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

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

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Main Stories:
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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

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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.

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WEEKEND NEWS:
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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."

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BLOCK QUOTES:
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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

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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