JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (02/09):Palestinian official says

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 000232 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 (02/09):Palestinian official says that Hamas will make goodwill gestures towards Fatah within the next two days -------------- Main Stories: -------------- The three dailies front page news on Monday's clashes in Shufat refugee camp after Israeli civil and paramilitary police stormed the camp and detained dozens. Confrontations erupted near the military checkpoint at the main entrance to the camp after young Palestinians pelted Israeli soldiers with stones and empty bottles. Soldiers responded by firing tear gas, rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades. Hours earlier, a large deployment of Israeli forces raided the neighborhoods of As-Salam, Ras Khamis, and Ras Shahada in the camp, north of East Jerusalem, and detained over 60 Palestinians affiliated with the Salafi movement and Fatah. The dailies report on Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas stating in a joint press conference with the Japanese Prime Minister in Tokyo yesterday that they discussed ways to strengthen Japanese economic and political support to the Palestinians. Both parties agreed on a number of tangible steps that would support building the institutions of a Palestinian state Al-Ayyam front pages news on Palestinian officials stating that Special Envoy George Mitchell suggested indirect talks between Palestinian and Israeli officials. The report notes that Mitchell will either conduct marathon visits or stay in the region for some time to conduct these talks. PLO Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat is quoted in Al-Hayat Al-Jadida denying news in the local media that Abbas agreed to resume peace talks. The dailies report that the PA cabinet decided yesterday during its weekly meeting to hold municipal and local elections in the West Bank and Gaza Strip on July 17, 2010. Directives were given to the Palestinian Central Elections Committee to begin preparations. Al-Ayyam reports on Hamas criticizing the decision and saying that no elections should be held prior to achieving national reconciliation. PLO Central Committee member Nabil Shaath is quoted in the dailies noting that Hamas will release detainees held on political grounds and reopen the Fatah party headquarters in Gaza within the next two days. -------------- BLOCK QUOTE: -------------- Under the title "Stop the Mutual Incitement First", an editorial in Al-Quds urges Hamas and Fatah officials to stop the incitement and trading blame for problems the Palestinian people are facing. The author urges both movements to focus on ending the division and achieve national unity. RUBINSTEIN