JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (01/06): GAZA -- ANOTHER EPISODE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000041 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 (01/06): GAZA -- ANOTHER EPISODE IN THE STORY OF PALESTINE -------------- Main Stories: -------------- All papers provide extensive front and inside-page photo and print coverage, under crisis red and black font headlines, of "bitter fighting" and "roving massacres" in Gaza, where reporting highlights that dozens of civilians, including entire Palestinian families have been killed. The papers lead with photos of the bodies of dead Palestinian children and families and run statistics of the current death toll, breaking it down into number of Palestinian civilian dead (550),children dead (50),women (29),injured (2,700) and Israeli soldiers dead (4),Israeli injured (32). Al Quds' front page reports on the "bitter fighting" around Gaza City, where the Israeli army suffered causalities. Al Ayyam leads with news of "heavy fighting", as the Israeli army used air power and tanks in operations in several Gaza City neighborhoods. Al Hayat Al Jadida's lead reports focus on several "massacres and heavy fighting" in Gaza and add that three Israeli soldiers were killed as Israel turned down European ceasefire proposals. Al Quds' front page also notes that the Red Cross stated on January 5 that injured Gazans are dying because ambulances cannot reach medical services due to heavy fighting. Al Quds and Al Hayat Al Jadida front page comments by president-elect Obama, citing AFP, in which he expressed "stong concern" about the situation in Gaza and stressed his unwillingness to comment on the issue before assuming the presidency. The paper also cites AFP in reporting on an op-ed published by the Washington Post on January 5, written by former U.S. Ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, stating that the two-state solution is no longer possible and proposing the hand-over of control for the West Bank to Jordan; and Gaza to Egypt. Al Quds front pages statements by Palestinian Authority President Abbas made after a January 5 meeting in Ramallah with the EU Troika. Abbas stated that his priority remains establishing Palestinian national unity and that he is not interested in destroying Hamas. State Department Spokesman McCormack is quoted on Al Quds' front page stating that the United States is seeking a ceasefire in Gaza that will end Hamas rocket attacks on Israel and re-open crossing points into the Gaza Strip. He also stated that Secretary Rice has been contacting more than 12 of her counterparts to secure their support for the U.S. ceasefire proposal, which will also deal with the issue of tunnel smuggling from Egypt into Gaza, according to the report. Al Ayyam cites AFP in quoting President Bush speaking from the White House on January 5, stating that any ceasefire must ensure that Hamas cannot fire rockets into Israel. Front pages highlight statements from January 5 made by several international leaders on the situation in Gaza: Al Hayat Al Jadida quotes French President Sarkozy revealing that Europe is working with Egypt on a joint initiative for a humanitarian truce. Al Ayyam highlights statements by Middle East Quartet Envoy Tony Blair about Quartet efforts to end the violence in Gaza. The paper notes EU readiness to again deploy monitors to the Rafah Egypt-Gaza crossing point, following any ceasefire agreement and runs statements from Egyptian officials stating that the Rafah crossing remains open for the entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza. Al Ayyam's front page also reports that Israel has rejected calls by visiting European diplomats to deploy international observers to Gaza, an immediate cease-fire, and has demanded the implementation of an international mechanism to prevent Hamas from arming itself. JERUSALEM 00000041 002 OF 002 -------------- BLOCK QUOTES: -------------- 1) Al Quds editorial is titled, "Will diplomacy stop genocide war?" (01/06): "The EU Troika mission and French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived in the region within the framework of diplomatic efforts to stop the war on Gaza... We believe that the European position is positive in demanding an immediate ceasefire, but we also believe that it should be made more clear and firm... What we need is a cease-fire and a stop to the escalating violence, along with an end to the humanitarian catastrophe that has caught over one and a half million Palestinians in its storm... We also call on our brothers in Hamas, in the delegation to Cairo, to meet their responsibilities and recognize the full impact of the dangers threatening us all." 2) Hani Al Masri writes in Al Ayyam under the title, "Aggression on Gaza: A new episode in the story of ending the Palestinian state" (01/05): "Israel, if it succeeds in its current aggression, will be encouraged to use Gaza as a precedent for similar operations in the West Bank; it will throw the West Bank to Jordan, after Israel has annexed all the land it wants, especially Jerusalem, water and other resources, including strategic and religious areas... Beware of considering the battle in Gaza as only a battle against Hamas or a battle for security... It is yet another battle in the continuing story of Israel trying to impose a solution of stamping out the Palestinian cause and forcing Palestinians to accept co-existence and cooperation with the occupation." WALLES