ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS TEL AVIV 000343 STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA, NEA/PPD WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE, SIT ROOM NSC FOR NEA STAFF SECDEF WASHDC FOR USDP/ASD-PA/ASD-ISA HQ USAF FOR XOXX DA WASHDC FOR SASA JOINT STAFF WASHDC FOR PA CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL FOR POLAD/USIA ADVISOR COMSOCEUR VAIHINGEN GE FOR PAO/POLAD COMSIXTHFLT FOR 019 JERUSALEM ALSO ICD LONDON ALSO FOR HKANONA AND POL PARIS ALSO FOR POL ROME FOR MFO SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR IS SUBJECT: ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION -------------- SUBJECTS COVERED IN THIS REPORT: -------------- ¶1. Iran ¶2. Mideast ¶3. Afghanistan -------------- Key stories in the media: -------------- Yesterday leading media reported that Vice President Joe Biden is expected to visit Israel next week. Israel Hayom and other media reported that yesterday at JerusalemQs Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, expressed his commitment that the Holocaust will not repeat itself. The media reported that yesterday in Tel Aviv, Mullen told members of the IDFQs humanitarian delegation to Haiti: QI want to express my admiration for you.... You created hope and a future for those people and humanity is proud of you. The media reported yesterday PM Benjamin Netanyahu called for "crippling sanctions" against Iran over its nuclear program after a meeting with Russia's top officials, whom he praised for showing "an understanding" over the issue. Russia has generally resisted new sanctions, but has shown increasing frustration over the past week as Iran proceeds with uranium enrichment despite international pressure. Critics say the enrichment is aimed at producing nuclear weapons. The Jerusalem Post reported that Russian news agencies made no mention of Iran in reports of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's opening remarks at his meeting with Netanyahu. Israel wants "sanctions and sanctions that have teeth," Netanyahu said, calling for a blockade on Tehran's energy trade. "The sanctions have to focus on the importing and exporting of fuel." Media reported that Medvedev told his Israeli visitor that Russia will hold off on delivering an advanced air defense system, the S-300, to Iran. Just before Netanyahu arrived in Moscow, the media quoted a senior Russian official as saying that the arms deal would take place. Citing the AP, The Jerusalem Post reported that Congressman Brian Baird (D-WA) told Gaza students on Sunday that the U.S. should break IsraelQs blockade of Gaza and deliver badly needed supplies by sea. All media highlighted the release by the Dubai police of a video showing the hit squad suspected of assassinating senior Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mabhouh on January 20. The group reportedly carried European passports. The media quoted Arab sources as saying that they still suspect Israel of carrying out the murder. Conversely, Israel Radio cited mutual accusations in the matter between Hamas and Fatah. On Sunday HaQaretz quoted the London Times as saying on Saturday that Israel is waging an assassination campaign across the Middle East. Media quoted Deputy FM Daniel Ayalon as saying in an interview with the Arabic-language newspaper, Asharq al-Awsat, that placing Israeli Arabs under Palestinian sovereignty in the context of a land swap would be to the PalestiniansQ benefit. His remarks drew anger comments from Israeli Arab politicians. Over the weekend the media dealt with the aftermath of leaked deprecating remarks about judges made a few months ago by Attorney Uri Korb of the Jerusalem prosecution team and a possible delay in former PM Ehud OlmertQs trial. Media reported that on Sunday Olmert confirmed a media report and comments by Turkish officials that in December 2008 Israel was about to start direct negotiations with Syria. Leading media reported that on Sunday Olmert told the business-academic forum at Tel Aviv University that QI offered a solution in JerusalemQthe Jewish parts would be IsraelQs and the Arab parts would be in the Palestinian state.Q In addition, it was implied by OlmertQs statements that he was opposed to a military strike on Iran. Makor Rishon-Hatzofe reported that hundreds of Israelis with origins in Arab countries convened at the Knesset yesterday, demanding that compensation be granted to Jews who were expelled from those countries and forced to abandon their property. HaQaretz reported that yesterday PM Netanyahu asked Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to tell Hamas that Israel will not sweeten its offer for kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit. Netanyahu reportedly told Medvedev that Israel wants to make a deal for Shalit, but he will not agree to release more Palestinian prisoners than he already has. The Russian President offered Moscow's help in the talks. Yediot quoted Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the General Prosecutor of the International Court of Justice in The Hague, as saying yesterday that if Israel conducts a thorough and sincere inquiry into Operation Cast Lead, there will be no grounds for the court starting an investigation of its own. On Sunday, HaQaretz reported that the Israeli human rights organization Shurat Hadin Q Israel Law Center is filing a suit against North Korea over a 1972 terrorist attack at Lod (now Ben-Gurion) International Airport that left more than 20 people dead and over 50 wounded. The lawsuit stems from claims that North Korea sponsored the FPLP and the Japanese Red Army, providing material support to both organizations and assistance in planning the attack. The media quoted Kadima chair Tzipi Livni as saying yesterday that she opposes holding party primaries at this time and that those should take place during an election year. Major media reported that British Liberal Democrat Party leader Nick Clegg has sacked controversial peer Baroness Jenny Tonge as his health spokeswoman in the House of Lords after she suggested last week that Israel set up an inquiry if it wants to refute allegations that its medical teams in Haiti QharvestedQ organs of earthquake victims. The Jerusalem Post reported that a coalition of Orthodox Jewish groups is appealing for clemency on behalf of