JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (05/11): PALESTINIAN ANGER OVER

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000773 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 (05/11): PALESTINIAN ANGER OVER NEW JERUSALEM PLAN -------------- Main Stories: -------------- All dailies lead with news citing AFP (not the New York Times) about a Jewish nongovernmental organization revealing on May 10, a "quiet" Israeli scheme" that aims to "increase the Jewish presence" in East Jerusalem and the Old City of Jerusalem. According to coverage, the plan will include the establishment of nine public parks to surround the Old City and, "reflect the Jewish history of the city." Israeli lawyer Daniel Seideman noted that the plan also includes the demolition of Jerusalem Palestinian homes without permits, an act that will, "jeopardize the chances for a peace settlement in Jerusalem." Al-Ayyam runs front page coverage citing DPA that Palestinian Authority (PA) President Abbas will form an expanded transitional government in the West Bank and that he will task PA Premier Fayyad to head it. According to coverage, Abbas will now accept the March resignation of the Fayyad government. All front pages cite AFP in reporting on Palestinian Authority President Abbas' intention to announce the date and venue of the sixth Fatah party conference on May 11. According to sources, Abbas may announce that the conference will be held on June 20 in Bethlehem. Reporting concludes that Abbas will meet on May 11 with representatives of Fatah, civil society, prisoners unions, popular committees, and Palestinian economists to finalize arrangements. In related coverage, Al-Quds runs a back page cartoon showing the UN Security Council looking at two possible solutions to the "Palestinian crisis:" the two-state solution and the two-government solution, Gaza and Ramallah. All dailies run front page coverage of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's meeting with Egyptian President Mubarak on May 11 at which Netanyahu will seek to convince Mubarak to join Israel in confronting the Iranian nuclear threat. In related front page coverage, Al-Quds reports that Netanyahu has rejected withdrawal from the Golan Heights, citing their strategic importance. Reporting concludes that Netanyahu will tell President Obama that he cannot accept compromises that affect the security of Israel. Al-Quds and Al-Hayat Al-Jadida run front page coverage of an AFP article quoting General James Jones stating that the U.S. is aware of the Iranian nuclear threat to regional and Israeli security, the threat should be a catalyst for moving towards a regional peace settlement. All dailies run front page coverage of an interview by Palestinian Authority President Abbas with Italian TV on May 10. Abbas welcomed the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the Palestinian Territories as an opportunity for the Pope to witness firsthand Israeli restrictions imposed on Palestinians on a daily basis. A related cartoon in Al Quds shows a Palestinian child leaving a Papal event, asking his mother, "how do we get home," in light of Israeli restrictions. News of the Pope's visit features prominently throughout the dailies' pages. Al- Quds' front page reports that Russia has requested a special UN Security Council session on May 10 to discuss, "the urgent need to reach a peace settlement in the Middle East." In Presidential coverage, Al-Quds and Al-Ayyam run inside photos of President Obama at an annual White House dinner for journalists on May 10. Al-Hayat Al-Jadida runs an op-ed from Israeli daily Haaretz JERUSALEM 00000773 002 OF 002 highlighting positive expectations of Obama's administration in solving the Arab-Israeli conflict. -------------- Weekend Stories: -------------- Sunday, May 10 Al Ayyam introduced its lead story, an exclusive interview with Consul General Jake Walles, with the headline, "Walles: Washington is waiting for answers from Netanyahu- Obama to determine the next steps after completing his meetings." Reporting noted that Walles confirmed that a special office will be opened in June for Special Envoy George Mitchell at the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem. Walles reiterated that the two-state solution is a priority for the U.S. and that President Obama and Secretary Clinton will also give the issue their attention. "Palestinian condemnation of Israeli measures surrounding the Papal visit," was news on all front pages. According to coverage, Dr. Rafiq Al Hussayni, Chief of Staff of the Office of the PA President, told press on May 10 that, "Israel is trying to highlight throughout this visit that Jerusalem is a unified city and the capital of Israel, something that we reject and condemn." Saturday, May 9: Al-Quds' inside page carried an exclusive interview with U.S. Congressman Wexler. Wexler noted that President Obama is serious about reaching a peace agreement through the two-state solution and that the U.S. will not impose any solution on either party. He also noted that if Israel is serious about the peace process, it must halt settlement expansion and Arab countries must consider normalizing relations with Israel. Wexler added that he is certain that the Israeli Government will continue the peace process since Special Envoy Mitchell is a highly capable negotiator and mediator. -------------- BLOCK QUOTES: -------------- 1) Al-Quds independent daily runs an editorial under the title, "What peace with Judaism!" (05/11): "In light of the new Israeli scheme to establish monument parks in Jerusalem and demolish the houses of Palestinians, thereby rejecting all international norms, and rejecting the right of return, we must ask the U.S., the Middle East Quartet and the EU: What is left for Palestinians to negotiate with Israel? The international parties market peace propaganda but they do nothing concrete on the ground to support their supposed desire to have peace in the Middle East. What have they done to stop Israeli restrictions?... Israel has turned peace into a big joke." 2) Regular columnist Basim Abu Sumayya opines in Al-Hayat Al-Jadida official daily under the title, "The Apology" (05/11): "The indirect apology that Pope XVI conveyed to Muslims when he stood on the eastern bank of the Jordan river... where he noted that he deeply respects Muslims was considered inadequate and misunderstood, as though the Pope had intentionally ignored the feelings of the Muslins...in order for the Pope to [dissipate]... all the anger of Muslims, he should have made a direct apology[for his earlier position regarding the 2006 Danish cartoon about the prophet Mohammad]." WALLES