JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (03/31): PALESTINIANS: CULTURE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000587

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: CULTURE
OF VIOLENCE HARMS CIVILIANS ON BOTH SIDES
--------------
Main Stories:
--------------
Al-Quds leads with news from the Second Summit of Arab-South
American leaders held in Doha on March 31. The leaders stressed the

need to strengthening ties between their countries, particularly in
terms of working towards international and regional peace and
security. The reports, that also appear on the front pages of
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida and Al-Ayyam, quote Palestinian Authority (PA)
President Abbas addressing summit participants about the importance
of adopting the Arab Peace Initiative. Abbas noted that the
initiative must be promoted by regional leaders and that mechanisms
for implementation must be identified. Regarding concerns about the
new Israeli government, Abbas called on Israel to recognize signed
agreements regarding the two state solution and halt all settlement
activities, dismantle checkpoints and lift the "siege", according to
coverage.

Al-Ayyam leads with a wire report noting that the new Israeli
government was sworn in on March 31. According to the report,
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed his readiness to pursue
peace talks with the Palestinian Authority based on promoting
security and economic stability, without making mention of the
establishment of an independent Palestinian State. In related news,
Al-Quds and Al-Hayat Al-Jadida front page an AFP report about
observers expectations that the Middle East peace process will be
put on hold under the Netanyahu government.

Al-Ayyam and Al-Hayat Al-Jadida cite a Wafa report on their front
pages, quoting Palestinian Authority(PA) President Abbas explaining
that the resignation of PA Premier Fayyad was made to support and
facilitate national Palestinian dialogue and that the resignation
was not accepted. According to Abbas, the PA will wait to review
the outcome of national dialogue before deciding on how to proceed
with any new PA government.

Al-Hayat Al-Jadida leads with a wire report about the third round of
national Palestinian dialogue that will begin in Cairo on April 1.
The latest round of talks, according to the report that also appears
on the front pages of Al-Quds and Al-Ayyam, will focus on the
pending, key issues of new PA parliamentary and presidential
elections, the formation of a consensus government, security, PLO
reform.

In economic news, Al-Quds front pages a report about the merger of
Palestinian Telecommunications Group(Jawwal) and the Kuwaiti Zayn
Group. Al-Quds quotes Palestinian Authority (PA) Premier Fayyad
stressing that the PA is working seriously to finalize the agreement
that should be concluded soon. According to the report, that is
also on the inside pages of Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, the merger will be
"extremely useful" to the Palestinian economy and give proof that
the PA is serious about encouraging investment in the Palestinian
Territories. Chairman of the Palestinian Telecommunications Board
of Directors, Sabih Al-Masri, is quoted in the Al-Quds report,
asserting that the merger reflects the strength of the Palestinian
private sector and its ability to overcome external challenges.
--------------
BLOCK QUOTES:
--------------


1) Hamada Fara'nah opines in Al-Ayyam independent daily under the
title, "Inevitable Palestinian-Israeli Partnership"(04/01):
"Palestine/Israel has become one state where the leaders of the two
nations must combat the culture of violence, terror and racial

JERUSALEM 00000587 002 OF 002

Main Stories:
--------------
Al-Quds leads with news from the Second Summit of Arab-South
American leaders held in Doha on March 31. The leaders stressed the
need to strengthening ties between their countries, particularly in
terms of working towards international and regional peace and
security. The reports, that also appear on the front pages of
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida and Al-Ayyam, quote Palestinian Authority (PA)
President Abbas addressing summit participants about the importance
of adopting the Arab Peace Initiative. Abbas noted that the
initiative must be promoted by regional leaders and that mechanisms
for implementation must be identified. Regarding concerns about the
new Israeli government, Abbas called on Israel to recognize signed
agreements regarding the two state solution and halt all settlement
activities, dismantle checkpoints and lift the "siege", according to
coverage.

discrimination. This culture can continue to inflict harm for a long
time on civilians... in Gaza as well as in Natanya, in Hebron as
well as in Tel-Aviv."

2) Al-Quds independent daily runs an editorial under the title,
"Israeli Challenges... and Palestinian Division"(04/01): "The peace
slogans that were made by Netanyahu will not deceive anyone. Peace
cannot be won in parallel with settlements, the siege, oppression,
the occupation... our Arab leaders should know by now that the so
called "peace process" has always been a slogan used by all Israeli
governments without meaning. The Palestinians have to achieve
national unity in order to counter Israel and its western allies."


WALLES