Martin Grossman, a Jewish inmate on FloridaQs death row who is scheduled to be executed tonight. He was convicted of first-degree murder for killing a Florida wildlife officer in 1984. -------------- ¶1. Iran: -------------- Block Quotes: -------------- ¶I. QA Friendly Warning The independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized (2/16): QIsrael should heed the friendly warning it received from the Obama administration, which opposes a preemptive Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.... The likelihood that the American move will succeed is unclear, but Israel is required to give Obama a chance, for one simple reason: Israel will need full American support for any actions it may decide to take against the Iranian threat. If Israel goes to war, it will need intelligence help, prior warning, military equipment and diplomatic support from the United States. No other country would or could aid Israel, and uncoordinated Israeli action would justifiably arouse U.S. anger, since it would endanger America's vital interests in the region. Thus, despite all the anger and fear that Ahmadinejad's threats raise in Israel, for now, Israel should respond quietly and let Obama lead the effort to stop the Iranian nukes. Netanyahu has no better option. II. QThe Americans DonQt Trust Us Military correspondent Alex Fishman wrote in the mass-circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot (2/16): QBeneath the hugs, the kisses, the smiles and the glittering visits, the Americans donQt trust us, they hear Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu telling them, emphatically, that the Iranian nuclear capability is an existential threat to Israel, and they are very worried. They fear that Israel will not be sufficiently sensible, that it will not properly assess the side effects of a military strike on Iran -- fire on various fronts, for example, in the north against Hizbullah and the Syrians, shock and collapse of Arab regimes in the region. Admiral Mullen took a very unusual step in American diplomatic conduct. He began his visit to Israel with a surprising and unscheduled press conference, in the course of which he spoke very specifically about the unwanted effects of a strike on Iran. In his meetings with the Chief of Staff, with the IDF General Staff and with the Defense Minister, he most likely spoke more explicitly. Biden, in his visit, will put less of an emphasis on the Defense Ministry and the IDF, and more on the Prime Minister and Israeli public opinion. The sanctions on Iran are getting closer.... The U.S. could impose sanctions even without the U.N. Security Council, but a resolution of the U.N. Security Council on sanctions, tepid as it may be, will give the U.S. an umbrella for escalating steps against Iran.... The region is entering a new stage in the confrontation with Iran. It is going up a step. And the Americans are sending the QnanniesQ to maintain discipline. -------------- ¶2. Mideast: -------------- Block Quotes: -------------- ¶I. QQuick, Look Busy! The Director of the Interdisciplinary Center's Global Research in International Affairs Center, columnist Barry Rubin, wrote in the conservative, independent Jerusalem Post (2/15): QSecretary of State Hillary Clinton issued a nominally routine communiqu last week after her meeting with Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of Great Britain and now messenger of the Quartet on Israeli-Palestinian matters. This two-paragraph document, dated February 11, 2010, indicates the new direction of U.S. policy on Israel-Palestinian/Arab-Israeli conflict issues. It, somewhat disingenuously, defines the Obama administration policy as seeking a two-state solution right from the start through three tactics: Q(1) To help build the economy and capacity to govern a Palestinian state; (2) to renew political negotiations to enable the earliest possible establishment of that state; and (3) to achieve these in a manner that ensures the security of Israel and of the Palestinians. Wait a minute! Up until now, item two has been in the top position. Last September, the President announced that intensive talks to reach a comprehensive peace agreement would start in early November! Three months later, not even the most minor direct talks are in sight. So now the administration has shifted gears and the main priority is a process of state-building and community organizing among Palestinians to get them ready for statehood. II. QPaving Peace Former Meretz leader, former Justice Minister, and chief Israeli promoter of the Geneva Initiative, Yossi Beilin, wrote in the independent Israel Hayom (2/16) : QRawabi (QHillsQ),the first planned Palestinian city being built north of Ramallah is the largest economic project in the West Bank.... Rawabi is a Palestinian dream but it is equally an Israeli dream.... The Israeli Government should have made extraordinary efforts to assist the establishment of this fascinating project. In some ways it is doing so.... But this is only happening ostensibly.... If the [access] road to Rawabi is not built [due to political considerations involving the definitions of Area A vs. Area C around Rawabi], the new city will not materialize.... If the intention is to bring about at least economic peace, something must be done about this.... In case of failure] we, who can bring neither a diplomatic nor an economic peace, will find ourselves in a new confrontation with a frustrated public. Once again, we wonQt understand why this is happening to nice people like us. -------------- ¶3. Afghanistan: -------------- Block Quotes: -------------- QInnocence or Folly? Avraham (Avi) Ben-Zvi, visiting Professor of Political Science at Haifa University and an expert in U.S.-Israel relations, wrote in the independent Israel Hayom (2/16) : +In U.S. thinking, the Taliban movement may undergo a mutation or a metamorphosis after the battle over Marja puts it in its proper place and makes it grasp the limits of its power and its influence. With all the initial charm inherent in this dialectic logic, this is an innocent American attempt to sow a pragmatic, practical approach in the very complex Afghan experience. But TalibanQs history in Afghanistan and that of similar asymmetrical wars indicate that military weakness does not necessarily cultivate political moderation. CUNNINGHAM