JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (02/05): "NO NEGOTIATIONS UNTIL

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