JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (04/07): PALESTINIANS WELCOME

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SUBJECT: JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (04/07): PALESTINIANS WELCOME
OBAMA'S REMARKS ON TWO-STATE SOLUTION

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Main Stories:
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President Obama's visit and remarks in Turkey received prominent
coverage in the Palestinian media, both broadcast and print.
Palestinian national television and Voice of Palestine radio ran
continuous news bulletins and all three dailies led with coverage on
the visit. Print coverage highlighted Obama's remarks on U.S.
commitment to the two-state solution. Front pages also highlighted
Palestinian Authority reaction, quoting chief PLO negotiator Erekat
stating that, "we highly appreciate President Obama's emphasis on
the two-state solution and on the need to achieve a comprehensive
peace in the Middle East." Al-Ayyam, which also published a
front-page picture of Obama addressing the Turkish Parliament, ran
the sub-headline, "The U.S. is not, and will never be, at war with
Islam." All front pages ran separate stories implying Israeli
displeasure, quoting Israeli Minister of Environment Erdan noting
that Israel, "does not take orders from Obama." Palestinian
commentaries and op-eds were also positive, with Al Quds' main
editorial calling Obama's remarks a, "direct response to the new
Israeli Government's stance against the two-state solution," while a
veteran columnist in Al-Hayat Al-Jadida noted Obama's good
intentions, though Palestinians are waiting to see real progress "on
the ground."

Al-Quds and Al-Hayat Al-Jadida front page reports on Palestinian
Authority President Abbas' visit to Russia on April 6. Abbas met
with Russian President Medvedev to discuss a Middle East Peace
Conference in Moscow expected later this year, bilateral relations,
Palestinian national dialogue, and regional changes related to the
new Israeli government and Obama Administration, according to
coverage. Medvedev noted that Russia will continue its support to
Palestinians and the peace process as well as the two-state
solution. Abbas acknowledged Russian support and extended an
invitation to Medvedev to visit the Palestinian Territories,
reporting concludes.

In lead photos, Al-Ayyam runs a photo of the decorative stone that
was "stolen" from the Umayyad Palaces on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound
on April 5. According to coverage that also appears on Al-Quds' and
Al-Ayyam's front pages, the stone that was taken by Israelis during
ongoing excavations under the Mosque compound and has been placed in
front of the Israeli Parliament as if it were Jewish patrimony.
Al-Ayyam runs a related cartoon on its back page showing a
tank-bulldozer stealing monument stones with the caption, "the theft
of our Islamic monuments." Al-Hayat Al-Jadida runs a lead photo of
a house demolition in the Old City of Jerusalem on April 6. The
demolished building housed 14 Palestinian family members, according
to reporting.

Al-Hayat Al Jadida's front page cites a wire report on recent talks
between Middle East Quartet Envoy Tony Blair and Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on April 6. Reporting
highlights Blair's call on Israel to continue negotiations with
Palestinians regarding a future Palestinian state, in parallel with
efforts to support the West Bank economy that should include
granting the Palestinian Authority greater control over West Bank
areas. Reporting also notes that Blair outlined three items needed
to achieve Israeli-Palestinian peace: negotiations toward a
two-state solution, a reform agenda for the West Bank, the lifting
of the Gaza "siege."

Al-Quds' and Al-Hayat Al-Jadida's front pages report on Palestinian
unity talks, quoting senior Fatah leader Ahmad Quray underscoring

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that Palestinian unity is a priority Fatah goal and will be achieved
through Palestinian national dialogue. Quray commented that the
last round of Cairo talks failed because Hamas was not ready to make
decisions on key issues and that he hopes that the final round of
talks will be productive.

Al-Hayat Al-Jadida's front page and Ma'an News Agency report on an
April 6 incident near Nablus where armed Israeli settler guards
prevented a U.S. Consulate delegation, on a visit to the Palestinian
village of Qaryut, from viewing areas near the adjacent Israeli
Hioval settlement. The reports quote Consulate spokesperson
Schweitzer-Bluhm confirming the incident and noting that the visit
to the village was part of regular Consulate visits to the West
Bank.

In economic news, Al-Quds' inside page reports on an April 6 meeting
in Nablus held by West Bank gas company representatives. According
to coverage, representatives expressed their frustration with the
deteriorating financial situation in the West Bank and agreed to
form a union to address issues through official Palestinian
Authority bodies. The representatives urged Palestinian Authority
President Abbas and Premier Fayyad to support the gas sector by not
issuing additional licenses to new West Bank gas companies since the
existing number already exceeds market demand.
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BLOCK QUOTES:
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1) Al-Quds independent daily runs an editorial under the title,
"Obama's statements and actions"(04/07): "What interests us most
about Obama's current [foreign]tour... is his commitment to the
two-state solution, Palestine and Israel living in peace with
recognized borders based on the Road Map and Annapolis agreements.
This policy comes as a clear response to the new Netayahu
Government's rejection of the two-state solution... a response that
came right on time... however, the conflict is now deeper... We need
President Obama to take serious action and not just make statements
or promises. The whole region is waiting to see the statements
translated into actions on the ground... if the President is serious
about strengthening U.S. relations with the Islamic and Arab worlds,
he knows, of course, that he can accomplish his goal by ending the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict and establishing the Palestinian
state... these actions are key to building ties of partnership with
the Islamic and Arab world."

2) Regular columnist Omar Al-Ghul opines in official daily Al-Hayat
Al-Jadida under the title, "Has Obama's message gotten through?"
04/07): "In addressing the Turkish Parliament, Obama stressed the
support of his Administration for the two-state solution... Obama's
statements are clear and must be absorbed by the Israeli leaders.
Arab and Palestinian leaders should also refer to these statements
when seeking to strengthen their policies and should back every
effort to oblige Israel to accept the Arab peace initiative that
includes the establishment of two independent states."

WALLES