JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (02/24): "FACING A MORE HOSTILE

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SUBJECT: JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (02/24): "FACING A MORE HOSTILE
ISRAEL"

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Main Stories:
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Arab reaction to Israeli plans to demolish 88 homes housing 1,500
Palestinians in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Bustan leads Al
Al
Quds' coverage and features prominently on all front pages. The
Arab League and Islamic countries are quoted calling for
international action to stop the demolitions that are meant to clear
the way for a new public park. PLO Executive Committee member Abid
Rabbuh is quoted calling on President Obama to personally intervene.
The PLO also called for a protest strike in the Palestinian
Territories to take place on February 28. Additional Palestinian
statements reiterated the view that the plans constitute an
expansion of settlement activities and are aimed at changing the
"demographic balance" in the holy city. The papers also note that
Palestinians will arrange tours of Bustan for foreign diplomats and
plan to launch an international legal campaign in support of the
Palestinian owners' rights.
All front pages quote PLO chief negotiator Saeb Erekat announcing
that Secretary of State Clinton plans to visit the Palestinian
Territories on March 3 and 4, after participating in the Gaza
reconstruction conference in Egypt. Erekat further adds that
Clinton and Abbas will discuss, during her first visit to Ramallah,
the agenda of the new Israeli government, the need to respect signed
agreements between Israel and the Palestinians, ending Israeli
settlement activities and the two-state solution. Erekat is also
quoted stating that U.S. envoy Mitchell is expected to meet with
Palestinian Authority(PA) President Abbas in Ramallah on February

27.

Al Quds and Al Ayyam run a front page report citing Reuters quoting
an anonymous State Department official revealing that Clinton will
announce $900 million in assistance to the PA for Gaza
reconstruction. The official explained that the funds will not be
channeled into Gaza through Hamas, but rather through the U.N. and
other parties.

Al Quds' and Al Ayyam's front pages report on Israeli Defense
Ministry concern over U.S. envoy George Mitchell's plans to open an
office in Jerusalem. The reports cite Israeli daily Ma'ariv in
explaining that Mitchell will probably monitor Israeli settlement
activities "on the ground" instead of "just" looking at satellite
photos. Mitchell will not accept, "procrastination or tricks," the
reporting concludes.

All front pages cite AFP in reporting on an Italian plan for
economic development in the West Bank, to be submitted at the next
G-8 meeting. The plan will include building an airport to serve
religious travelers and tourists to the West Bank.
Al Ayyam and Al Hayat Al Jadida lead with news that Palestinian
reconciliation talks will begin March 5 in Cairo. Al Quds also
reports the item on its front page and joins Al Hayat Al Jadida in
expressing pessimism over Hamas' participation. Al Ayyam, however,
notes that a Hamas delegation, headed by deputy Hamas chief Abu
Marzuq, has already headed to Cairo and is will hold a meeting with
the Fatah delegation in the next few days to prepare for the talks.


All front pages report on Palestinian President Abbas' international
tour which now finds him in Oslo. He is quoted calling for the
resumption of peace talks on the basis of the two-state solution.
Al Quds' front page runs a photo and a report on the EU parliament's
fact finding mission in Gaza. The mission is headed by EU

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Parliament President Poettering who visited Gaza hospitals and other
sites "devastated in the war." Poettering is quoted expressing
support for Palestinian Authority President Abbas.
Al Quds' front page reports on tension between the outgoing Israeli
Premier Olmert and Israel's security establishment. Citing Israeli
daily Ma'ariv, the paper reports that relations between Olmert and
Defense Minister Barak have reached a state of "all out war" and
that Olmert has replaced Defense Ministry envoy to Egypt Amos Gilad
with Shabak head Yuval Diskin. The report notes the Gilad
publically criticized Olmert for conditioning the truce in Gaza on
freeing kidnapped Israeli soldier Shalit.
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BLOCK QUOTES:
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1) Al Quds' editorial is titled, "Israel challenges the whole
world"(02/24): "All these issues [settlement activities in
Jerusalem, delays in truce and prisoner exchange talks, the recent
Amnesty report] should be placed at the top of any Palestinian or
Arab agenda for meetings with American or European envoys in the
region. It is the duty of America, Europe and the international
community to halt these Israeli policies and... make clear to Israel
that it cannot continue its occupation and acts that threaten the
security and stability of the region...
2) Hani Al Masri reacts in Al Ayyam to a recent op-ed by Martin
Indyk, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel (02/24): "The Israeli
Government headed by Netanyahu was the one that ended the Oslo
agreement, and the Likud party is now more extremist than it was in

1996. Israel is in an extremist rightwing mode... which makes it
likely that Israel will opt for war, settlement expansion and
aggression. We are now, Mr. Indyk, faced with a more hostile
Israel, not an opportunity for peace!!"
WALLES