JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (04/10): PALESTINIANS SEE "SLOW

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000644

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 (04/10): PALESTINIANS SEE "SLOW
BUT REAL" CHANGE IN U.S. POLICIES

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Main Stories:
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Al-Quds and Al-Hayat Al-Jadida lead with Palestinian Authority
(PA)President Abbas' meeting with Egyptian President Mubarak in
Cairo on April 9. The two leaders discussed "a number of issues"
including Palestinian unity talks that will reconvene on April 26 in
Cairo, according to coverage. Abbas reiterated to the press that
the Israeli Government must commit to international agreements and
the two-state solution, stop settlement activities and dismantle
checkpoints if negotiations are to begin. Abbas added that Israeli
Foreign Minister Lieberman must also respect the Annapolis
agreement. Abbas confirmed that PA Premier Fayyad will resume his
duties until Cairo unity talks produce results. According to other
coverage that also appears on Al-Ayyam's front page, senior Fatah
official, Yassir Ab'd Rabbuh contradicted Abbas instating that Abbas
has no intention of asking Premier Fayyad to form a transitional
government. Meanwhile, Hamas leaders in Gaza called on Abbas to
release political prisoners from West Bank jails in support of unity
talks.

Al-Ayyam leads with and Al Quds front pages news of Jewish groups
totaling 250 individuals, prayed on the Jerusalem Al-Aqsa mosque
compound on April 8,9 in observance of Passover. Palestinian
Authority Minister of Religious Affairs Bawatna called the action a
"provocative measure" that demands Islamic and Arab intervention.
Reporting notes

Al-Quds' front page reports on "Jerusalem Coalition in East
Jerusalem" setting up a home demolitions protest tent in Sheikh
Jarrah on April 9. According to coverage also inside Al-Hayat
Al-Jadida and Al-Ayyam, Palestinian Authority Advisor on Jerusalem
Affairs Al Hussayni held a press conference at the tent in the
presence of diplomatic missions explaining that Israeli measures "to
evacuate" the city's Arab residents are based on a policy to change
the demographics of the city and prevent the establishment of a
Palestinian state. Al-Quds' front page also reports on 15 new
demolition orders for East Jerusalem homes "lacking building
permits." In separate front page reporting, Al Quds and Al-Hayat
Al-Jadida note April 9 remarks by British Foreign Minister Miliband
from his visit to Jordan, expressing concern over home demolitions.
Miliband insisted that Jerusalem must be a shared capital, stressed
British support for the Road Map and an end to settlement activities
and called on improving humanitarian conditions in Gaza.

Al-Quds cites DPA reporting on Iranian President Mahmud
Ahmadinejad's reaction to U.S. diplomatic engagement, expressing
Iranian "openness" to talks based on "mutual respect and fair
relations." Reporting also notes Department of State confirmation
that the U.S. will pursue talks with IRAN and Ahmadinejad's
announcement of a new uranium facility.

All-dailies front page news on Sinn Fein Gerry Adams' meeting with
Hamas leader Haniyyah on April 9 in Gaza. Al-Hayat Al-Jadida notes
that Adams relayed to Secretary Clinton and Envoy Mitchell that
Hamas must play a central role in bringing stability to the region.
According to all coverage, Haniyyah stressed that the situation in
Gaza is "extremely difficult" because of continued Israeli attacks
and the "siege." Haniyyah also called on the world to end the
people of Gaza's suffering. For his part, Adams reassured Haniyyah
that the Irish people fully support Palestinians and the
establishment of a Palestinian State.

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All dailies led with news of Israeli settlers attacking Palestinians
in the West Bank village of Safa, "under the full protection of
Israeli soldiers." The ensuing clashes between settlers and
Palestinians resulted in the injury of 40 Palestinians and burning
of Palestinian houses and cars, according to coverage. Papers noted
that the settler attack came in reaction to the April 3 attack by a
Palestinian from Safa on two settler youth in Bat Ayin settlement
near Bethlehem. Al-Hayat Al-Jadida and Al-Ayyam ran lead photos of
f
settlers throwing stones at Palestinians and Israeli soldiers
opening fire on Safa residents.

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




1) Rimonda Tawil opines in Al-Quds independent daily under the
title, "Obama is an unusual President" (04/10): "Obama represents a
new era that will witness major change in the world... this man can
do a lot, not only for the U.S., but for all nations, as is obvious
in his statements regarding the Middle East... Obama is an usual
president, and his era is not a usual one. There is real change in
U.S. policies, slow perhaps, but real. Therefore, we as
Palestinians and Arabs must make good use of this era and not leave
the scene empty while Israeli LOBBY groups in the U.S. impose their
agenda on the new administration. We need to impose our agenda onto
the agendas that have been imposed for ages by Jewish lobbies in the
U.S."

2) Regular columnist Samih Shabayb opines in Al-Ayyam daily
independent under the title, "The dangers of settlers" (04/10):
"These days, [Israeli] settlers are moving around freely attacking
Palestinians with the full protection of the [Israeli]
Government,... It is unlikely that this Government will ever take
the necessary steps to stop settlers from attacking Palestinians nor
respond to the demands and calls of the international community to
stop the attacks... therefore, Palestinians should call for
international protection from these attacks which are likely to
increase under the Netanyahu Government... This is a legitimate
demand that will place responsibility back on Israel for the...
bloody attacks between Palestinians and settlers..."

WALLES