JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (02/03): PLO: "NOT JUST AN

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SUBJECT: JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (02/03): PLO: "NOT JUST AN
ORGANIZATION"

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Main Stories:
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All papers lead with photos and reports on the February 2 meeting of
Palestinian Authority President Abbas, Egyptian President Mubarak
and Saudi Foreign Minister Al Faisal in Cairo, noting simply that
the leaders discussed Egyptian efforts regarding a Gaza truce and
restoring Palestinian unity. Al Hayat Al Jadida's coverage adds
that Abbas then headed to Paris for a meeting with President
Sarkozy, while Mubarak and Al Faisal left for Abu Dhabi on an
unscheduled trip. The paper quotes Abbas stating in Paris that he
categorically rejects Hamas'call to replace the PLO with a new body,
while Al Ayyam's front page highlights a quote by a Hamas
representative in Lebanon confirming that the group wants immediate,
practical steps implemented for PLO reform. Meanwhile, Al Quds
provides a further read-out of the Paris meeting quoting Abbas'
advisor Nabil Abu Rudaynah telling press that President Sarkozy
expressed support for Abbas and that the two leaders discussed the
role of France in the peace process, in light of the change in U.S.
and Israeli administrations. Abbas added, according to coverage,
that he hoped that the EU would play a "political" role in regional
peace talks.

Al Hayat Al Jadida's front page cites news agencies in reporting on
agreement between U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell and French
Foreign Minister Kouchner on prioritizing efforts to reach a
sustainable truce in Gaza. The report adds that Mitchell and
Kouchner met in Paris on February 2 and that Kouchner stressed the
need to accelerate efforts to open crossings between Gaza and
Israel. Meanwhile, another article on the paper's front page notes
that Hamas has agreed to a one year truce with Israel if the "siege"
on Gaza is ended, but the group is "not in a hurry" to enter
Palestinian unity talks.

President Obama is becoming more popular among "Egyptian Islamists,"
according to Al Arabiya's website, as noted on an inside page of Al
Quds. Since his interview with Al Arabiya satellite TV, reporting
contends that even radical Muslim Brotherhood leaders have voiced
their hopes that Obama will deliver his first speech from a Muslim
capital in Cairo, possibly at the Al Azhar mosque. Muslim
Brotherhood General Advisor Akif, however, is quoted stating that he
is not interested in Obama's speech nor in the choice of capital but
rather in the content of Obama's Middle East policy. Reporting also
quotes former Islamic Jihad leader Kamal Said noting that Obama's
inauguration speech provides an opportunity for the "Islamic
movement" to open dialogue with the West. Expressing similar
sentiment, another "radical leader" appealed via his website to Al
Qaeda to declare a truce with the U.S. as a gesture of good will
towards President Obama, the report notes.
President Obama says that most U.S. troops will return home from
Iraq within a year, according to an inside report in Al Quds.
Another inside AFP story quotes a U.S. National Security Council
spokesman commenting on recent reports of secret contacts between
President Obama's advisors with Iran and Syria. The NSC spokesman
underscored that Obama gave clear instructions to his team not to
initiate any contacts with foreign governments during the
transitional period.

The three papers front page an AFP story reporting that
International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-
Ocampo has begun looking into alleged Israeli war crimes in Gaza.
Moreno-Ocampo's office clarified on February 2 that that the action
does not mean that an official investigation has been opened. The
papers highlight that the ICC has received several calls from the

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Palestinian Authority and other parties requesting an investigation
into possible war crimes.

Al Quds' front page runs February 2 statements by Israeli Defense
Minister Barak confirming that Israel does not intend to wage a new
offensive on Gaza in response to recent Palestinian rocket attacks
on southern Israel. In addition, all front pages quote Barak from a
campaign rally on February 2, stating that he proposes the
construction of a 48km tunnel under Israel to connect the West Bank
to Gaza, adding that the tunnel would be under Israeli control while
traffic inside would be controlled by the Palestinians. In further
reporting on official Israeli statements, Al Hayat Al Jadida's front
page reports that Israeli Foreign Minister Livni stated on February
2 that she expects the Obama administration to pressure Israel on
reaching a regional peace agreement. Al Quds front page adds that
Livni also called for the drafting of an Israeli peace initiative in
Hebrew, "before an initiative in French, Arabic or English is
imposed on Israel."
Al Ayyam runs a front page AFP story quoting Iran's President
calling for a boycott of Israeli goods and warning of renewed
Israeli "aggression" on Gaza.

Al Hayat Al Jadida's front page reports that the U.N. emergency
appeal for Gaza has raised $613 million in assistance. Reporting
also notes that U.N officials have again called for the opening of
Gaza crossings and stressed that the body will investigate Israeli
bombings of its facilities in Gaza.

Al Quds' front page reports that Israel has agreed to release most
of the Palestinian prisoners on Hamas' list for a prisoner exchange
deal that would free captured Israeli soldier Shalit. Jailed Fatah
leader Marwan Barghouthi would be released, while "a few differences
remain regarding the release of Hamas leaders," according to
reporting.

The three papers front page reports on the Israeli military killing
two Palestinians, one near the West Bank city of Hebron and another
in Gaza. Eight additional Palestinians were injured in Gaza on
February 2, papers note. --------------
BLOCK QUOTES:
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1) Saad Muhayo opines in Al Quds under the title, "Erdogan 'lost
it' but won the world": "The Davos Forum... is the secret
international government that controls the fate of all the world's
s
leaders and peoples... In Davos, Erdogan lost much of his
credibility with the international, secret government, the Jewish
lobby and the Turkish Army, but, he made an undisputed win of the
leadership [position] of the Islamic world. It is true that this
win won't translate into direct benefits in the arena of Turkish and
Middle East geopolitics, but certainly it will ensure him a
permanent seat of prominence in history."
2) Regular columnist Rajab Abu Sarayah opines in Al Ayyam under the
title, "Not just an organization [PLO]: "Declaring a new political
authority for the Palestinians, besides... deepening internal
division, also strips the Palestinians of their moral authority at
home and abroad and takes away the representation that is recognized
at Arab, regional and international levels. It thereby further
weakens Palestinians and strips them of their ability and
aspirations to achieve national goals."

WALLES