JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (11/6): Palestinians disappointed

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 002006 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 (11/6): Palestinians disappointed in President Abbas's announcement that he will not run in the next presidential elections -------------- Main Stories: -------------- The three dailies lead with news on Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's speech last night announcing that he will not run in the next presidential election. A headline in Al-Quds quotes Abbas saying "We were surprised to see the US favoring the Israeli position- it's time to put an end to the longest misery in our modern history." Al-Quds and Al-Ayyam front page news on the White House reaction to Abbas's statements, saying "President Abbas has always been a real partner" to the US. Al-Quds runs separate front page coverage on the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat reiterating that Abbas's position is not a ploy or negotiating tactic. He stated that Abbas believes that "It is hard to coexist with the settlements and Israeli measures in Jerusalem." The three dailies report on large marches that took place in West Bank cities after Abbas's announcement to urge him to change his position and consider running. The coverage also notes that the PLO Central Committee and Executive Committee members stressed that Abbas remains the sole candidate for president. Al-Ayyam front pages news on Fatah Foreign Affairs Commissioner Nabil Shaath noting that the US retreat on its policy regarding settlement activity has created a "serious political crisis." Hamas newspaper Al-Resalah reports that the US is not worried that Abbas will not run in the next election, saying that they would prefer someone like PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad or Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan. The report notes that US officials held strategic meetings with Fayyad and Dahlan at the White House to explore this possibility. The UN General Assembly's endorsement of a resolution that calls on the Palestinians and Israelis to conduct "credible" investigations regarding the allegations of war crimes during the last conflict in Gaza received coverage in all three dailies. The report notes that the US voted against the resolution. -------------- BLOCK QUOTES: -------------- Al-Quds independent daily runs an editorial under the title "Abu Mazen's Message..." (11/6): "President Abbas is extremely disappointed in the change in President Obama's position and the US adoption of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's position regarding the situation... The only thing that may make Abu Mazen change his mind is to achieve real progress in the peace process and to see the US impose greater pressure on Israel regarding settlements and Jerusalem." -------------- Cartoons of the week: -------------- This cartoon appeared in Al-Quds on November 4. Prime Minister JERUSALEM 00002006 002 OF 002 Netanyahu thinks about the US proposal for negotiations without preconditions, which allows for the construction of 3000 new settlement units, natural growth, demolishing homes in Beit Hanina, and evacuating residents from the their homes in Sheikh Jarrah. This cartoon appeared in Al-Ayyam on November 2. Prime Minister Netanyahu appears driving a bulldozer to represent continued settlement construction, while President Obama is saying he can't do anything to stop it. RUBINSTEIN