ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

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SUBJECT: ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

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SUBJECTS COVERED IN THIS REPORT:
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1. Mideast


2. Iran

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Key stories in the media:
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All media cited Iranian President Mahmoud AhmadinejadQs announcement
yesterday that his country has made great strides in uranium fuel
production and uranium enrichment. HaQaretz and Israel Radio
reported that Israel does not object to talks between the West and
Iran intended to stop Iran's nuclearization, as long as Iran does
not take advantage of these talks. Maariv, which bannered President
ObamaQs call for a dialogue with Iran, quoted an Israeli defense
source as saying that Israel expects a time-limit to talks with
Iran.

All media reported that Egypt is holding 49 nationals of various
Arab countries on suspicion of being members of a
Hizbullah-controlled terrorist network. Israel Radio cited a denial
that Israeli Arabs were implicated in the network, as had been
published previously. The accused have allegedly planned to carry
out attacks inside Egypt, including tourist sites frequented by
Israelis

The Jerusalem Post reported that Quartet envoy Tony Blair intervened
directly with DM Ehud Barak to enable Northern Ireland politician
Gerry Adams through the Erez Crossing and into the Gaza Strip on
Wednesday, where he met Hamas PM Ismail Haniyeh, Citing news
agencies, HaQaretz quoted Adams as saying that Gaza is an Qopen-air
prison.

Leading media reported that yesterday President Obama and his wife
Michelle hosted a private Passover Seder in the White House,
fulfilling a campaign-trail promise he made a year ago. This is the
first time a U.S. president ever held such a ceremony. The
Jerusalem Post reported that the President described JewsQ ascent
from slavery to freedom as Qamong the most powerful stories of
suffering and redemption in human history.Q Israel Radio saw it as
a kind of counterweight to ObamaQs call to the Muslim world in
remarks he made in Turkey.

The Jerusalem Post reported that on Wednesday Ambassador Jeffrey
Feltman was nominated by President Obama to replace David Welch as
the top U.S. diplomat on the Middle East.

Maariv reported that over the weekend British Foreign Secretary
David Miliband conveyed to Israel the message that Jerusalem must
become the capital of Israel and Palestine.

Media reported that on Wednesday settlers from Bat Ayin entered the
Palestinian village of Tsafa, where clashes erupted. Sixteen to 38
Palestinians and a settler were wounded.

HaQaretz (English Ed.) reported that this week pro-Palestinian
activists launched a fundraising drive to cover hospital costs for
Tristan Anderson, an uninsured American protester critically wounded
last month by police in the West Bank. Meanwhile his family is
preparing to sue Israel.

Leading media reported that 30 northern Israel residents are suing
North Korea and Hizbullah for $100 million in a Washington court for
damage sustained from Katyusha rockets.

Media reported that on Wednesday PM Benjamin Netanyahu told Italian
PM Silvio Berlusconi that Israel would aid earthquake-stricken
Italy. The remains of an Israeli-Arab killed in the earthquake were
returned to Israel over the holiday.






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1. Mideast:
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Summary:
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Military correspondent Amos Harel and Palestinian affairs
correspondent Avi Issacharoff wrote in the independent, left-leaning
HaQaretz: QTo fight Iranian subversion in Egypt, Cairo is willing to
help Israel prevent the arming of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.... The
report of Hizbullah actions in Sinai legitimizes harsher steps by
the Egyptian regime.

Senior columnist Nahum Barnea wrote in the mass-circulation
pluralist Yediot Aharonot: QThe President of the U.S. will not
pressure the Prime Minister beyond the boundaries of his coalition's
flexibility. That was true of Clinton and true of Bush, and judging
by Obama's question, holds true now.

Shaul Arieli, a former chief Israeli negotiator with the
Palestinians and an architect of the Geneva Initiative, wrote in
HaQaretz: QAnnapolis and Oslo once again made clear the gap that
moderates and pragmatists on both sides can bridge. These processes
underscored that what is truly needed is the ability to carry out an
agreement.

