JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (11/13): Palestinian Central

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 002041 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 (11/13): Palestinian Central Elections Commission says it must postpone elections -------------- Main Stories: -------------- The local press highlights news on the chairman of the Central Elections Commission Hanna Nasser announcing yesterday that the commission does not have the capacity to hold elections on January 24 due to Hamas' rejection of the elections. Nasser said in a press conference that the commission sent a letter to Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas explaining the situation, noting that it is not up to the commission to decide when to hold elections if they are not held on the 24th. Maan and the three dailies report on Nabil Abu Rudeina, spokesperson for the PA Office of the President, saying that President Abbas will issue a decision "in light of this development" following consultations with Palestinian institutions and Basic Law experts. Abu Rudeina accused Hamas of imposing a ban on the Central Elections Commission from entering Gaza, calling it "evidence that Hamas does not value the unity of the homeland or national reconciliation." The coverage also quotes Hamas official in Gaza Sami Abu Zuhiri as saying that he was not surprised that the elections would be postponed, adding that "this is a natural result of the lack of appropriate conditions" to hold elections and that "it is evidence of the credibility of Hamas' position, which rejected the call for elections before reconciliation is achieved." Secretary General of the Arab League Amer Mousa's announcement that the Palestinian national reconciliation dialogue will restart after the Adha feast in Egypt receives front page coverage in the dailies. Al-Quds front pages news on settlers from Yitzhar settlement near Nablus city in the northern West Bank attacking the Palestinian citizens of Boureen village and cutting down more than 80 olive trees yesterday. Al-Quds front pages news on Palestinian Human Rights and legal institutions condemning the Hamas attack against Ramattan news agency and its refusal to allow any commemoration events on the 5th anniversary of Arafat's death. -------------- BLOCK QUOTES: -------------- Adel Abdel Rahman opines in Al-Hayat Al-Jadida official daily under the title "The Elections and the Veto," (11/13): "The Central Elections Commission announcement that they cannot hold the elections demonstrates weakness ... It shows that the Commission has given in to Hamas ... Clearly Hamas is obstructing any national principle that would end the state of division and retain the national unity. I call upon Hanna Nasser [the head of the Central Elections Commission] not to give in to Hamas and to find any mechanism to hold elections on time." -------------- Cartoon of the week: -------------- This cartoon appeared in Al-Hayat Al-Jadida official daily on November 12. It shows President Obama repeating his campaign slogan "Yes We Can" while an ironic translation of the word "can" is illustrated. "Can" in Arabic stands for the state of the past tense JERUSALEM 00002041 002 OF 002 meaning "it was," demonstrating that Obama's slogans are from the past and no longer valid. RUBINSTEIN