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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000663 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 (04/14): PRAISE FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA'S ENGAGEMENT WITH PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI CONFLICT -------------- Main Stories: -------------- 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. -------------- BLOCK QUOTES: -------------- 1) Azmi Khawaja opines in Al-Ayyam daily independent under the title, "the Palestinian cause between Obama's moderation and JERUSALEM 00000663 002 OF 002 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