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Cablegate: Israel Media Reaction

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 TEL AVIV 004169

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA, NEA/PPD

WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE, SIT ROOM
NSC FOR NEA STAFF

JERUSALEM ALSO FOR ICD
LONDON ALSO FOR HKANONA AND POL
PARIS ALSO FOR POL
ROME FOR MFO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: IS KMDR MEDIA REACTION REPORT
SUBJECT: ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION


--------------------------------
SUBJECTS COVERED IN THIS REPORT:
--------------------------------

1. Mideast

2. Lebanese-Syrian Track

3. Global War on Terrorism

-------------------------
Key stories in the media:
-------------------------

Israel Radio reported that a joint session of the
Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and of
the Knesset's Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee
this morning started discussing the issue of
disengagement. PM Sharon, senior ministers, and top
defense establishment officials and civil servants, are
among the meeting's participants. The radio quoted
Sharon as saying that the government will not accept
the creation by settlers of a 'tent city,' which he
said was a political protest. Sharon called for the
evacuees to "think of the children."

Leading media reported that the Knesset plenum will
hold a special session and vote today on the planned
deployment of Egyptian forces along the Philadelphi
route. The session is being held in the wake of
Ha'aretz's lead story on Monday, according to which
Israel and Egypt are on the verge of concluding an
agreement that will see Egyptian border guards deployed
opposite the Philadelphi route in Rafah. On Monday,
leading media reported that Attorney-General Menachem
Mazuz stated that there was no need for the Knesset's
approval of the deal.

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Israel Radio reported that Israel and the PA have
reached an agreement on the creation of an overland
connection between Gaza and the West Bank following the
disengagement. Under the agreement, during the first
stage Israel security forces will escort convoys of
Palestinian vehicles traveling between the two areas.
Israel has proposed linking the two territories by
railroad in the future.

All media quoted Israel's National Security Council
Chairman Giora Eiland as saying that PA Civil Affairs
Minister Muhammad Dahlan is demanding that Israel
extend its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip two
kilometers northward, in accordance to the 1949
borders. Jerusalem Post reported that Eiland dismissed
Dahlan's demand as a "gimmick," and that Israel made it
"clear" to the PA that the present border had been set
in agreement with Egypt in 1950, and that the same
border was reconfirmed in 1994 under the Oslo Accords.
The media cited the concerns of the residents of Moshav
Netiv Ha'asara, which occupies this piece of land, that
their community could become a new "Sheba Farms" area.

Ha'aretz reported that the Bayit Leumi (National Home)
movement, which is responsible for the road-blocking
campaign to protest the disengagement plan, has told
its members to camp out in Gush Katif.
Maariv cited an official Hamas document, according to
which the group intends to turn Qassam rockets into
weapons that would bypass the separation fence after
the disengagement and reach major Israeli cities.
Leading media quoted Hamas spokesmen in Gaza as saying
that Hamas dismisses the usefulness of Hamas's joining
the Palestinian government.

The weekend's headlines were dominated by Finance
Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's alleged intention to
absent himself from Wednesday's Knesset vote on a
postponement of the disengagement, and the possible
firing of Netanyahu by Sharon over this matter.

Leading media reported on the Fourth of July
celebration held last night at Ambassador Dan Kurtzer's
residence in Herzliya Pituach. Sharon, who praised
American democracy and democratic developments in the
Middle East, said that the pullout from Gaza and the
northern West Bank would proceed on schedule.

Israel Radio reported that, concerned about possible
Palestinian claims that Israel is poisoning Palestinian
areas, the Environment Ministry will conduct an
independent survey about the state of pollution in the
areas due to be vacated by Israel.

Jerusalem Post reported that on Monday, former U.S.
Middle East envoy Dennis Ross attacked EU officials who
have met recently with Hamas members, saying that such
meetings are undercutting the PA.

