JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (02/19): Dubai police believe

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000303 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 (02/19): Dubai police believe Mossad was involved in the murder of Hamas leader Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh -------------- Main Stories: -------------- For the fourth consecutive day, the local Palestinian press leads with news on the developments in the assassination of Hamas leader Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh in Dubai. Al-Ayyam and Al-Hayat Al-Jadida report on Interpol placing 11 suspects on its most wanted list. The international police agency says it has issued red notices, its highest-level alert, to its member countries worldwide for "11 internationally wanted individuals who have been charged by UAE-Dubai authorities with coordinating and committing the murder." Leading headlines also note that Dubai police authorities are almost certain that the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad was involved in the murder. According to reports, four European countries have requested explanations from Israel regarding these accusations. Al-Ayyam quotes the head of the Dubai police saying in an interview with Dubai TV that he will request the arrest of the Mossad Chief if it is proven that the organization was involved in the murder. The three dailies front page news on Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Salam Fayyad inaugurating a number of development and infrastructure projects in the Jenin Governorate in the northern West Bank yesterday. Fayyad is quoted stressing that the PA's comprehensive development plan is part of the effort to build an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. Fayyad also reiterated that the Palestinians will pursue building their state in all of "Palestine" including the Old City of Jerusalem. The dailies report that PA President Mahmoud Abbas met with UNRWA Commissioner-General Filippo Grandi to discuss ways to support the UNRWA budget. Grandi is quoted reiterating after his visit to Lebanon that peace will not be achieved in the region without a just and fair solution to the Palestinian refugees' case. Al-Quds leads with news that the Israeli government intends to launch a new settlement plan that includes building 60 housing units in the Beit-Hanina neighborhood in East Jerusalem. Al-Quds also reports that the Israeli authorities demolished 3 Palestinian houses in Gaza yesterday. Additionally, the reports note that Israel gave notices to citizens of Barta' Al-Sharqiyeh in Jenin yesterday to demolish 8 houses due to the lack of appropriate building permits. -------------- BLOCK QUOTE: -------------- Under the title "Development Effort under the Pressure of Occupation" Al-Quds runs an editorial outlining the Palestinian Authority's efforts to build the Palestinian state and its institutions. However, the writer argues that unless the economic and development projects are coupled with ending the occupation and real settlement restrictions, the Palestinian development will stop and Palestinians will be frustrated. -------------- Palestinian Cyberspace: -------------- Palestinian cyberspace focused all week on the updates surrounding the assassination of Hamas leader Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh in Dubai. Lina Al-Sharif from Gaza blogged under the title "Not All Red in Gaza is for Blood" saying: "We can all agree that celebrating JERUSALEM 00000303 002 OF 002 Valentine's Day in Gaza is an act of defiance. In Gaza, though it is a besieged, war-torn territory, you can always find something life-affirming and reflecting the will to live." A video of girls from Gaza "getting past trauma" by playing soccer was circulated on many Palestinian social media cites. RUBINSTEIN