JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (05/05): LOW EXPECTATIONS OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000742 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 (05/05): LOW EXPECTATIONS OF FUTURE PALESTINIAN STATE -------------- Main Stories: -------------- Al-Quds leads with news quoting White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel at a May 4 AIPAC conference noting that President Obama is serious about achieving peace and security for the Israeli state and an independent Palestinian state. Emanuel confirmed that Obama intends to work hard on achieving a permanent peace and added that the U.S. believes that some progress must be made in resolving the conflict if U.S. efforts to engage Iran are to be successful. Al-Quds runs separate front page coverage quoting Israeli sources indicating that AIPAC members will ask the group to support Obama in moving a regional peace process and the two-state solution forward, in reaction to the Israeli Prime Minister's rejection of the two-state solution. Al-Hayat Al-Jadida leads with news citing Wafa that the Jerusalem Municipality issued demolition orders for Palestinian homes in the Jerusalem neighborhoods of the Old City, Wadi Al-Joz and Ras Al-Amud on May 4. Palestinian Authority (PA) official for Jerusalem Affairs Abdul Qadir confirmed that the PA will pursue the issue of demolitions before international courts, asking them to investigate the "continuous violations." Qadir also noted that the PA will not remain idle while the Israeli government confiscates thousands of acres of Palestinian land to expand Israeli settlements. All dailies run front page coverage about Palestinian Premier Fayyad's May 4 call on the U.N. to send an international fact-finding mission to investigate Israeli "violations" in Jerusalem, including those against religious sites, home demolitions and land confiscations. Al-Ayyam leads with news that the Fatah party convention may be cancelled or postponed after the preparatory committee suggested that participation be cut from 1,500 members to 650. However, Secretary of the Fatah Central Committee Balawi denied the news and insisted that the conference will be held when a time and venue have been identified, according to coverage. An Al-Quds' inside page cites AP in reporting on the visit by U.S. Secretary of Defense to Cairo on May 4. The visit was aimed at reassuring allies in the region that U.S. efforts to open a dialogue with Iran will not affect other U.S. bilateral relations. Al-Quds runs front page coverage citing AFP confirming that Washington does not intend to open dialogue with Hamas or Hezbollah in response to recent calls by the Syrian President. According to coverage, the U.S. has urged Syria instead to put pressure on the two movements to change their "political discourse." Reporting concludes that dialogue could only begin once the groups met the Middle East Quartet conditions. Al-Ayyam runs front page coverage of Palestinian Authority President Abbas' visit to Cairo on May 5 to meet with Egypt's President. The meeting is in preparation of the two leaders' visit to the U.S. during which they plan to discuss the two-state solution, Israeli "violations" in Jerusalem, home demolitions and settlement expansion, according to coverage. Reporting also noted that Special Envoy Mitchell called Abbas on May 4 to discuss the peace process and current situation in the Palestinian Territories. Al Hayat Al-Jadida runs front page coverage citing the wires about Palestinian President Abbas meeting with the Iraqi Vice President in Jordan on May 4 to discuss bilateral relations and recent JERUSALEM 00000742 002 OF 002 developments in the Palestinian Territories. -------------- BLOCK QUOTES: -------------- 1) Dr. Naji Sadiq opines in Al-Quds independent daily under the title, "Is the establishment of the Palestinian State helping Israel?": (05/05) "Although the establishment of a Palestinian state has become a common goal for all parties attempting to end the Arab-Israeli conflict... the question remains whether... such a state will do Israel any good...The answer is yes, because the Palestinian state, should it ever see come to be, will be nothing more than a sick body, incapable of normal life, crippled with no resources. It will be a symbolic state with no geographic borders and will focus on providing shelter for its citizens, thereby posing no threat whatsoever to Israel. 2) Rajab Abu Sirriyah opines in Al-Ayyam independent daily under the title, "Netanyahu resorts to the back door"(05/05): "The new government in Israel has been formed and is trying to be shrewd by remaining patient and not issuing an official political vision, in order to allow for the world to first absorb its election. What works in Netanyahu's favor are the deep Arab divisions that have also weakened the Arab Peace Initiative... Netanyahu is not like former right-wing Israeli presidents in that he will avoid looking for trouble caused by [troublesome] public statements. He remembers that he wants to stay in the government for the longest time possible. Eventually, this may make him more flexible about reaching some sort of settlement [with the Palestinians]." WALLES