JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (04/14): PRAISE FOR PRESIDENT

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SUBJECT: JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (04/14): PRAISE FOR PRESIDENT
OBAMA'S ENGAGEMENT WITH PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI CONFLICT

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Main Stories:
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Al-Quds leads with, and Al-Hayat Al-Jadida and Al-Ayyam front page,
news of Palestinian Authority (PA) President Abbas' visit to the
Iraqi Kurdistan Region on April 13. Abbas met with Regional
President Barzani and discussed the possibility of transferring
Palestinian refugees from Baghdad to the Kurdish Region, a proposal
welcomed by Barzani. According to coverage, Abbas briefed Barzani
on Palestinian issues including unity talks. Abbas also reiterated
his commitment to the Arab Peace Initiative calling it "fundamental"
to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Barzani
called Abbas' visit "historic" as Abbas is the first Arab leader to
officially visit the region. Barzani expressed the Kurdish people's
support for Palestinians and their right to an independent
Palestinian state, reporting concluded.

Al-Quds and Al-Ayyam run front page coverage, citing Israeli daily
Yedioth Ahronoth, about President Obama's intention to exert
pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to accept the two-state
solution and new negotiations with Palestinians. According to
coverage, Obama will insist on identifying a timeframe for the
launch of negotiations and make clear that he expects progress in
negotiations. The report also notes that in return, Obama will
promise to remain personally engaged in addressing "the Iranian
threat" in the region. The same articles also note the
inevitability of U.S. talks with Iran.

All front pages report on Palestinian Authority official Ahmad
Quray's call on the international community and Middle East Quartet
to intervene in the peace process given Israel's continued rejection
of the two-state solution. According to coverage, Quray considers
Netanyahu's proposed, "economic peace" a "joke." In contrast, Quray
expressed satisfaction with President Obama's action on the Israeli
-Palestinian conflict and hopes that Obama will continue "solid
efforts."

Al-Ayyam's front page reports that PLO chief negotiator Sa'eb Erekat
announced on April 13 that U.S. Peace Envoy Mitchell will meet with
Palestinian Authority President Abbas in on April 17 and Israeli
Premier Netanyahu, Defense Minister Barak and Foreign Minister
Lieberman on April 16. The report further quotes Erekat explaining
that Abbas' recent telephone call to Prime Minister Netanyahu does
not mean that Palestinian demands have changed. In related news,
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida front pages news that Abbas also called Israeli
President Peres on the occasion of Passover.
Al-Ayyam and Al-Hayat Al-Jadida lead with news that dozens of
"Jewish extremist groups broke into" the Al-Aqsa mosque compound on
April 13 to perform "Jewish religious rituals." According to
coverage which also appears on Al-Quds' front page, the groups broke
into the mosque under heavy Israeli police protection and plan to
stage a "massive break in" of the mosque compound on the last day of
Passover.

All dailies run front page coverage of Israeli military opening fire
on a fishing boat sailing 1,000 feet from the Gaza shore on April

13. Israeli military released a statement that the boat was
carrying explosives to be used in an attack on the Israeli navy,
according to coverage. No injuries were reported.
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BLOCK QUOTES:
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1) Azmi Khawaja opines in Al-Ayyam daily independent under the
title, "the Palestinian cause between Obama's moderation and

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Netanyahu's extremism"(04/14): "Obama seems to be moderate and open
to solving all the region's conflicts, particularly those in Arab
and Muslim countries... He also prioritizes U.S. interests over
Israeli interests. He realizes that solving the Palestinian issue
is the key to achieving stability in the Middle East... on the other
hand, Netanyahu believes that relations with the Arab world must
remain in permanent conflict... Should the Palestinian question go
unresolved, it will embarrass Obama in front of Arab countries,
particularly Saudi Arabia which considers the Arab Peace Initiative
to its maximum concession [to Israel]. Therefore, Obama is expected
to exert strong pressure on Israel to accept the two-state solution
and aregional peace [deal]."

2) Fathi Al-Bis opines n official Al-Hayat Al-Jadida daily under
the tile, "it is not a courteous gesture" (04/14): "Whyshould we
congratulate Netanyahu on Passover, whe Israelis do not miss any
opportunity to impose ll kinds of restrictions on our celebrations,
whn settlers break into the Al-Aqsa [mosque compound, when the
homes of Palestinians are demolished very day? Could this gesture
indicate that we ma also be congratulating Lieberman in the future
s Israeli Foreign Minister? These calls should no have been made.
It was unnecessary and unjustiied... in dealing with Israel, we
should forget bout courteous gestures and seek only to impose
rspect through power."

WALLES