ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

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SUBJECT: ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

Please note: The Israel Media Reaction report will not appear on
Wednesday, April 15, due to the second Passover holiday.

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SUBJECTS COVERED IN THIS REPORT:
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1. Mideast


2. U.S.-Israel Relations

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Key stories in the media:
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Maariv cited tension among Israeli diplomatic sources regarding the
upcoming visit of U.S. special envoy to the Middle East George
Mitchell, following the argument between the two countries over the
notion of a two-state solution. Maariv reported that PM Benjamin
Netanyahu views this meeting with Mitchell as a preparatory meeting
before his May 4 meeting with President Obama. Maariv quoted a
Netanyahu adviser as saying that Netanyahu is interested in a
Qstrong [Keith] Dayton and a [Tony] Blair on steroids,Q i.e.,
strengthening the PAQs security forces and economy, in line with his
Qeconomic peaceQ outlook.

The Jerusalem Post reported that the U.S. decision to begin
negotiations with Tehran is likely to come up during discussions
later this week with Mitchell, with Israel expected to urge the U.S.
to set a short time limit for the talks. The Jerusalem Post
reported that on Friday, Zalman Shoval, a top foreign policy adviser
in Netanyahu's transition team, told a group of some 40 ambassadors
that Netanyahu's position regarding U.S. engagement with Iran was
one of acquiescence, even though he held out little hope for
success. However, Shoval was quoted as saying, the feeling in the
Netanyahu camp was that it was important for there to be a definite
time limit, otherwise the Iranians would continue with their nuclear
program, even as the talks continued. Shoval was quoted as saying
that while Israel was in favor of a short period, something along
the line of two months, there were voices in the U.S. advocating
more time. Shoval reportedly said that it would be a mistake if
the talks were postponed until after June's elections in Iran, and
then until a new government there was formed, because that would
merely buy the Iranians that much more time. This morning Israel
Radio quoted the New York Times as saying that the U.S. might give
up its demand that Iran stop enriching uranium before starting the
bilateral talks.

Maariv reported that on Friday Deputy Russian FM Alexander Saltanov
will meet with FM Avigdor Lieberman. The newspaper said that
Saltanov expects to get an official, final answer regarding IsraelQs
participation in the peace conference Moscow plans to hold in the
second half of this year, which will focus on the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Media said that it is in effect a
continuation of the Annapolis Conference. Maariv quoted diplomatic
sources in Jerusalem as saying that Lieberman is expected to accept
RussiaQs invitation.

HaQaretz reported that Philippe Vasset, editor of Intelligence
Online, told the newspaper yesterday that foreign intelligence
services -- including the CIA and Israel's Mossad -- provided
Egyptian authorities with intelligence that contributed to the
uncovering of a Hizbullah-run terrorist ring and led to the arrest
of dozens of suspects. Meanwhile, HaQaretz reported that yesterday
Egyptian sources upped the tone of the charges against Hizbullah by
claiming that the aim of the underground activity was not limited to
plans for terrorist attacks against tourist areas frequented by
foreigners, but also against targets in the Suez Canal. Yediot
quoted an Egyptian source as saying that the ring had targeted
Eilat. The media quoted President Peres as saying yesterday: QThey
[Arabs] are quarreling without us; this is a good thing.Q The
Jerusalem Post also quoted Peres as saying: QSooner or later, the
world will realize that Iran wishes to take over the Middle East and
that it has colonial ambitions.

The Jerusalem Post reported that, in the face of Iran's continued
pursuit of nuclear capability, Israel and the U.S. will hold an
unprecedented and massive exercise later this year to jointly test
three different ballistic missile defense systems. The exercise -
the latest Juniper Cobra maneuver --will be held in Israel and will
include the newly developed Arrow 2, as well as America's THAAD
(Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) and the ship-based Aegis
Ballistic Missile Defense System. The upcoming exercise is planned
to be the most complex and extensive yet. News of the scheduled
exercise was revealed in testimony Missile Defense Agency director
Lt.-Gen. Patrick J. O'Reilly gave to the House Appropriations
Committee's subcommittee on defense earlier this month. Israeli
defense officials were quoted as saying yesterday that the purpose
of the exercise was to create the necessary infrastructure that
would enable interoperability between Israeli and American BMD
systems in case the US decided to deploy these systems here in the
event of a conflict with Iran, like it did ahead of the Gulf War in
Iraq in 1991.

The Jerusalem Post quoted diplomatic sources as saying that the U.S.
is likely to wait until the last moment before deciding whether to
hold to its original decision to with draw from the UNQs anti-racist
conference (QDurban 2Q),which opens this coming Monday in Geneva.

