JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (05/14): PALESTINIANS WONDER:

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000797 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 (05/14): PALESTINIANS WONDER: CAN OBAMA INFLUENCE NETANYAHU? -------------- Main Stories: -------------- All dailies continue coverage of the Pope's visit, leading with his May 13 visit to Bethlehem. Front pages feature lead pictures of the Pope with Palestinian leaders standing in front of the separation barrier. Al Hayat Al Jadida's photo is a close-up of the Pope and Palestinian Authority President Abbas greeting a Palestinian wearing a shirt that prominently reads "1948". The dailies quote extensively from the Pope's remarks highlighting his endorsement of the Palestinians' right to an independent state and his sorrow over the suffering of Palestinian refugees. The papers also highlight the Pope's message that, "all walls can be removed" and that all parties should engage in negotiations towards a just settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Remarks by Abbas are also highlighted. Abbas stressed Palestinian commitment to peace in contrast to Israeli acts that harm both Muslims and Christians and are destroying all hope of reaching a peace settlement. Al-Ayyam runs inside coverage of a May 13 meeting between U.S. Consul General Walles and PLO Chief Negotiator Sa'eb Erekat in Jericho. According to coverage, Erekat reiterated Palestinian calls on the international community to exert pressure on Israel to halt settlement expansion and accept the two-state solution and previously signed agreements. Erekat also underscored that home demolitions and settlement expansion jeopardize chances for a peace settlement. Finally, Erekat thanked the U.S. government for its continued support. Front pages report that the PLO issued a statement on May 13 urging the international community, particularly the U.S. and E.U., to immediately intervene and force Israel to meet its obligations towards implementing the two-state solution. The statement introduces reporting on several activities and events to take place in the West Bank and Gaza on the 61st anniversary of the Nakba [the catastrophe] on May 15. Al-Hayat Al-Jadida and Al-Ayyam run front page coverage of Egyptian President Mubarak's remarks on May 13 that called on Israel to make some progress towards a two-state solution by halting settlements, if Israel wants good relations with the Arab world. In the Reuters story, Mubarak is also quoted stating that the Obama administration, in contrast to the Bush administration, has quickly engaged in resolving the crisis and Israel should take advantage of that fact. Front pages again report on the postponement of the formation of a new Palestinian Authority (PA) government, citing AFP. Al-Hayat Al-Jadida runs separate, inside coverage quoting Azzam Al-Ahmad, head of the Fatah block in the Palestinian Authority's Palestinian Legislative Council, criticizing the "consultation mechanisms" employed by PA President Abbas and PA Premier Fayyad. Al-Ahmad urged Abbas to postpone the formation of the government until after the next round of Palestinian unity talks scheduled for May 16 in Cairo. Al Quds and Al Hayat Al Jadida run back page political cartoons reflecting popular Palestinian frustration with the lack of progress in unity talks. Al-Quds' front page quotes Israeli President Peres stating that the time has come to denounce violence and stop building walls. The AFP coverage cites a May 13 interview with an Italian newspaper during JERUSALEM 00000797 002 OF 002 which Peres further stressed that, "the two-state solution for two peoples is still available." Peres continued that he remains committed to the solution which was accepted by the previous Israeli government, according to coverage. Al-Ayyam runs inside coverage of Israeli settlers from "Karma'el" settlement attacking Palestinian homes in Yatta village near Hebron and blocking farmers from their fields in Beit-Ummar village on May ¶13. -------------- BLOCK QUOTES: -------------- 1) Azmi Al-Khawaja opines in Al-Ayyam independent daily under the title, "On the 61st anniversary of the Nakba [catastrophe]" (05/14): "President Obama wants to resolve the Arab-Israeli and Palestinian-Israeli conflicts, action supported by the international community and the Pope. However, we should ask ourselves whether or not Obama will be able to exert pressure on Netanyahu to accept the [two-state] solution... Obama is now in a delicate position and he is expected to use his power to force Israel to resolve the Palestinian issue by establishing an independent Palestinian state, ...Will Netanyahu respond positively to what Obama will propose [at his meeting in Washington]? Netanyahu has opposed granting any rights to the Palestinian people including the right of return, Jerusalem, the Palestinian state, and Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian Territories. Will Obama have any luck resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict?" 2) Hafith Barguti, chief editor of Al-Hayat Al-Jadida official daily opines under the title, "The renewed crisis" (05/14): "The Fatah confusion that resulted in postponing the announcement of a new [Palestinian Authority] government reflects the conflict within Fatah. Fatah is the largest Palestinian faction and will probably manage the majority of the new government's portfolios... However, the Fatah party has been marginalized and consultations on naming the new government have been made by a few individuals... I believe that President Abbas is capable of containing this crisis... our situation cannot afford any new crises... Fatah may need to run internal reconciliation talks parallel to national reconciliation talks so that Fatah can restore its own unity." WALLES