JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (06/09): PALESTINIANS: NEW

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000945

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 (06/09): PALESTINIANS: NEW
ELECTIONS WILL END DIVISION"

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Main Stories:
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Al-Quds leads with and Al-Hayat Al-Jadida and Al-Ayyam front page a
wire report quoting U.S. Special Envoy Mitchell on June 8 stating
that the U.S. is committed to the establishment of a Palestinian
state. Mitchell also noted that President Obama wants to start
immediate talks between Israel and the Palestinians in order to
reach a comprehensive peace agreement in the Middle East with
normalized relations between Israel and Arab countries. The peace,
Mitchell continued, will also serve U.S. security interests,
according to coverage. Mitchell is also quoted addressing the
donors community at the donors conference in Oslo on June 7. He
stated that the objective of the donors conference was to provide
all needed support to the Palestinian Authority and pave the way for
the two-state solution by establishing an independent Palestinian
state that lives side by side with Israel. Al-Hayat Al-Jadida runs
a front page headline quoting Israeli Shas party leader Yishay on
June 7 demanding intensified settlement activities in the West Bank,
while Israeli Minister Yusi Biled calls for Israeli pressure on the
U.S. and President Obama in reaction to U.S. policy on Israeli
settlements.

Al-Hayat Al-Jadida leads with comments by Palestinian Authority
President Abbas noting on June 8 that the Palestinian Authority is
fully ready to negotiate with Israel if Israel respects previously
signed agreements and abides by the Roadmap which calls for the
two-state solution and a complete halt to settlement activities,
including natural growth.

Al-Hayat Al-Jadida's front page cites Ma'an news agency in reporting
that an agreement between Fatah and Hamas is being prepared in Cairo
in cooperation with the U.S., Egypt and Israel. The agreement will
be made public in July, according to reporting. PLO Chief
Negotiator Erekat told press that the Palestinian Authority (PA)
will not object to a new government headed by a Hamas Prime Minister
as long as that government would implement Gaza reconstruction,
prepare for new PA presidential and legislative elections and commit
to previously signed agreements.

Al-Quds runs a front page story citing "Tel-Aviv" about Israel
examining possibilities for partially lifting "the siege" imposed on
the Gaza Strip, in reaction to President Obama's June 4 speech in
which Obama criticized Israelis restrictions on Palestinian
movement.

Al-Ayyam runs a front page report citing Reuters about Israeli Prime
Minister Netanyahu telephoning President Obama on June 8 to talk to
the President about his June 14 speech which will present Israeli
policy on peace in the Middle East.

All dailies run inside coverage of the June 8 MOU signing ceremony
between the U.S. Consulate General and Salfeet Municipality to
launch an American Corner in Salfeet. The Consul General is quoted
from his remarks referring to President Obama's Cairo speech and
highlighting the importance of cultural exchange between the U.S.
and other cultures.
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BLOCK QUOTES:
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1) Hani Al-Masri opines in Al-Ayyam independent daily under the
the
title, "The fate of national dialogue after the Qalquilya incidents
and Obama's speech"(06/09): "If the Palestinian Authority is

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serious about ending Palestinian division, it must recognize that
any solution must benefit all concerned parties, particularly after
Obama's speech which proved the seriousness of the U.S. to end the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict. An [inter-Palestinian] agreement must
be based on a national program that integrates Gaza, the West Bank,
the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Liberation
Organization into a partnership at all levels, only then will
division end."

2) Al-Quds independent daily runs an editorial under the title
"Dialogue and the voice of the people"(06/09): "Palestinian
division is not only disagreements and conflicts but it is the crux
of the political solution... if agreement among Palestinians seems
difficult, that is because each of the parties wants to have the
upper hand. We need to hold elections so that the people to make
their own choice."

WALLES