Israel Radio quoted Lebanese media as saying that a former Lebanese
Army officer was arrested in Beirut. He confessed to having
collaborated with Israel for over a decade.

HaQaretz and Maariv reported that Kazakhstan's Deputy Defense
Minister Khazimurat Mayermanov was arrested yesterday as local
security service KNB issued a public statement accusing several
other senior officers and officials in the ministry of purchasing
flawed military equipment from Israel. Mayermanov is reportedly
suspected of accepting bribes in his position as responsible for
weapon purchases for the state. Israeli businessman Boris
Sheinkman, a former Soviet army colonel and an agent of Israeli
defense firms Soltam and Israel Military Industries, was arrested in
Kazakhstan several weeks ago.

Leading media reported that incoming Public Security Minister
Yitzhak Aharonovitch (Yisrael Beiteinu) has named Maj. Gen. Uri
Bar-Lev Israel Police representative in Washington. The move
follows disputes between Bar-Lev and the policeQs top brass, and
threats of his dismissal from the force.






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1. Mideast:
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Summary:
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Conservative international Jewish leader Isi Leibler wrote in the
conservative, independent Jerusalem Post: QNetanyahu understands the
U.S. and is better equipped to negotiate a realistic accommodation
with Obama than any other Israeli politician.... Still, to retain
credibility and be able to ... avoid needless confrontations or
diversions into counterproductive debates over a currently
inconceivable two-state solution.

Military correspondent Amos Harel and Palestinian affairs
correspondent Avi Issacharoff wrote on page one of the independent,
left-leaning HaQaretz: QIn Israel's eyes, a high-profile
confrontation between Egypt, Iran, and Hizbullah is good news. But
even now, it is best to keep in mind that Egypt is hardly working in
Jerusalem's best interest.

Military correspondent Yaakov Katz wrote in The Jerusalem Post:
QWhat is just as worrying [as attacks on Israeli targets in the
Sinai], or possibly even more so, are the cell's plans to attack the
regime and undermine President Hosni Mubarak's hold over Egypt.

Author and former staffer Daniel Gavron wrote in The Jerusalem Post:
QAfter four years of Bibi-Barak, Israelis might well be ready to
vote for a party that combines a genuine drive for peace with
socially responsible economic policies.

Block Quotes:
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I. QNetanyahu and the Two-State Solution

Conservative international Jewish leader Isi Leibler wrote in the
conservative, independent Jerusalem Post (4/14): QPresident Barack
Obama has yet to fully show his hand, but his policy of engaging
with jihadists is likely to encourage efforts to pressure Israel
into additional unilateral concessions to the Arabs that will need
to be vigorously resisted. Much will depend on our prime ministerQs
ability to maximize the objectives we share in common and set aside
the rhetoric and differences over inconsequential issues. This
applies above all to the recent brouhaha over the two-state
solution.... Instead of becoming involved in provocative arguments
over a two-state solution, we should be urging those who criticize
the Netanyahu government to take account of the criminality and cult
of martyrdom which to this day dominates Palestinian society, and
should be insisting that it is high time that Mahmoud Abbas and his
associates begin demonstrating a willingness to live side by side
with a Jewish state.... Netanyahu understands the U.S. and is better
equipped to negotiate a realistic accommodation with Obama than any
other Israeli politician. He can be relied upon to show
flexibility, but unlike his predecessors will refuse to compromise
the nationQs basic security. Still, to retain credibility and be
able to adopt an effective approach to the major issues confronting
us, including the existential threat posed by a nuclear Iran, he
must avoid needless confrontations or diversions into
counterproductive debates over a currently inconceivable two-state
solution.

II. "Lines in the Sand"

Military correspondent Amos Harel and Palestinian affairs
correspondent Avi Issacharoff wrote on page one of the independent,
left-leaning HaQaretz (4/14): QOne possible explanation for
Hizbullah's actions is that its leader became a victim of his own
hubris. After blatantly intervening in Palestinian affairs, he took
de facto control of Lebanon and openly threatened Egypt during
Israel's Gaza offensive for supposedly siding with the QZionist
enemy.Q Perhaps he erred in believing he could go toe-to-toe with
Mubarak, and even hoped the move would bolster support of his
organization ahead of Lebanese elections in two months.... In
Israel's eyes, a high-profile confrontation between Egypt, Iran, and
Hizbullah is good news. But even now, it is best to keep in mind
that Egypt is hardly working in Jerusalem's best interest. Egypt's
rage at Nasrallah will not necessarily translate into comprehensive
steps against weapons smuggling to Gaza, or to warmer relations with
Israel.


