JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (03/31): PALESTINIANS REMIND ARAB

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000578

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 (03/31): PALESTINIANS REMIND ARAB
LEADERS TO PRIORITIZE PUBLIC GOOD
--------------
Main Stories:
--------------
The three dailies lead with reports on the Doha Arab Summit, noting
that Arab leaders condemned recent Israeli measures [house

demolitions] imposed on Jerusalemites. According to reporting, Arab
leaders called on Israel to pursue peace with the Palestinians
without delay. Palestinian Authority President Abbas urged Arab
leaders to exert pressure on Israel to respect signed agreements and
urge the Middle East Quartet to insist that Israel respect its
obligations and committment to the peace process. Palestinian
Authority President Abbas acknowledged Egyptian support for
Palestinian national dialogue in Cairo and reiterated his belief
that a national consensus government, able to communicate with the
regional and international community, is essential.

Al Quds front pages an AFP report quoting an Israeli Likud official
announcing that members of the new government will be sworn in on
March 31. Al-Hayyat Al-Jadida cites a wire report about Israeli
Premier-designate Netanyahu's expressed goal of achieving "real"
peace with Palestinians, in support of both Palestinian and Israeli
interests. Netanyahu also reiterated his willingness to pursue
negotiations with Palestinian Authority President Abbas in an
attempt to achieve economic peace. However, reporting notes,
Netanyahu stated that the establishment of a Palestinian State is
not being considered.

All three dailies report on Palestinian National Land Day
celebrations on March 30. The celebrations included visits to
protest tents in Jerusalem as part of the Arab League-sponsored
"Jerusalem, Capital of Arab Culture 2009" festival. Reporting notes
that trees and plants were also distributed in the West Bank, Gaza
and Jerusalem areas.

The three dailies report that Israel is closing its investigation
into recent allegations that Israeli soldiers targeted Palestinian
civilians during the recent conflict in Gza. The investigation
concluded that the allegatons are not supported by the evidence.

Al-Quds ites a Wafa report about Palestinian officials weloming
remarks by European officials calling on te incoming Israeli
Government to recognize the ned for establishing a Palestinian
state. Accordig to the report, also featured on Al-Hayyat
Al-Jdida's front page, the EU may reconsider current rlations with
Israel if settlement activities coninue and the two state solution
is not accepted b Israel.

Al-Quds cites a DPA report quoting Palstinian Authority(PA)Minister
of Prisoners' Affars Ajrami stating that PA Premier Fayyad will
reain in office until a national consensus governmen is formed.
Al-Ayyam cites a wire report quoting PA Minister of Planning
Abdallah stating that PA resident Abbas has sole constitutional
authority to decide on the handling of forming a future government.

--------------
BLOCK QUOTES:
--------------

1)Hani Al-Masri opines in Al-Ayyam independent daily under the
title, "Doha summit faces big challenge in second Netanyahu
Government"(03/31): "Israel must understand that it cannot combine
the continuation of settlement activities, siege, aggression... with
the so-called peace process... a united Arab position [must be
developed] to show Israel concretely that Arabs have other
alternatives [than dealing with Israel on Isreal's terms.]

JERUSALEM 00000578 002 OF 002

Main Stories:
--------------
The three dailies lead with reports on the Doha Arab Summit, noting
that Arab leaders condemned recent Israeli measures [house
demolitions] imposed on Jerusalemites. According to reporting, Arab
leaders called on Israel to pursue peace with the Palestinians
without delay. Palestinian Authority President Abbas urged Arab
leaders to exert pressure on Israel to respect signed agreements and
urge the Middle East Quartet to insist that Israel respect its
obligations and committment to the peace process. Palestinian
Authority President Abbas acknowledged Egyptian support for
Palestinian national dialogue in Cairo and reiterated his belief
that a national consensus government, able to communicate with the
regional and international community, is essential.


2) Al-Quds independent daily runs an editorial entitled, "Arab
Summit and Land Day"(03/31): "On Land Day, we tell Arab Leaders
meeting in Doha that Palestine is a pure, Arab land, a land that has
witnessed the rise of all religions and civilizations. It faces
many challenges that are more important than your artificial
conflicts and personal interests. This reminder also goes for those
who insist on deepening Palestinian division. To them we say, pay
more attention to the internal conflicts and take serious action.
[Your response to these conflicts] is the only criterion we will
employ when judging the outcomes of any summit."

WALLES