ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

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SUBJECT: ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

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SUBJECTS COVERED IN THIS REPORT:
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1. Iran


2. Mideast


3. Afghanistan

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Key stories in the media:
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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.



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1. Iran:
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Block Quotes:
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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.

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2. Mideast:
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Block Quotes:
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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.

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3. Afghanistan:
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Block Quotes:
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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