III. QIranian Threat to Egypt is Nothing New -Q But the Tactics May
Be Changing

Military correspondent Yaakov Katz wrote in The Jerusalem Post
(4/14): QOfficially, the Israeli political and defense establishment
is keeping quiet, and except for President Shimon Peres's statement
on Monday that it is good that others are fighting and not Israel,
no one is speaking publicly about what is happening to Israel's
south. Behind closed doors, and when speaking off the record,
though, defense officials are rubbing their hands with glee since
the news coming out of Cairo in recent days is an important
demonstration to the world that the threat posed by a nuclear Iran
and its proxy Hizbullah is not just to Israel but to the entire
Middle East and specifically the most populous Arab country -
Egypt.... While the Egyptian intelligence agencies have impressive
capabilities, they are perceived to be mostly applicable to events
inside Egypt, not overseas. Israel as well as other Western
countries could help Egypt fill that void. If that happened in this
case, we will likely not immediately know. While Jerusalem is
concerned that Hizbullah terrorist cells are operating in Egypt to
strike at Israeli vacationers, what is just as worrying, or possibly
even more so, are the cell's plans to attack the regime and
undermine President Hosni Mubarak's hold over Egypt. If Mubarak is
assassinated or his government falls, Israel could find itself
facing an Egyptian military consisting of US-made Abrams Tanks,
Apache Helicopters, F-16 fighter jets and Harpoon Missiles in the
hands of the radical Muslim Brotherhood, the official founding
father of Hamas.

IV. "Chance for an Inclusive Israeli Left"

Author and former staffer Daniel Gavron wrote in The Jerusalem Post
(4/14): QThe early demise of the new government of Benjamin (Bibi)
Netanyahu is being confidently predicted in the media. I disagree.
I think it will survive for quite long -- maybe even the whole four
years. Bibi has artfully constructed an almost indestructible
administration, locked together by the self-interest of the parties
that make it up. Moreover, he will be careful not to rock the boat.
He is unlikely to launch daring peace initiatives. He is even less
likely to make war with the Palestinians, Iran, or anyone else. He
has enlisted Defense Minister Ehud Barak for that very purpose. It
is no secret that Barak was the main force holding back the decision
to go to war in Gaza recently. Caution is Barak's middle name, and
his military record can be counted on to neutralize the screams of
frustration on the part of those of us thirsty for battle.... After
four years of Bibi-Barak, Israelis might well be ready to vote for a
party that combines a genuine drive for peace with socially
responsible economic policies. Even if this is not the case, and
the present government retains its popularity, there should be an
alternative for the future. The creation of a new, attractive,
left-wing party is not only important to those of us with liberal
dovish views. It is in the interest of Israeli democracy as a
whole.

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2. U.S.-Israel Relations:
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Summary:
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Senior columnist and longtime dove Yoel Marcus wrote in the
independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz: QIsrael's leaders take as a
given that relations with the U.S. are symmetrical. They are not.
Bibi himself believes that this is a different America, a president
with a different agenda, and he knows he will have to act
differently.


Block Quotes:
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"Life with Obama"

Senior columnist and longtime dove Yoel Marcus wrote in the
independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz (4/14): QFor years, U.S.-Israeli
dialogue has gone beyond what is reflected in the media. The Obama
administration has doubtless made clear to us that the two-state
track is the key to the solution of the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict. These are the facts of life. Either you continue with
the American plan or you come out against it, and then we will have
to get along in an extremist Islamic world, with AMERICA and the
European Union against us. As the saying goes, if you're not at the
table, you're on the menu. Israel's leaders take as a given that
relations with the U.S. are symmetrical. They are not. Bibi
himself believes that this is a different America, a president with
a different agenda, and he knows he will have to act differently....
It can be said that terror seized us when Obama announced a solution
to the Iranian issue through dialogue, and Iran agreed. See again
how QBibi's people,Q who did not open their mouths about Annapolis,
provided HaQaretz with the major headline that Israel does not
oppose multilateral dialogue between the West and Iran. First of
all, who asked us whether we agree or not? Second, what is behind
this generous pronouncement? Only a few days ago, Maariv reported
that Bibi had met with the heads of the security establishment and
was very pleased with the plans to attack Iran. What about our
diplomatic solution?.... [Anyway,] the destruction of Iran's nuclear
power is a task too big for us.

CUNNINGHAM