ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS TEL AVIV 000193 STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA, NEA/PPD WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE, SIT ROOM NSC FOR NEA STAFF SECDEF WASHDC FOR USDP/ASD-PA/ASD-ISA HQ USAF FOR XOXX DA WASHDC FOR SASA JOINT STAFF WASHDC FOR PA CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL FOR POLAD/USIA ADVISOR COMSOCEUR VAIHINGEN GE FOR PAO/POLAD COMSIXTHFLT FOR 019 JERUSALEM ALSO ICD LONDON ALSO FOR HKANONA AND POL PARIS ALSO FOR POL ROME FOR MFO SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR IS SUBJECT: ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION -------------- SUBJECTS COVERED IN THIS REPORT: -------------- Mideast - BLOCK QUOTES ONLY Summary: -------------- The independent, left-wing Ha'aretz editorialized: "Israel also needs to ask itself what was done in its name in Gaza. Israel does not need this probe solely because of image considerations. Its moral profile in its own eyes is invaluably important.... Such an independent investigation launched by Israel will to some extent dull the damage of the initial conclusions and the verdict that has already been levied against Israel across wide swaths of international public opinion." Ari Shavit, senior op-ed writer for the independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz wrote: "-- history will show that Olmert left behind one noteworthy achievement. He taught the neighborhood bullies that Israel is no wimp. He led the world to recognize that when Israel withdraws to its border, it has the right to protect it with all its might. The war in Gaza was not an Israeli-Palestinian war. It was a war between the alliance of Middle East moderates and the axis of extremists. During the war, the United States, Europe, Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Palestinian Authority functioned as true allies. Therefore the war will have strategic repercussions that extend beyond the Gaza Strip." Right wing and former Secretary General of the Judea and Samaria Council Israel Harel, opined in the independent, left wing Haa'retz: "Deep in their hearts, Israelis - all Israelis - feel no real reason for celebration.... The operation opened with a stunning aerial blow, which, as in Lebanon, was not accompanied by an immediate ground operation....-- most of the goals could have been attained, but even when the army did go in, it acted mainly as a pulverizing force that cannot, because of its operational and psychological weight, chase and destroy elusive Hamas forces." Middle East affairs commentator Dr. Guy Bechor, a lecturer at the Interdisciplinary Center, wrote in the mass-circulation' pluralist Yediot Aharonot : "Our deterrence has increased, but the decisions in Hamas are not made by Haniya on the inside, they are made by Mashal and Iran on the outside, and the latter have an interest in continuing the war against Israel. Hamas will now try to establish a new balance of terror against Israel, with the assumption that it will not send the IDF in again and reactivate the entire mighty system. If we fire or act against their will, they will fire rockets.... From an Iran-friendly stronghold, Gaza will become an Iranian stronghold." Liberal columnist Yael Paz-Melamed wrote in the popular, pluralist Maariv: "The US has been and remains our friend and ally, no less than in the days of Bush. The new president holds our democracy in high esteem, and will not let it be harmed. The difference will be in the way that he seeks to safeguard our interests...." Political correspondent Yakov Shaus wrote in Russian-language conservative daily Vesty (Thursday, January 22): "Barack Obama is a unique personality. The new American President symbolizes the dynamics of American democracy. ... Israeli left-wing is impatiently waiting for the peace process to be renewed by Obama, while the right-wing is afraid that he, like Democrat Clinton, will take the declarations of Arab leaders too close to his heart. ... Obama started confidently and brilliantly, however it doesn't mean anything. He can be a great president or a bubble." Block Quotes: -------------- I: "Investigate now" The independent, left-wing Ha'aretz editorialized (1/22): "In the aftermath of the war, the questions arise. Now, as the last IDF soldiers leave the Gaza Strip... The first wave of international journalists has already succeeded in entering Gaza through Rafah. They [the media] are already reporting on the sites they are witnessing for the most important global media outlets. International aid organizations have also started investigating what transpired on the streets of Gaza.... This is precisely the moment at which Israel needs to preempt the others and investigate itself. It is impossible to ignore what has already been reported, and one must not leave the task of investigating solely to foreign bodies, some of whom are hostile. Israel also needs to ask itself what was done in its name in Gaza. Israel does not need this probe solely because of image considerations. Its moral profile in its own eyes is invaluably important.... Such an independent investigation launched by Israel will to some extent dull the damage of the initial conclusions and the verdict that has already been levied against Israel across wide swaths of international public opinion. It will also enable Israelis to know what it is we did in Gaza, what was permitted and what was unnecessary and even forbidden, from a trusted source on whom Israelis can rely. We cannot wait until the world has its say, and perhaps takes legal steps of its own." II: "The Olmert Doctrine" Ari Shavit, senior op-ed writer for the independent, left-leaning Haaretz wrote (1/22): " --But at the last moment, the prime minister [Ehud Olmert]found his legacy. Despite everything, Olmert is leaving behind a doctrine.According to the Olmert doctrine, when Israel withdraws to the international border, it will react powerfully and even brutally to provocation....But the war in the Gaza Strip accomplished important strategic goals. It punished Hamas, weakened and deterred it. It made it clear to any hostile neighbor that Israel would not accept attacks on its border and violations of its sovereignty. Still, history will show that Olmert left behind one noteworthy achievement. He taught the neighborhood bullies that Israel is no wimp. He led the world to recognize that when Israel withdraws to its border, it