Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09JERUSALEM242
2009-02-05 09:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (02/05): "NO NEGOTIATIONS UNTIL
how-toVZCZCXRO3542 OO RUEHROV DE RUEHJM #0242/01 0360927 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 050927Z FEB 09 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4037 RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEADWD/DA WASHINGTON DC//DAS-ZD/DACS-ZK// RUEAHQA/CSAF WASHINGTON DC//POLAD// RHMFIUU/CMC WASHINGTON DC RUENAAA/CNO WASHINGTON DC//POLAD// INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 7530 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4515 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 4363 RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 5857 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 4279 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2851
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000242
SIPDIS
STATE PASS BBG
STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA, NEA/PPD
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE, SIT ROOM
NSC FOR ABRAMS
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 (02/05): "NO NEGOTIATIONS UNTIL
SETTLEMENT ACTIVITIES STOP"
--------------
Main Stories:
--------------
All papers lead with headlines of Palestinian Authority (PA)
President Abbas' statement to the EU Parliament on February 4, "No
negotiations with Israel before settlement activities stop and the
siege on Gaza is completely lifted." Al Quds further quotes Abbas
pledging to stop arms smuggling once the PA returns to Gaza. Al
Ayyam quotes Abbas demanding that Israel not be allowed to, "repeat
its crimes in Gaza." Al Hayat Al Jadida adds that Abbas called the
Arab peace initiative, "the last chance for peace." Abbas also
highlighted that Israel has killed and injured thousands of
Palestinians and destroyed what the PA built in cooperation with the
EU over the past 15 years. All papers quote Abbas expressing hope
of EU support for a Palestinian unity government that will be based
on Arab and international norms.
Al Quds' front page reports that the Fatah sixth conference will be
held on March 21, either in Cairo or Amman. The final venue will be
decided by the Fatah preparatory committee that will report its
decision to Palestinian Authority President Abbas upon his return to
Ramallah.
All front pages highlight an announcement by Palestinian Authority
(PA) Premier Fayyad that the PA has allocated $600 million for
reconstructing housing in Gaza. The funds will be transferred to
Gaza banks. In addition, Fayyad noted the amount is on top of $67
million that was already allocated from the PA's general budget for
emergency relief to Gaza. The PA will delay payment of salaries for
up to two weeks, in order to allow for the emergency spending,
Fayyad clarified. Fayyad is also quoted revealing a $1.65 billion
deficit in the PA's 2009 total budget of $3.3 billion; which,
according to Fayyad, is a much smaller deficit than in previous
years.
Al Quds' front page runs two AFP stories quoting a senior
Palestinian official revealing on February 4 that Special Envoy
George Mitchell will meet with Palestinian Authority President Abbas
in Ramallah on February 22 this month. The second story quotes a
White House spokesperson stating on February 4 that Mitchell is
working on "next steps" for peace in the region. The same story
gives a different date for Mitchell's visit to Ramallah - February
26.
All front pages cite Israeli daily Haaretz in revealing that the
Israeli Defense Ministry has approved the construction of 250
settlement units near the existing West Bank settlement of Adam to
resettle settlers from the Migron "illegal" outpost. The papers
highlight that the Israeli plans violate commitments made to the
U.S. on freezing settlement activities. In related coverage, Al
Quds runs a front page photo of an Israeli bulldozer demolishing a
Palestinian building in East Jerusalem's Issawiyah neighborhood. Al
Ayyam's front page runs a photo of the same demolition with the
caption, "electoral campaign destruction targets Jerusalem." All
papers note that Israeli demolitions in Jerusalem are part of
Israeli political party campaign strategies to win votes in upcoming
elections.
Al Quds' front page reports that Egypt has closed the Gaza- Rafah
crossing as foreign delegations begin to depart Gaza. The paper also
quotes Egypt's President Mubarak accusing regional parties of trying
to use the war in Gaza, "to create a new reality." The paper
further quotes an Egyptian source stating that a truce agreement
between Hamas and Israel is "imminent." Meanwhile, the same
reporting notes that Hamas member Salah Bardawil told press that,
"some questions still need to be answered... such as guarantees," on
implementation of Israeli commitments.
