JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (02/12): Israeli air raids on the

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000269 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 (02/12): Israeli air raids on the Gaza strip kill 2 people, injure 3 children -------------- Main Stories: -------------- The dailies run front page news on Israeli air raids on the Gaza Strip. Reports note that 2 people died and 3 children were wounded. Al-Quds leads with a headline saying "Israeli forces escalate violence" (in Gaza). Within these stories, the dailies report on settlers "invading" Eastern Nablus to visit Joseph's Tomb and their attack on Haj Mazooz Girls' School, breaking windows, doors and water pipes. The dailies report that Nabil Sha'ath concluded his visit to Gaza by meeting with Egyptian officials to discuss the results of his meetings with Hamas leaders. It is reported that he also discussed this with US and European ambassadors. Sha'ath is quoted saying that Egypt is comfortable with the results of his trip and that there will be no new dialogue before Hamas signs the Egyptian reconciliation plan. Al-Quds reports that the U.S. is looking into moving some of its military equipment and weapons from Iraq to Israel. The headline of the story says that the equipment and weapons are worth $800 million and that the Israeli army could use them in the case of an emergency. Al-Quds also reports that Iran will produce the first package of highly-enriched uranium. The headline quotes Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad saying that "Obama is missing chances and serving Israel's interests." The dailies report that Israel started re-routing part of the separation barrier's route in the village of Bil'in in the West Bank. In related news, Al-Ayyam continues to report on the re-occupation of the Oush Al-Ghorab area in Beit Sahour. The headline claims that the IDF will confiscate 400 dunums of land. -------------- BLOCK QUOTE: -------------- Firas Yaghi opines on Ma'an under the title "Policy of the Extortion Negotiations" saying: "It is clear that the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations have been exhausted. Resuming negotiations will not change anything, because what was agreed on before was not executed in the first place. Talks should start under the auspices of the Arab League...and the Arab peace initiative. Palestine is a member of the Arab League and its case is central for Arabs. Whoever wants peace has to achieve it with all the Arab states... The Arab League is responsible for negotiations." -------------- Palestinian Cyberspace: -------------- In her report on Obama banners in the Gaza streets posted on Palestinenote.com (about banners hung throughout Gaza by the BBC asking what President Obama has accomplished in his first year), Mariam Hamed says: "President Obama has talked endlessly about Palestine, and yet nothing has been done. Words must be followed by actions, and the people of Gaza want results from Obama. Still Gazans have hope of achieving something this year and ask the world a question: When will we have peace, and when will we have a state? Hopefully this is a question Obama will answer." JERUSALEM 00000269 002 OF 002 -------------- Cartoon of the week: -------------- The cartoon appeared in Al-Hayat Al-Jadida on February 8. In the top right corner it says "peace train" and depicts the Israeli government driving the train carrying settlements. RUBINSTEIN