JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (03/02): "IS ISRAEL ABOVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000371 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 (03/02): "IS ISRAEL ABOVE INTERNATIONAL LAW?" -------------- Main Stories: -------------- All papers lead with news of the donor Gaza reconstruction conference in Egypt. Al Quds predicts western pressure on Israel to lift the Gaza "siege", and reports that Secretary Clinton will meet with the Foreign Ministers of Egypt, Jordan, Iraq and the Gulf on March 7. Al Ayyam adds quotes by State Department spokesman Wood confirming $900 million in U.S. assistance to Palestinians, of which $300 million will go to Gaza emergency humanitarian assistance channeled through the U.N. and non-governmental organizations. The papers report that delegations from 75 countries will participate in the conference, both in the economic and political meetings, and that the Middle East Quartet will also meet. The three papers also report that Gaza reconstruction funds will go towards the Palestinian Authority plan, published on Al Ayyam's front page. Al Hayat Al Jadida's front page notes that Palestinian Authority (PA) Premier Fayyad met with U.S. Special Envoy Mitchell and a number of Arab officials in Egypt and announced that the PA will be the only Palestinian party to submit a paper on Gaza reconstruction at the donors' conference in the hopes of raising $2.8 billion. Fayyad added that reconstruction could start in six weeks if funds were made available. Al Ayyam's front page further reports, citing Reuters that humanitarian agencies are complaining that Israel continues to block assistance from reaching Gaza. The three front pages report on the visit by Middle East Quartet Envoy Tony Blair to Gaza on March 1. Blair is quoted noting significant destruction in Gaza and underscoring that, "through the peace process, we need to ensure that this destruction does not happen again in the future." Al Quds' front page runs a story, also inside other dailies, about Palestinian protest tents in Jerusalem, protesting Israeli demolition and settlement activities in the city. Reporting continues news from the weekend about the high-level of attention that the tents have attracted, noting that Israeli municipal authorities are amazed at the extensive media coverage and diplomatic "stirring." The papers highlight again, that several European, American and Arab diplomatic delegations have visited the tents, and that Egypt is studying how it may intervene to stop Israeli plans to demolish the Al Bustan neighborhood in East Jerusalem. All front pages run statements by Israeli Premier Olmert threatening a strong response to 11 Palestinian rockets fired on Israel from Gaza on February 28. Olmert is quoted stating that Hamas is attempting to, "revive itself" in the aftermath of the recent "war" using the only language it understands - rocket fire. Meanwhile, Al Quds' and Al Ayyam's front pages cite a UK daily in reporting that prior to the Gaza war, Hamas attempted to establish direct contact with the Israeli leadership through a relative of Israeli Premier Olmert. Finally, Al Quds publishes a front page interview with a former Israeli sniper who implemented targeted assassination orders against Palestinian activists 8 years ago. All front pages report on the death of five Palestinians inside a collapsed smuggling tunnel in Gaza, caused by flooding and rain. Al Hayat Al Jadida's front page runs a Reuters story about Israeli Likud's rejection of the two-state solution, quoting a close aide to Premier designate Netanyahu, stating that Israel would not commit to Washington's goal of establishing the Palestinian state. Rather, Netanyahu expected close cooperation with Washington without a commitment to the outcome of negotiations with Palestinian Authority President Abbas, according to reporting. JERUSALEM 00000371 002 OF 002 Al Ayyam's and Al Hayat Al Jadida's front pages revealing that the Palestinian Authority Civil Affairs Office will publish on March 2, 3,458 names of Palestinians who Israel has agreed to allow to reunify with their families. The action is part of a reunification program to allow family members outside of the Palestinian Territories to take up residence with their families in the Palestinian Territories. -------------- WEEKEND STORIES: -------------- Sunday, March 1, 2009 Lead headlines in all dailies focused on remarks by Palestinian Authority (PA) President Abbas following a meeting in Ramallah with EU foreign policy chief Solana. Abbas stated that Palestinians were moving towards national reconciliation and reiterated calls on Israel to endorse the two-state solution and halt settlement activities. For his part, Solana confirmed that any EU assistance for reconstruction efforts in Gaza would be channeled through the PA. Al Quds and Al Ayyam front paged extensive excerpts from Secretary Clinton's recent interview with Voice of America. Saturday, February 28, 2009 All front pages reported that Palestinian Authority President Abbas met in Ramallah with Special Envoy George Mitchell on February 27 to discuss "latest developments" and reconstruction in the Gaza Strip. PA Presidency spokesperson Abu Rudaynah told AFP that "Mitchell reiterated to President Abbas, American commitment to the two-state solution and the Road Map," and indicated that significant U.S. aid would be announced at the Sharm El Sheikh donors' conference. Abu Rudaynah added the Israeli actions, such as plans to demolish homes in East Jerusalem's Al Bustan neighborhood are, "extremely dangerous," and he called upon President Obama to intervene. -------------- BLOCK QUOTES: -------------- 1) Al Quds editorial is titled, "To ensure that Sharm El-Sheikh results in real support" (03/02): "It is illogical for Israel to commit all this killing and destruction and then escape consequences each time, never facing any questioning or punishment. It is as if[Israel] were above international law. It is also illogical for the Palestinian people and international community to shoulder the brunt of Israel's killing and destruction policy. Therefore, those meeting in Sharm El-Sheikh should send a clear message to Israel about its responsibility regarding [the recent conflict] in the Gaza Strip." 2) Samih Shbib comments in Al Ayyam under the title, "Dialogue, and returning to square one"(03/02): "Everyone hopes and expects that the work of the five [Palestinian reconciliation] committees will move quickly and produce findings soon, so as to put the reconciliation train back on track, headed for a new Palestinian homeland that has room for people from the entire ideological and political spectrums; based on a system that is capable of developing and improving, in [times of] difference and agreement. WALLES