JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (04/23): PALESTINIANS: TANGIBLE

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SUBJECT: JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (04/23): PALESTINIANS: TANGIBLE
RESULTS MUST FOLLOW POSITIVE U.S. STATEMENTS

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Main Stories:
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Al-Quds leads with the Jerusalem Municipality's "continued
determination to demolish" 88 houses in the Al-Bustan neighborhood
of East Jerusalem to make way for a public garden. According to
coverage that also appears on Al-Hayat Al-Jadida's and Al-Ayyam's
front pages Israeli authorities also demolished one home in Jabal
Al-Mukabbir in East Jerusalem on April 22 because it lacked a
building permit. In the West Bank, papers report that Israel
demolished four homes in Aqraba village near Nablus. Al-Quds runs a
lead photo of a little girl in tears after her Jerusalem home was
demolished on April 22.

Al-Ayyam and Al-Hayat Al-Jadida lead with news on Palestinian
Authority President Abbas receiving the Chinese Foreign Minister in
Ramallah on April 22. During a press conference for the two
leaders, Abbas noted that his visit to the U.S. was confirmed for
May 28 and added that the meeting will be "extremely important" to
the peace process in the Middle East. Abbas also noted that he has
received "positive indications" from the U.S. regarding U.S.
insistence on the two-state solution and an end to the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict. According to coverage, that also
appears on Al-Quds' front page citing AFP, PLO chief negotiator
Sa'eb Erikat is quoted stating, "President Abbas will ask President
Obama to define steps for implementing the Road Map and Arab Peace
Initiative to make the two-state solution, a fact on the ground."
Erikat added that Abbas will also request Obama's assistance in
identifying the mechanisms to halt settlement activities in all
Palestinian Territories.

Al-Hayat Al-Jadida and Al-Ayyam run front page coverage citing wires
about Egyptian Intelligence Chief Sulayman meetings with Israeli
officials on April 22 to discuss security and political topics.
According to coverage, Sulayman met with Israeli Prime Minister
Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Lieberman, Defense Minister Barak and
Israeli President Peres. Sulayman extended an invitation to
Netanyahu and Barak to visit Egypt. Netanyahu noted that Israel and
Egypt have excellent relations based on mutual interest, friendship
and cooperation, reporting concludes.

The three dailies front page coverage of U.S. Secretary Clinton
stating on April 22 that the U.S. will not deal with any Palestinian
government that includes or supports Hamas, unless Hamas recognizes
Israel, denounces violence and respects all signed agreements with
the Palestinian Authority as outlined by the Middle East Quartet.
Al-Quds runs inside coverage, with a photo of Secretary Clinton
addressing the House Foreign Affairs Committee and noting that
serious sanctions will be imposed on Iran if it insists on
continuing its nuclear program and that the U.S. is open and ready
for talks.

All front pages report that Palestinian Authority Premier Fayyad
participated in the Fourth Belin Conference for Popular Resistance
on April 22. Fayyad indicated in his speech that time has come for
the world to end the double standards used when dealing with Israel
and Palestinian on the issue of Israeli occupation. He added that
international parties must earn credibility by achieving tangible
results on the ground and forcing Israel to halt settlement
activities and adhere to international law and agreements. He

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further added that mechanisms for implementation of signed
agreements must be identified, starting with serious talks between
Palestinians and Israel with a clear timeframe for ending the
occupation. Fayyad added that peaceful, popular resistance will
continue until the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories
ends.

Al-Hayat Al-Jadida runs a front page story quoting Israeli Foreign
Minister Lieberman stating that the Arab Peace Initiative is
extremely dangerous and meant to destroy Israel since the Initiative
recognizes the right of return of Palestinian refugees. Lieberman
further described the two-state solution as, "empty and having no
context," according to reporting.

Al-Quds runs front page coverage of Palestinian factions in Gaza
including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, meeting to discuss the current
political situation in the Palestinian Territories in an attempt to
pave the way for successful Palestinian unity talks in Cairo on
April 26.

In economic news, all dailies run inside page overage on the opening
ceremony of a new branch of the Housing Bank for Trade and Finance
in Yatta town in the West Bank Hebron district on April 21. The
opening ceremony was attended by the Governor of the Palestine
Monetary Authority. In other news, Palestinian Authority Minister
of National Economy Hassounah told press conference that the merger
agreement between Palestinian Telecommunications "Jawwal" and
Kwaiti "Zein" has been finalized and will be announced in few
days. --------------
BLOCK QUOTES:
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1) Al-Quds independent daily runs an editorial under the title,
"They can't keep talking forever"(04/23): "Obama's statements say
that Palestinians and Israelis cannot keep talking forever and that
t
tangible results have to be translated into progress on the
ground... [the statements] are another positive step by President
Obama regarding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in addition to his
support for the two-state solution... [Now] he has to pursue this by
translating the statements into tangible facts and action... If
Obama is serious about improving relations with the Islamic world as
he indicated many times, then he needs to realize that this can
easily be achieved by resolving the Palestinian issue."

2) Regular columnist Abdil Halim Swalim opines in Al-Ayyam
independent daily under the title, "The Israeli Government: The end
before the beginning" (04/23): "The end of the Israeli government
will be the beginning of a new and serious peace process...Given
Israel's rejection of the Arab Peace Initiative, particularly the
right of return for the Palestinian refugees... and given President
Obama's support for the initiative, Israel will collapse at the
first corner and a new government that is willing and open to
accepting the new U.S. vision for the Middle East and the
Arab-Israeli conflict will replace [Netanyahu's government]."

WALLES