggression... these [Israeli statements] clearly show that Israel is ignoring the international community and its resolutions, and that it is adamant about continuing what millions of people around the world consider to be JERUSALEM 00000109 003 OF 003 massacres and war crimes... [Israel] attacked the American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the British Foreign Minister for their support of the [UN cease-fire] resolution, even though Rice abstained from voting... the millions who have taken to the streets condemning what is happening [in Gaza]...cannot all be mistaken... the international community, particularly America, has proven once again that their policy does not support justice... democracy or human rights but rather supports occupation, killing and destruction and flagrant human rights violations... it is time for the Arab and Islamic peoples and the free peoples of the world, to tell Europe and America that they have had enough of hypocrisy and duplicity." WALLES