Conservative Op-Ed Page Editor Ben-Dror Yemini wrote in the popular,
pluralist Maariv: QEgypt is displeased -- and justly so -- over
several infuriating statements issued by the foreign minister,
Avigdor Lieberman. It is about time that the Foreign Ministry
summoned the Egyptian ambassador to Israel to voice its protest for
the insolent anti-Semitism being expressed by this senior Egyptian
official.

Block Quotes:
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I. QInside Netanyahu's Head

Senior columnist Nahum Barnea wrote in the mass-circulation
pluralist Yediot Aharonot (4/10): QThe most important conversation
that [Netanyahu] had since entering [his] new position was with
Barack Obama. The conversation was good, friendly, with a potential
for good chemistry. The most important sentence that was uttered
was a question that Obama asked: What are your political
limitations? In other words, how much flexibility will your
right-wing coalition allow you? The President of the U.S. will not
pressure the Prime Minister beyond the boundaries of his coalition's
flexibility. That was true of Clinton and true of Bush, and judging
by Obama's question, holds true now. Lieberman, in his heated
speeches, caused a great deal of damage to the image of the
government and the state. There is no doubt that Netanyahu is angry
with him. However, Netanyahu cannot ignore the advantages:
Lieberman lowers the world's expectations for Israeli concessions.
The main thing is that he clarified that the only address for
diplomacy is the Prime Minister's Bureau... If I were Netanyahu, I
would say that negotiations with the Palestinians must take place,
but will not result in a state. The Israelis are not the only ones
who have given up on the Palestinians. So have the Americans. The
speeches about two states for two peoples are only speeches. That
also goes for Syria. American cannot get much from Syria except for
a feeling of accomplishment. Israel cannot get much either. We
need to concentrate on the Arab world. That is the main
significance of negotiations with the Palestinians: softening
opposition to Israel within the Arab world. We have a common
interest with the Arab regimes: to convince the U.S. that there is
no alternative to taking action against Iran. Iran is the main
thing. One could almost say that it is the most important thing.
Netanyahu's main partner, his support in the government and facing
the world, is Ehud Barak. Over the past several weeks, Netanyahu
heard everyone in the know telling him: Barak will subvert you. He
disagreed with them. Barak with thirteen Knesset members-actually,
with seven-is not the same Barak. He knows his limits.

II. "ItQs About Iran"

Military correspondent Amos Harel and Palestinian affairs
correspondent Avi Issacharoff wrote in the independent, left-leaning
HaQaretz (4/10): QThe official report from Cairo Thursday -- that a
Hizbullah terror ring was uncovered in Cairo and was planning
hostile operations in Egypt -- should be seen within the context of
a greater conflict that does not necessarily involve Israel. To
fight Iranian subversion in Egypt, Cairo is willing to help Israel
prevent the arming of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.... Ironically, Cairo
is making its accusations against Iran just as the Obama
administration is inviting dialogue. But Egypt cannot hold still.
Cairo arrests dozens of Muslim Brotherhood members every month on
terror suspicions. Since Hamas's final takeover of the Strip,
Brotherhood and Hamas delegations visit each other every few
weeks.... The report of Hizbullah actions in Sinai legitimizes
harsher steps by the Egyptian regime. If it were only a matter of
weapons smuggling into Israel, the Egyptian public response would
not be as supportive. It would come as no surprise if it turned out
that Israeli intelligence also helped uncover this terror network.

III. "Bridging the Gap"

Shaul Arieli, a former chief Israeli negotiator with the
Palestinians and an architect of the Geneva Initiative, wrote in
HaQaretz (4/10):Q Is it true Israeli leaders went very far out of
their way to meet the Palestinians, who got cold feet at the moment
of truth? Or did Barak and Olmert set out to pressure the
Palestinians after they had shown a willingness to compromise on a
two-state solution instead of their dream of a Qsingle Palestine
and the alleged right of return? Even though the Palestinians'
basic positions are supported by resolutions and international law,
they proved their willingness to show flexibility in many areas.
They did this to align their positions with Israeli governments'
ability to carry out an agreement in light of the settlements in the
West Bank and East Jerusalem.... All the same, the Palestinians have
always viewed an agreement as a package deal: If they concede on one
issue, they should be compensated on another. Olmert, like Barak,
tried to shatter the formula of total territorial concessions for
peace that determined Israel's deals with Egypt and Jordan....
Annapolis and Oslo once again made clear the gap that moderates and
pragmatists on both sides can bridge. These processes underscored
that what is truly needed is the ability to carry out an
agreement.