has the right to protect it with all its might. The war in Gaza was not an Israeli-Palestinian war. It was a war between the alliance of Middle East moderates and the axis of extremists. During the war, the United States, Europe, Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Palestinian Authority functioned as true allies. Therefore the war will have strategic repercussions that extend beyond the Gaza Strip.... The Olmert doctrine is a tough defense approach. Many have trouble stomaching it. Indeed, Israel's future leadership should make sure the doctrine is implemented without mass civilian killing." III: "No reason for celebration" Right wing and former Secretary General of the Judea and Samaria Council Israel Harel, opined in the independent, left wing Haa'retz (22/): ".... Ostensibly, this week Israelis had a reason for joy and hope: the military victory that its leaders declared in high-flying language, a victory that is supposed to liberate them from the nightmare of rockets. But there is no joy in Israel.... Deep in their hearts, Israelis - all Israelis - feel no real reason for celebration.... The operation opened with a stunning aerial blow, which, as in Lebanon, was not accompanied by an immediate ground operation....-- most of the goals could have been attained, but even when the army did go in, it acted mainly as a pulverizing force that cannot, because of its operational and psychological weight, chase and destroy elusive Hamas forces.... The nation feels that once again the sword has been sheathed too quickly. It is worried, and will make its statement at the ballot box. But what will happen to the IDF? Who will shake it up and extricate its senior command, before it is too late, from being mired long and deep in the mud of mediocrity?" IV: "Back to the Starting Point" Middle East affairs commentator Dr. Guy Bechor, a lecturer at the Interdisciplinary Center, wrote in the mass-circulation' pluralist Yediot Aharonot (1/22): "The fire has barely ceased in the Gaza Strip, and Hamas has returned to smuggling rockets into the Gaza Strip.... The Hamas spokesmen in Gaza, arrogant as ever, have already announced that as far as they are concerned, the arms smuggling through the tunnels will continue.... Instead of seizing the historical opportunity and declaring that after the IDF's pullout from Gaza, the crossings between us and the Gaza Strip would be closed permanently, which would be accepted by the world due to the dramatic timing and the cease-fire, Israel will now agree to open the crossings, just as Hamas has always demanded, so that there will be someone to continue to feed it. The Egyptians, of course, will continue to close their Rafah crossing, as they did throughout the war. It is true that our deterrence has increased, but the decisions in Hamas are not made by Haniya on the inside, they are made by Mashal and Iran on the outside, and the latter have an interest in continuing the war against Israel. Hamas will now try to establish a new balance of terror against Israel, with the assumption that it will not send the IDF in again and reactivate the entire mighty system. If we fire or act against their will, they will fire rockets. As far as they are concerned, the next target will no longer be Ashkelon or Ashdod; this has already been achieved. Next time they will go for Tel Aviv.... From an Iran-friendly stronghold, Gaza will become an Iranian stronghold. And let us presume that Hamas has agreed to hold its fire for the coming months. What about Islamic Jihad, which is opposed to the initiative? The PFLP? The Popular Resistance Committees? Other clans and gangs? The campaign is over but not done with. V: "Dread of Change" Liberal columnist Yael Paz-Mekamed wrote in the popular, pluralist Maariv (1/22): "He has fallen upon us at a bad time, this Obama, many Israelis say to themselves, based on the scare tactics of right wing politicians. If we could only continue the Bush era. The great friend who let us do whatever we wanted. Without shaking up the black dust that has accumulated for nearly 43 years on our relations with the Palestinians in the territories.... A chill comes over many of us at the thought that Obama might try to shatter the narrative that we have been cultivating for decades, that there is no one to talk to and that we therefore have to fight.... The US has been and remains our friend and ally, no less than in the days of Bush. The new president holds our democracy in high esteem, and will not let it be harmed. The difference will be in the way that he seeks to safeguard our interests.... We will not be barred from speaking to Assad, even when most intelligence agencies are convinced that he is headed for peace. Conversely, there will be pressure, perhaps more than moderate, to resolve the conflict, and not only to manage it in the hopeless manner in which it has been conducted for years. If we understand that this is a one-time opportunity to change the situation in the Middle East and cooperate with the new administration, our own horizon will also become immeasurably clearer." VI: "A President, Different from all the Others" Political correspondent Yakov Shaus wrote in Russian-language conservative daily Vesty (1/22): "The Inauguration of the 44th President of the United States was the most exciting and the most expensive one among all the similar ceremonies [that took place in the past]. ... The new American President symbolizes the dynamics of American democracy. ... [Obama's] phenomenal political rise can be explained by his talent, charisma as well as expectations of the society whipped by the crisis and is looking for an alternative to the "old-school" leaders. ... In Israel, the personality of the next American president is a very acute issue. Israeli left-wing is impatiently waiting for the peace process to be renewed by Obama, while the right-wing is afraid that he, like Democrat Clinton, will take the declarations of Arab leaders too close to his heart. [Obama] was never liberal towards terror; moreover he worked on this issue in the Senate. ... If Bush-junior was playing "friends" with 'friend Vladimir' [Putin], Obama will be more particular in choosing his friends. He condemned Russia's invasion in Georgia and declared that Washington has to change its attitude towards Moscow.... Obama started confidently and brilliantly, however it doesn't mean anything. He can be a great president or a bubble." CUNNINGHAM