On Monday, leading media quoted IDF officials as saying
that last week's infiltration of a Hizbullah cell into
the Sheba Farms region was part of a plan to abduct
soldiers.

Israel Radio reported that Israeli security forces have
arrested an Islamic Jihad member in Ramallah.

On Sunday, Ha'aretz and Jerusalem Post reported that
the bulk of residents in the Jenin-area settlement of
Ganim packed up on their own volition -- a full six
weeks before the community's slated evacuation is to
begin.

On Monday, Jerusalem Post reported that, in a test case
to force the government to take the issue of
unauthorized outposts seriously, Pease Now asked the
High Court of Justice on Sunday to force the Defense
Ministry to demolish nine homes in the unauthorized
West Bank outpost of Amona.

On Monday, Maariv reported that European infrastructure
companies are considering cooperating with Israeli
firms in PA projects following the disengagement.

Jerusalem Post reported that Israeli astronomers
equipped with a special telescope supplied the U.S.
with useful data on Monday about Deep Impact, the first
man-made collision with a comet, which was carried out
on July 4 to mark U.S. Independence Day.

------------
1. Mideast:
------------

Summary:
--------

Diplomatic correspondent Ben Caspit wrote on page one
of popular, pluralist Maariv: "Why make Bibi
[Netanyahu] look big? Why extricate him from the
government of disengagement? Why not let him keep on
sweating within it, imprisoned and helpless?"

Independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized:
"Military cooperation between the PA and Hamas could
suggest and perhaps even guarantee a smoother and
quieter withdrawal.... When the time comes for
political negotiations, Israel can demand that every
organization represented in the PA recognize Israel's
right to exist as a precondition for such talks."

Conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized:
"Hamas's inclusion [in the PA government] would also
give the lie to Abbas's claims of support for the road
map and a two-state solution."

Block Quotes:
-------------

I. "Kindergarten"

Diplomatic correspondent Ben Caspit wrote on page one
of popular, pluralist Maariv (July 3): "Let us start
with the bottom line: Ariel Sharon never had a shred of
intention to dismiss Binyamin Netanyahu if he had been
absent without warning, or as part of a plot, from this
coming Wednesday's Knesset vote on the postponement of
disengagement.... It is obvious that if Netanyahu
supports the postponement of disengagement in the
Knesset, he will be dismissed. But to abstain, or to
absent himself from the vote? That can be borne in
silence. Why make Bibi look big? Why extricate him
from the government of disengagement? Why not let him
keep on sweating within it, imprisoned and helpless?
The prevailing attitude around Sharon is simple: be
quiet, we're disengaging. Just six more weeks to go.
This is not the time to rock the boat, however
enjoyable that may be. Netanyahu outside can start
riots, create chaos, or ignite tempers. No one can
know how far that will go. It is better to keep quiet,
wipe the spit off your face and keep going."

II. "Hamas, a Part of the PA"

Independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized (July
5): "Palestinian Authority Chairman [President] Mahmoud
Abbas' proposal to Hamas that it join the government he
heads managed to evoke livid Israeli reactions even
before Hamas made a decision on the matter. Israel's
conditioned response, according to which it will not
negotiate with any entity defined as a terror
organization, left no room for discretion, and
certainly not for a review of the advantages in the
proposal. In Palestinian society, the Hamas movement
is perceived as part of the political and cultural
tapestry. In Israel, it is seen as a terror
organization.... Without the inclusion of Hamas as the
largest military opposition organization, Abbas cannot
offer the Palestinians and Israel a responsible
authority that is capable of meeting its commitments.
From Israel's point of view, political and, primarily,
military cooperation between the PA and Hamas could
suggest and perhaps even guarantee a smoother and
quieter withdrawal.... In light of the fact that, at
this stage, Israel is not offering the PA anything in
return in the political field, but sees the PA only as
a functional organization that has the job of
preserving the quiet, it would be best if Israel were
to refrain from raising the roof over the issue of
cooperation with Hamas. When the time comes for
political negotiations, Israel can demand that every
organization represented in the PA recognize Israel's
right to exist as a precondition for such talks."

