JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (11/12): The Palestinian Authority

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 002033 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 (11/12): The Palestinian Authority and Hamas signal a willingness to sign the Egyptian national reconciliation plan -------------- Main Stories: -------------- The three dailies lead with the commemoration of the 5th anniversary of Yasser Arafat's death on Wednesday. In his speech, Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas said that "no negotiations will take place with Israel prior to halting all settlement activity." He also reiterated that the PA rejects a state with temporary borders. In addressing Hamas, Abbas said that Fatah is still in favor of achieving national reconciliation with Hamas based on the Egyptian proposal. Al-Hayat Al-Jadida reports on Ramattan News Agency closing its offices in Gaza in protest of a Hamas incursion of its premises on Wednesday and obstructing a press conference on the commemoration of the 5th anniversary of Arafat's death. In related news, the dailies report that Hamas did not allow commemoration activities to take place in Gaza and arrested tens of Fatah affiliates and supporters in Gaza. Maan reports on the Head of the Palestinian Legislative Council Aziz Dweik saying to Al-Jazeera Arabic yesterday that Hamas will sign the Egyptian proposal for national reconciliation before the end of the month. Al-Ayyam quotes Dweik noting that he will run for president if President Abbas resigns. The dailies report on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's meeting with President Obama in Washington on Tuesday. Al Ayyam reports that Netanyahu seemed to be tense after the meeting and gave no indication of what was discussed. Al Quds quotes a senior official noting that the meeting between Netanyahu and Obama was an "ice breaker between the two." The headline reads the "US understands and respects the Israeli red lines." Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak is quoted in Al Quds as saying that the meeting "helped to identify a solid ground for the resumption of peace talks." Citing Ha'aretz, Al-Hayat Al-Jadia reports that the US was disappointed with the meeting. Al-Hayat Al-Jadida and Al-Ayyam front page news on the Palestinian Liberation Organization Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat saying that 18 years of Palestinian-Israeli negotiations failed and stressed that President Abbas is convinced now that it is impossible to establish a Palestinian state under the current Israeli government led by Prime Minister Netanyahu. The dailies and Maan report on Hamas Prime Minister Isma'el Haniyeh telling a delegation from the International Committee of the Red Cross that Hamas is "not looking for more violence," but that he was sure Israel has "plans to target the Gaza Strip once again." Hamas newspaper Al-Resalah reports on Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman noting that President Abbas rejected the prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel which included the release of 450 Palestinian prisoners, claiming that their release would increase the violence against Fatah members in the West Bank and Gaza. Wednesday, November 11: The three dailies report on the Israeli authorities issuing 25 new home demolition orders against Palestinian houses in the Beit-Hanina neighborhood of East Jerusalem yesterday, claiming that the owners JERUSALEM 00002033 002 OF 002 lack the appropriate building permits. Al Quds front pages news citing Israeli TV Channel 10 that the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs received a telegraph stating that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is considering resigning from her position because she is not satisfied with her duties. The coverage notes that Secretary Clinton did not confirm this news. -------------- BLOCK QUOTES: -------------- Al-Quds runs an editorial under the title "Abbas' Positions Are Clear...Any Listeners?" (11/12): "After President Abbas laid out the requirements he deems necessary for resuming peace talks with the Israelis, including the cessation of settlement activity and ending the occupation, things became clearer to everyone. But the question remains, will the international community, Israel and the US listen and respond to these requirements and help move the peace process forward?" RUBINSTEIN