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

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STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA, NEA/PPD
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE, SIT ROOM
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TAGS: PREL KMDR KPAL KWBG KPAO IS
SUBJECT: JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (05/05): LOW EXPECTATIONS OF
FUTURE PALESTINIAN STATE

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Main Stories:
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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

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developments in the Palestinian Territories.
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BLOCK QUOTES:
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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