JERUSALEM 00000242 002 OF 002
Al Quds' front page reports that UNRWA refuted reports that it has
closed schools and other facilities in Gaza in anticipation of
Israeli military strikes. The paper further reports that UNRWA has
accused Hamas of stealing humanitarian aid from its Gaza warehouses,
a claim Hamas has denied. Meanwhile, Al Ayyam's front page reports
that UNRWA has backed down from previous statements in which it
accused Israel of targeting the Fakhura UNRWA school in Gaza during
the recent conflict. In a statement released on February 4 by the
UN Humanitarian Affairs Coordination office, the UN confirms that
there was militant fire originating outside the school where "the
victims" were taking shelter.
Al Quds runs inside coverage on the results of three opinion polls
conducted with Palestinian respondents in the West Bank, East
Jerusalem and Gaza. Nablus-based Najah University reports that 57%
believe that the "war on Gaza" increased the chances of Gaza being
separated from the West Bank; 64% want Hamas to accept an 18-month
truce agreement with Israel; 63% accused Hamas of deepening internal
division; 79% would vote in new presidential elections. The
Palestinian Center for Public Opinion revealed that 53% believe that
Hamas is taking the country in the wrong direction; 46% would
support a Palestinian Authority unity government; 54% hold Israel
responsible for the "war in Gaza." The Jerusalem Media and
Communications Center reported that 53% of West Bank Palestinians
compared to 35% of Gazans believe that Hamas won the war in
Gaza. --------------
BLOCK QUOTES:
--------------
Al Quds' editorial is titled, "No negotiations until settlement
activities stop" (02/05): "What is important and new in President
Abbas' speech [before the EU Parliament on February 4) is the
statement that there will be no negotiations [with Israel] as long
as settlement activities continue... perhaps this stand will
highlight for the new U.S. administration and President Barack
Obama, the importance of responding in a serious and firm manner
befitting the speedy action of sending George Mitchell to the region
to discuss peace and truce efforts. The speedy visit was positive,
but real progress will be measured in actions not words, as
personally highlighted by President Obama in his interview with Al
Arabiya satellite TV."
WALLES
S
SIPDIS
STATE PASS BBG
STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA, NEA/PPD
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE, SIT ROOM
NSC FOR ABRAMS
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 (02/05): "NO NEGOTIATIONS UNTIL
SETTLEMENT ACTIVITIES STOP"
--------------
Main Stories:
--------------
All papers lead with headlines of Palestinian Authority (PA)
President Abbas' statement to the EU Parliament on February 4, "No
negotiations with Israel before settlement activities stop and the
siege on Gaza is completely lifted." Al Quds further quotes Abbas
pledging to stop arms smuggling once the PA returns to Gaza. Al
Ayyam quotes Abbas demanding that Israel not be allowed to, "repeat
its crimes in Gaza." Al Hayat Al Jadida adds that Abbas called the
Arab peace initiative, "the last chance for peace." Abbas also
highlighted that Israel has killed and injured thousands of
Palestinians and destroyed what the PA built in cooperation with the
EU over the past 15 years. All papers quote Abbas expressing hope
of EU support for a Palestinian unity government that will be based
on Arab and international norms.
Al Quds' front page reports that the Fatah sixth conference will be
held on March 21, either in Cairo or Amman. The final venue will be
decided by the Fatah preparatory committee that will report its
decision to Palestinian Authority President Abbas upon his return to
Ramallah.
All front pages highlight an announcement by Palestinian Authority
(PA) Premier Fayyad that the PA has allocated $600 million for
reconstructing housing in Gaza. The funds will be transferred to
Gaza banks. In addition, Fayyad noted the amount is on top of $67
million that was already allocated from the PA's general budget for
emergency relief to Gaza. The PA will delay payment of salaries for
up to two weeks, in order to allow for the emergency spending,
Fayyad clarified. Fayyad is also quoted revealing a $1.65 billion
deficit in the PA's 2009 total budget of $3.3 billion; which,
according to Fayyad, is a much smaller deficit than in previous
years.