IV. QBlood and Matzo, Nothing Has Changed

Conservative Op-Ed Page Editor Ben-Dror Yemini wrote in the popular,
pluralist Maariv (4/10): QThere is always someone out there to
explain how Jews are drinking the blood of gentiles. And if we
thought this was something of the past
-- then we were wrong. The march of incitement continues. It is
world embracing. And it is frightening. The forces of darkness
align with the radicals of QenlightenmentQ and together they spread
their blood libels. Here are some such stops along the way.
According to Palestinian Media Watch, 4 this week Hamas television
-- the organization against which we fought a war and which has
since been blooming -- aired a documentary about Jews. In the new
film the Jew explains that he does Qnot dip his hands in water but
rather in the blood of young MuslimsQ.... Zahi Hawass published an
article this week which states that the concept of murdering women,
children and elderly flows in the blood of the Jews of Palestine.
He writes that it was they who created a religion aimed against
humanity in its entirety. Is this another Taliban or Hizbullah
operative? Not quite. The writer, a professor of archaeology, is
head of the Egyptian antiquities authority, a completely public
institution. His statements were published in an important
newspaper, Ash-Sharq al-Awsat, which sees print in London and is
circulated across the Arab world. A bit before this, in an
interview to Egyptian television, the learned archaeologist
explained that the QJews control the world.Q Egypt is displeased --
and justly so -- over several infuriating statements issued by the
foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman. It is about time that the
Foreign Ministry summoned the Egyptian ambassador to Israel to voice
its protest for the insolent anti-Semitism being expressed by this
senior Egyptian official.

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2. Iran:
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Summary:
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The conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized:
QBenjamin Netanyahu needs to convince Obama that doing anything
short of stopping the mullahs would be dangerously reckless.

Intelligence affairs writer Ronen Bergman opined in the
mass-circulation pluralist Yediot Aharonot: QThe Iranians are
accelerating [their nuclear program]. Israel lacks accurate
information.

Block Quotes:
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I. "Obama Abroad"

The conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized
(4/10):QOn the issues that most concern Israelis, paramount among
them Tehran's nuclear ambitions, Obama reiterated that he had Qmade
it clear to the people and leadersQ of Iran Qthat the United States
seeks engagement based upon mutual interests and mutual respect.
Now, Iran's leaders must choose whether they will try to build a
weapon or build a better future for their peopleQ.... Obama has been
convinced -- partly by venerable cold warriors such as Sam Nunn and
Henry Kissinger -- that it might be easier to garner international
support for stopping pariah states from going nuclear if the U.S.
shows a willingness to sharply reduce its own atomic arsenal....
What this means for Israel in pursuit of its highest national
interest, blocking Iran from fielding a nuclear bomb, is that
Benjamin Netanyahu needs to convince Obama that doing anything short
of stopping the mullahs would be dangerously reckless.

II. "The Iranians Are Stepping Up Their Efforts"

Intelligence affairs writer Ronen Bergman opined in the
mass-circulation pluralist Yediot Aharonot (4/10):QIn the final
analysis, the Iranians are accelerating [their nuclear program].
Israel lacks accurate information. Most involved people in the
country believe that Israel does not have a military option since it
would have to go to war without the United States and that it should
not act on its own even if Obama authorizes it. A majority of
Israeli experts says that an attack today, would delay the [Iranian]
project by two to three years. The repercussions on the history of
the Middle East would be unbearable for Israel.

CUNNINGHAM