III. "Two Unities"

Conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized
(July 5): "In Israel, the settler leadership and its
rabbis are reportedly close to issuing a code of
conduct for opposition to the disengagement plan,
insisting on complete non-violence. On the Palestinian
side, Mahmoud Abbas has offered Hamas to join a 'unity
government.' Both of these efforts, on the surface,
are geared toward stemming the slide toward civil war
within each community. The contrast between them,
however, could not be more stark.... The difference
between democracy and its hijacking is whether
terrorist groups that join a political process, whether
Hizbullah in Lebanon or Hamas in the PA, disarm and
abandon terrorism. Hizbullah and Hamas have done
neither, so their inclusion grants them veto power that
can only mean violence, instability and stalemate.
Hamas's inclusion would also give the lie to Abbas's
claims of support for the road map and a two-state
solution.... Our 'civil war' represents the tail end of
our political metamorphosis. Abbas's unity pitch, by
contrast, once again avoids the necessary Palestinian
transformation, whereby that polity stops dreaming of
destroying Israel and starts building a peaceful,
democratic state alongside us."

--------------------------
2. Lebanese-Syrian Track:
--------------------------

Summary:
--------

Conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized:
"If even Tony Blair's UK will not employ its presidency
[of the European Union] to lead the way to the minimal
and obvious step of branding Hizbullah a terrorist
organization, it is hard to imagine anyone, certainly
not the rogue states themselves, taking the West's
rhetoric about fighting terrorism seriously."

Block Quotes:
-------------

"Start With Hizbullah"

Conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized
(July 4): "While the threat from Hizbullah might be
seen as small potatoes compared to the nuclear
challenge from its Iranian sponsors, the two are
clearly connected. Why should Iran take Europe's
claim, that it will block an Iranian bomb, seriously
when the EU seems too timid even to confront the
mullah's terrorist proxy? Every year since 9/11, G8
summits have made resounding statements about the need
to fight global terrorism, and even unveiled concrete
initiatives for international cooperation to this end.
The real test, however, is whether the West can stand
together and use its collective diplomatic and economic
power (let alone military strength) to defend itself
from rogue states and their proxies. If even Tony
Blair's UK will not employ its presidency [of the
European Union] to lead the way to the minimal and
obvious step of branding Hizbullah a terrorist
organization, it is hard to imagine anyone, certainly
not the rogue states themselves, taking the West's
rhetoric about fighting terrorism seriously."
----------------------------
3. Global War on Terrorism:
----------------------------
Summary:
--------

Nationalist writer Uri Dan opined in conservative,
independent Jerusalem Post: "Perhaps it would be best
for the U.S. to intervene now in the affair of the
attack in Mombasa and explain to the Kenyan government
the gravity of releasing, unpunished, the seven accused
in Nairobi."

Block Quotes:
-------------

"Soft on Terrorism"

Nationalist writer Uri Dan opined in conservative,
independent Jerusalem Post (July 3): "The court in
Nairobi, Kenya, that recently acquitted seven people
accused of perpetrating a terrorist attack on Israelis
in Mombasa awarded another victory to al-Qaida. If it
hadn't been for the efforts of the Israeli
investigators sent to Kenya immediately after the
attack in 2002, none of the accused would have been
arrested.... It was well known in Washington, and
particularly in the CIA, that the incriminating
evidence presented for the arrest of the seven accused
in Kenya, was very serious. But the judicial
authorities in Kenya apparently don't care.... It seems
that Kenya does not understand that through its actions
it is abetting al-Qaida in its terrorist activities.
Perhaps it would be best for the U.S. to intervene now
in the affair of the attack in Mombasa and explain to
the Kenyan government the gravity of releasing,
unpunished, the seven accused in Nairobi."

KURTZER

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