JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (02/08): President Abbas meets

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000226 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 (02/08): President Abbas meets with several foreign governments to discuss the future of the peace process -------------- Main Stories: -------------- Independent daily Al-Quds leads with news on Palestinian Autority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas' interview with Der Speigel in which he reiterated that Israel has to stop all settlement activities and recognize the 1967 borders as the borders of a Palestinian state. He noted that these are not preconditions, but rather obligations under the road map. Abbas is quoted saying that it is not his duty to recognize Israel as a Jewish state and expressed disappointment that the US retreated from calling for a full settlement freeze. The dailies report on President Abbas arriving Tokyo after visiting Hiroshima yesterday. He will meet with Japanese officials to discuss the peace process and bilateral relations. Al-Quds reports that the Jerusalem municipality will implement 40 demolition orders against Palestinian houses in East Jerusalem this year. The report notes that the Israeli Ministry of Interior has more than 200 demolition orders against Palestinian houses in East Jerusalem which will be implemented later. Independent daily Al-Ayyam reports that Hamas will start making goodwill gestures towards Fatah in Gaza starting tomorrow. Al-Quds quotes PLO Executive committee member Ahmad Qurei noting that he expects the next five years to see continued conflict between the Palestinians and Israel, noting that Israel will not recognize the rights of the Palestinians to have an independent state. Al-Ayyam reports on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stating during the weekly cabinet meeting that Israel is willing to pursue peace talks with the Palestinians and Syria without preconditions. The dailies report on PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad in Ramallah launching the book "We All Have Names, We All Have a Homeland" written by the national campaign to return Arab and Palestinian martyrs from Israel. -------------- Weekend stories: -------------- Sunday, February 7: The dailies run front page stories on President Abbas reiterating yesterday from Cairo that Egypt will remain in charge of Palestinian national reconciliation, and that he will not agree to transfer these duties to any other party. When asked about the US proposal for restarting peace negotiations, Abbas added "we have posed questions to the US and they will get back to us with responses, which will be discussed within the joint Arab framework. When we receive the answers, we will announce our position." Abbas also noted that he will meet with Khaled Misha'al only after Hamas signs the reconciliation agreement. The three dailies also run front page stories on Hatem Abdel Qader, the PA official responsible for Jerusalem, warning Saturday that 15,000 residents in the Shayyah neighbourhood of East Jerusalem might have their homes demolished under the pretext of lack of JERUSALEM 00000226 002 OF 002 building permits. Abdel Qader said during a visit to the neighbourhood that the Jerusalem Municipality issued more than 100 demolition orders for buildings and houses of 4,000 Palestinians. He added that Israel is trying to isolate the neighbourhood from the surrounding Arab areas because of its strategic importance in terms of the demographic balance. Al-Quds carries a front page story on Israeli sources confirming that the US promised Israel it would "bury Goldstone's report at the UN General Assembly and prevent it from reaching the UN Security Council." According to the report, Israeli sources revealed this week a series of meetings between Israel and the US regarding the best ways to confront the Goldstone report. The report also stated that the US asked Israel to establish a committee to investigate the claims and alleviate the siege imposed on Gaza. The Israeli sources reiterated that the US will not hesitate to use its veto in the Security Council. Saturday, FeQuary 6: The three dailies run front page stories on FatQCentral Committee member Nabil Shaath leaving Gaza on Friday after conQcting several political meetings with Palestinian factions. Reports note that well-informed Palestinian sources expect Hamas to sign the national reconciliation agreement with the next few days. The dailies carry separate front page stories on PreQdent Abbas' meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo to discuss the latest developments in the Palestinian Territories and the re-launching of Palestinian-Israeli negotiations. Palestinian Ambassador to Egypt Al Farra said that President Abbas will discuss the proposals that were put forward by Special Envoy George Mitchell regarding the resumption of negotiations. -------------- BLOCK QUOTE: -------------- Under the title "Reconciliation Obstacle...Until When?" an editorial in Al-Quds urges Fatah and Hamas to pursue the national reconciliation and end the state of division. The author can't find any justification for both parties to postpone national reconciliation. The author believes that regardless of the difference in ideologies between Hamas and Fatah, the plan has to be signed as soon as possible to end the [Palestinian] people's sufferings. RUBINSTEIN