JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (03/05): PALESTINIANS:

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000381

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 (03/05): PALESTINIANS:
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST "FOIL" SETTLEMENT EXPANSION

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Main Stories:
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All papers lead with photos of Secretary Clinton and Palestinian
Authority (PA) President Abbas warmly shaking hands at their March 4
meeting in Ramallah. Papers report that the two leaders had,
"comprehensive discussions." The dailies extensively report on
Clintons' and Abbas' remarks from the joint press conference.
Headlines highlight agreement by the U.S. and PA over support for
the two-state solution and President Abbas' remarks opposing Israeli
settlement policies. In response to Clinton's remarks that the U.S.
will not deal with Hamas until they meet Middle East Quartet
conditions, Hamas spokesperson Taher Al Non told the press that the
U.S. has not changed its policies and remains biased towards
Israel.

All front pages report that Secretary Clinton met with Palestinian
Authority Premier Fayyad in Ramallah on March 4. In discussions,
Fayyad demanded a halt to Israeli settlement activities while
Clinton expressed appreciation for the achievements of the
Palestinian government, according to coverage. Clinton also visited
AMIDEAST in Ramallah, front pages report, where she met with
Palestinian youths and gave interviews to young Palestinian media
broadcasters. Papers highlight that the Secretary also unveiled
plans to continue funding for the "YES" exchange program and
increase funding for other educational exchanges, including programs
for undergraduate Palestinian students.
Al Ayyam's front page runs statements by Palestinian Authority
President Abbas responding to Iranian statements calling for a
Palestinian revolution and resistance against Israel. Abbas is
quoted asking Iran, "to mind its own business," and not interfere in
Palestinian affairs. All papers quote Secretary Clinton telling
journalists aboard her plane en route to Brussels that the Iranian
statements are "flagrant interference" in Palestinian affairs.
Al Quds' front page quotes Chief Palestinian Authority Negotiator
Ahmad Quray stating that negotiations with Israel remain on hold
until there is "substantial change" to Israeli policies. Meanwhile
all front pages run AFP coverage about a report in British Lancet
medical magazine claiming that the health of Palestinians living in
the Palestinian Territories has deteriorated due to Israeli
restrictions.
Demolitions orders are again front page news in Al Quds. The paper
reports that the Israeli military on March 4 ordered the demolition
of 20 Palestinian houses and agricultural structures in Aqraba
village near Nablus in the West Bank. In a separate front page
article, the paper reports that an Israeli Jerusalem municipal court
issued a stay on demolition orders of houses in East Jerusalem's Ras
Khmais area on March 4. The order expires in 72 hours, papers note.

Al Ayyam's front page reports that a young Palestinian sustained
serious injuries when he "wrestled with" Israeli soldiers who were
"torturing" his 55-year old father near the West Bank Bita village
in Nablus district.
The three papers report that an Israeli military air strike on a
Palestinian car near Jabaliyah in Gaza killed a senior Islamic Jihad
militant on March 4. Israeli air strikes also targeted smuggling
tunnels near the Gaza-Egypt borders on March 4, papers
report. --------------
BLOCK QUOTES:
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1) Taysir Zabiri opines in Al Quds under the title, "Parallel lines
- one solution"(03/05): "If Palestinian national agreement and a
united Arab stand were realized, and if international, economic and
political support [for Palestinians] continued, the incoming Israeli

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extreme right government [would find itself increasingly isolated]
and its expansion plans that violate Palestinian rights, would be
foiled."

2) Talal Okal writes in Al Ayyam under the title, "What was absent
from the Sharm El-Sheikh conference"(03/05): "He is mistaken who
bets on Washington being able to "change" Israeli policy [towards
Palestinians]... The conference should have addressed issues
related to Israel, including guarantees to facilitate Gaza
reconstruction. Then we could believe that there is some integrity
and sense of justice in the international community."

WALLES