JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (04/24): PALESTINIANS SEEK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000696

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 (04/24): PALESTINIANS SEEK
"SERIOUS" U.S. PRESSURE ON ISRAEL

--------------
Main Stories:
--------------
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida leads with wire coverage of Secretary Clinton's
skepticism over progress in Palestinian "national unity" talks. All
front pages run summaries of Clinton's April 23 remarks before the
House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and
Related Programs and highlight Clinton's insistence that the U.S.
will not deal with any Palestinian government that includes or
supports Hamas unless Hamas accepts Middle East Quartet conditions.
Extensive quotes are also run.

Al-Quds leads with news that Palestinians from the West Bank holding
permits to enter Israel will soon need to register information into
a special Israeli database. PLO chief negotiator Sa'eb Erikat
accused the new measure of being an Israeli attempt to "impose facts
on the ground" and indicated that the Palestinian Authority will
raise the issue with the Middle East Quartet. Erikat also
reiterated Palestinian calls on the International community and the
U.S. to pressure Israel into dismantling the 600 checkpoints in the
West Bank. Coverage also includes remarks by Israeli Mayor of
Jerusalem Barakat rejecting Palestinian and Western calls to stop
home demolitions in East Jerusalem. Barakat explains that the
policy does not contradict the "Road Map" and adds that his goal is
to have a Jewish majority in the city and maintain a "Jewish
presence" by ensuring employment and housing for Jews.

In front page photo coverage, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida and Al-Ayyam run a
lead photo of an Israeli soldier pointing his weapon at an elderly
Palestinian near Hebron. The caption explains that the Palestinian
is watching bulldozers clear his private land for the purpose of
expanding the nearby Israeli Carmel settlement.

Al-Quds' front page cites AFP in reporting on statements by Egyptian
President Mubarak confirming that Israeli Foreign Minister Lieberman
will not accompany Israeli Premier Netanyahu on his upcoming visit
to Egypt. Egyptian Intelligence Chief Sulayman issued an invitation
to Netanyahu, Defense Minister Barak and Lieberman, according to
reporting.

The front pages of Al-Hayat Al-Jadida and Al-Ayyam, and an inside
page in Al-Quds report on Palestinian Authority President (PA)Abbas
meeting with the Czech Prime Minister in Ramallah on April 23.
According to coverage, the two leaders discussed bilateral
relations, Palestinian "national unity" talks and "national
reconciliation." In a related press conference, PA Prime Minister
Fayyad noted that the success of peace talks will depend on Israeli
acceptance of the two-state solution.

In Mission news, inside pages of the three dailies report on a
StudyUSA Fair held in Ramallah on April 23 with the support of the
U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem. The fair, which included
recruiters from 10 American colleges and universities, was also
supported by AMIDEAST and the Palestinian Authority Ministry of
Higher Education. Al-Ayyam's inside page reports on an inauguration
ceremony for a USAID water project in the Tubas area in the northern
West Bank. --------------
BLOCK QUOTES:
--------------
-
1) Regular columnist Ahmad Hanun opines in Al-Quds independent daily
under the title, "Why does the Netanyahu government reject the two
state solution?" (04/24): "The Israeli Prime Minister has clearly
stated without any ambiguity that Palestinian recognition of Israel

JERUSALEM 00000696 002 OF 002


as a Jewish state is a core condition for restarting peace
negotiations. This clearly shows that all Israeli governments and
leaders speak the same language... at the same time Israel does not
want to recognize a Palestinian state and maintains severe
restrictions on the ground, increasing Palestinian sufferings.
[The situation in the Palestinian Territories] will deteriorate and
make it difficult for any solution [to succeed] especially given the
increase in home demolitions, increased settlement activities. It
will leave no land on which to establish a Palestinian state."

2) Regular columnist Samih Shbayb opines in Al-Ayyam daily
independent under the title, "Is there anything new in U.S.
policy?!" (04/24): "It is obvious now that U.S. policy only focuses
on prolonging negotiations between Palestinians and Israel without
exerting any serious pressure on the party causing delays [Israel].
There are [troubling] factors on the ground like settlements,
violations of international law, the wall... the U.S. should take a
strong position that forces Israel to accept requirements for peace,
thereby taking U.S. interests with the Arab world into
consideration."

WALLES