Al Quds' front page runs two AFP stories quoting a senior
Palestinian official revealing on February 4 that Special Envoy
George Mitchell will meet with Palestinian Authority President Abbas
in Ramallah on February 22 this month. The second story quotes a
White House spokesperson stating on February 4 that Mitchell is
working on "next steps" for peace in the region. The same story
gives a different date for Mitchell's visit to Ramallah - February
26.
All front pages cite Israeli daily Haaretz in revealing that the
Israeli Defense Ministry has approved the construction of 250
settlement units near the existing West Bank settlement of Adam to
resettle settlers from the Migron "illegal" outpost. The papers
highlight that the Israeli plans violate commitments made to the
U.S. on freezing settlement activities. In related coverage, Al
Quds runs a front page photo of an Israeli bulldozer demolishing a
Palestinian building in East Jerusalem's Issawiyah neighborhood. Al
Ayyam's front page runs a photo of the same demolition with the
caption, "electoral campaign destruction targets Jerusalem." All
papers note that Israeli demolitions in Jerusalem are part of
Israeli political party campaign strategies to win votes in upcoming
elections.
Al Quds' front page reports that Egypt has closed the Gaza- Rafah
crossing as foreign delegations begin to depart Gaza. The paper also
quotes Egypt's President Mubarak accusing regional parties of trying
to use the war in Gaza, "to create a new reality." The paper
further quotes an Egyptian source stating that a truce agreement
between Hamas and Israel is "imminent." Meanwhile, the same
reporting notes that Hamas member Salah Bardawil told press that,
"some questions still need to be answered... such as guarantees," on
implementation of Israeli commitments.
JERUSALEM 00000242 002 OF 002
Al Quds' front page reports that UNRWA refuted reports that it has
closed schools and other facilities in Gaza in anticipation of
Israeli military strikes. The paper further reports that UNRWA has
accused Hamas of stealing humanitarian aid from its Gaza warehouses,
a claim Hamas has denied. Meanwhile, Al Ayyam's front page reports
that UNRWA has backed down from previous statements in which it
accused Israel of targeting the Fakhura UNRWA school in Gaza during
the recent conflict. In a statement released on February 4 by the
UN Humanitarian Affairs Coordination office, the UN confirms that
there was militant fire originating outside the school where "the
victims" were taking shelter.
Al Quds runs inside coverage on the results of three opinion polls
conducted with Palestinian respondents in the West Bank, East
Jerusalem and Gaza. Nablus-based Najah University reports that 57%
believe that the "war on Gaza" increased the chances of Gaza being
separated from the West Bank; 64% want Hamas to accept an 18-month
truce agreement with Israel; 63% accused Hamas of deepening internal
division; 79% would vote in new presidential elections. The
Palestinian Center for Public Opinion revealed that 53% believe that
Hamas is taking the country in the wrong direction; 46% would
support a Palestinian Authority unity government; 54% hold Israel
responsible for the "war in Gaza." The Jerusalem Media and
Communications Center reported that 53% of West Bank Palestinians
compared to 35% of Gazans believe that Hamas won the war in
Gaza. --------------
BLOCK QUOTES:
--------------
Al Quds' editorial is titled, "No negotiations until settlement
activities stop" (02/05): "What is important and new in President
Abbas' speech [before the EU Parliament on February 4) is the
statement that there will be no negotiations [with Israel] as long
as settlement activities continue... perhaps this stand will
highlight for the new U.S. administration and President Barack
Obama, the importance of responding in a serious and firm manner
befitting the speedy action of sending George Mitchell to the region
to discuss peace and truce efforts. The speedy visit was positive,
but real progress will be measured in actions not words, as
personally highlighted by President Obama in his interview with Al
Arabiya satellite TV."
WALLES
S