JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (05/08): WORRY THAT WEST

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000756 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 (05/08): WORRY THAT WEST BANK-GAZA DIVISION BECOMES PERMANENT -------------- Main Stories: -------------- Al-Ayyam and Al-Hayat Al-Jadida lead with news from the Arab League's May 7 "exceptional session" held to discuss, the situation in the Palestinian Territories, "in light of increased Israeli violations in Jerusalem." According to coverage, Arab foreign ministers asserted that the Arab Peace Initiative has not changed. Arab League Secretary General Musa further noted that Palestinian Authority President Abbas has informed the U.S. that Palestinians will not negotiate with Israel unless settlement expansion stops. Musa added that the Arab League has high expectations of new U.S. policy and is enthusiastic about U.S. policy endorsing the two-state solution. Arab ministers called on the U.N. Security Council and Middle East Quartet to intervene immediately to halt negative Israeli policies in East Jerusalem including settlement expansion, land confiscation, excavations under the Old City's Al-Aqsa mosque and home demolitions. Al-Quds front pages news that President Obama will stress the issue of settlements during his upcoming meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. Citing an Israeli paper, reporting highlights that West Bank settlement activities have accelerated despite a "strict" U.S. position on the issue. Al-Quds runs inside coverage of Secretary Clinton's joint press conference with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov on May 7. Coverage highlights Clinton's remarks that differences on issues related to Georgia will not affect the two counties' talks on START and non-proliferation. Al-Quds runs a photo of the two leaders. In other State Department news, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida's front page cites wire coverage of Acting Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman's May 6 comment in Syria that, "I conveyed the commitment of President Obama to continue the work for peace on all tracks, including the Syrian track." Al-Ayyam and Al-Quds run front page coverage on planning for Fatah's sixth party conference. The dailies report that Fatah members and affiliates in the West Bank and Gaza reject holding a conference �00A;with a reduced number of participants, fearing that reductions would shut out many "grassroot" supporters. The preparatory committee will ask Palestinian Authority President Abbas for an extension to finalize participant lists, according to coverage. Al-Hayat Al-Jadida runs front page coverage citing wires about Israel delaying cash transfers to Gaza because of Israeli settlers blocking crossing points. According to coverage, settlers blocked crossings to force the release of Israeli soldier Shalit from Gaza. The cash was intended for the payment of Palestinian Authority employee salaries, according to coverage. In related news, Al-Quds' front page highlights that the U.N. seems to have closed investigations into Israeli violations committed in Gaza during the recent conflict. The visit of an expert speaker sponsored by the U.S. Consulate General, Jerusalem is captured on an inside page of Al- Quds. Reporting highlights that a Consulate General delegation visited Al-Najah University in Nablus on May 7 to discuss cooperative projects. The party included a U.S. Professor of Environment Studies who is giving lectures on green building and other environmental topics at several West Bank universities, according to coverage. -------------- BLOCK QUOTES: JERUSALEM 00000756 002 OF 002 -------------- 1)Omar Hilmi Al-Ghul opines in Al-Hayat Al-Jadida official daily under the title, "What the Arabs should do": (05/08) "If Arab leaders are serious about making their voices heard internationally [by asking international courts to review Israeli violations] and forcing the world to take serious action against Israeli violations in Jerusalem, Arab leaders must revisit their own policies. They should know how to take responsibility for issues in their own countries also... A new way of thinking should be promoted. A new political path must be introduced. They should change themselves first, in order to change the way the world views Arabs and Arab interests." 2) Regular columnist Rajab Abu Sirrayah opines in Al-Ayyam independent daily under the title, "Palestinians: From the two state solution to the two government solution": (05/08): "Palestinians do not seem to be willing or may be unable to change the current division between the West Bank and Gaza... They also cannot change the fact that they are under occupation. If they remain incapable and unwilling [to forge unity], they will find themselves forced to accept a legal settlement that ends the Palestinian Legislative Council and the Palestinian Authority Presidency. They will be forced to accept not only the two-state solution, but also the two government solution [one in the West Bank and one in Gaza.]" WALLES