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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.

091101Z Aug 05

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 TEL AVIV 004896

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. Global War on Terror

3. Iran: Nuclear Program

4. U.S.-Israel Relations

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

Leading media (banners in Ha'aretz and Yediot, and
Hatzofe -- "Deportation Order") reported that,
according to a letter distributed by IDF officers to
residents of Gush Katif, six days ahead of the
evacuation of the Gaza Strip, Gaza Strip settlers will
be required to leave their homes by midnight on August
14, at which time voluntary evacuation will end and the
presence of Israeli civilians in the Strip will be
considered illegal. Israel Radio reported that most
residents have not received the letters, because
secretariats of settlements have refused to pass them

SIPDIS
on. Leading media reported that former Ashkenazi chief
rabbi Avraham Shapira has launched unprecedented
attacks against the disengagement. Leading media
reported that the Yesha Council of Jewish Settlements
in the Territories will hold a last anti-disengagement
demonstration in Rabin Square in Tel Aviv this
Thursday, instead of the protest that had been planned
for Ashkelon at that time. All media reported that on
Monday, the police uncovered a smuggling ring that had
been transporting opponents of the disengagement into
Gush Katif.

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Jerusalem Post says that Israel and the PA have not yet
reached an agreement about border crossings. Ha'aretz
reported that the security cabinet decided on Monday
that Israel will cancel the customs union with the Gaza
Strip if the PA and Egypt refuse to build a new border
terminal near Kerem Shalom (south of the Strip) to
replace the existing one in Rafah. Recalling that the
PA and the international community have been pressuring
Israel in recent months not to exclude the Gaza Strip
from the customs agreement, Ha'aretz writes that Israel
wants to use this issue as a bargaining chip to
maintain security supervision in the crossing between
Sinai and the Strip after the disengagement. Leading
media reported that members of the Knesset's Foreign
Affairs and Defense Committee from various factions
were shocked to hear that the proposed agreement with
Egypt to block Palestinian arms smuggling into the Gaza
Strip does not bar Cairo from supplying weapons to the
Palestinians. Speaking on Israel Radio this morning,
Yuval Steinitz, the committee's chairman, said that the
committee will not transmit the pertinent bill proposal
for approval by the Knesset plenum if the agreement is
not amended. The media reported that Israel will admit
some 40 Palestinian Gaza Strip families (from the
village of Dahaniyeh) who have assisted the defense
establishment.
Israel Radio quoted PA Chairman [President] Mahmoud
Abbas as saying in his speech to the Palestinian people
this morning that the disengagement is the first step
to Palestinian statehood. Abbas urged the Palestinians
Tuesday to ensure calm for Israel's evacuation of its
Gaza settlements. Ha'aretz reported that Sheikh Jamal
al-Bawatna, the mufti of the Ramallah district, who the
newspaper says is a senior Palestinian religious
leader, has issued an edict in the past few days,
banning shooting attacks against Israeli security
forces and settlements. Israel Radio reported that
Jerusalem Mufti Ikrima Sabri made similar comments.
Jerusalem Post reported that Palestinian PM Ahmed Qurei
met in Jenin on Monday with Zacharia Zubeidi, commander
of Fatah's armed militia, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades,
and discussed with him preparations for the Israeli
withdrawal from the northern West Bank.

All media reported that on Monday, the counterterrorism
unit of Israel's National Security Council issued a
travel warning to Israelis regarding a segment of
Turkey's southern coast -- between Alanya and Kemer --
due to a "concrete terrorist threat." The media say
that Al-Qaida could hit in the area, but that Israelis
continue to fly there. Maariv reported that the Shin
Bet is considering canceling those flights.

Leading media (lead story in Jerusalem Post) reported
that outgoing Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu
unofficially kicked off his run for the Likud
leadership on Monday. Yediot reported that he will
leave for the U.S. Wednesday night, among other things,
in order to meet with American donors who might
contribute to his campaign. Leading media reported
that PM Sharon and Netanyahu, both directly and by
proxy, have been hard at work trying to shore up their
support within the Likud, focusing their efforts mainly
on the Knesset faction and the cabinet ministers.

All media reported that Sharon went head to head with
the treasury Monday when he rejected its request for a
1.5 billion-shekel (around USD 332 million) budget cut
in 2006, and approved only a cut of 650 million shekels
in the defense budget. Ha'aretz quoted annoyed
treasury officials as saying that Sharon made
concessions to Likud ministers that may amount to 1.5-
1.7 billion shekels.

Ha'aretz and Israel Radio reported that IDF troops shot
and killed a Palestinian youth in Tulkarm's refugee
camp Monday.
Leading media quoted Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz as
saying Monday before the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and
Defense Committee that the IDF is trying to trace nine
armed deserters. Their profiles are supposed to be
similar to that of Eden Natan-Zada, who killed four
Israeli Arabs on Thursday.

Ha'aretz reported that on Monday, the International
Committee of the Red Cross suspended all its field
operations in the Gaza Strip in protest of the
deterioration in security. The media reported that a
number of UN aid people have been abducted in the Gaza
Strip in recent days.


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

Summary:
--------

Senior columnist and longtime dove Yoel Marcus wrote in
independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz: "Neither Netanyahu
nor the Shfaram murderer will budge Sharon from his
plans. This disengagement is going to happen."

Diplomatic correspondent Aluf Benn wrote in Ha'aretz:
"The occupation, then, looks like something unpleasant
that has stuck to a shoe. It is hard to get rid of it
and the stink remains even after the sole is cleaned."

The Director of the Interdisciplinary Center's Global
Research in International Affairs Center, columnist
Barry Rubin, wrote in conservative, independent
Jerusalem Post: "Which side will be better off after
the withdrawal? To find out, watch the material
realities, not the rhetoric."

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

I. "Double Trouble"

Senior columnist and longtime dove Yoel Marcus wrote in
independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz (August 9): "Israel
was attacked twice within the space of 72 hours. First
by a Jewish terrorist who shot four passengers to death
on a bus in Shfaram and then by Benjamin Netanyahu, who
suddenly resigned as the cabinet met to put their John
Hancock on the first stage of the pullout. Both
attacks had the same motivation -- to sabotage the
disengagement. But it is doubtful that either the
military misfit who became a murderer or the smart,
sharp-tongued politician will achieve their goal....
The double trouble that has come Israel's way has
changed nothing. Eight days from now, at midnight, the
iron curtain will fall on Gush Katif. Neither
Netanyahu nor the Shfaram murderer will budge Sharon
from his plans. This disengagement is going to
happen."

II. "Not Letup to the Occupation"

Diplomatic correspondent Aluf Benn wrote in Ha'aretz
(August 9): "The Palestinians will no doubt argue that
the occupation has not ended in Gaza as long as Israel
controls the sea and the air and is supervising the
border crossing points. They are already saying that
the disengagement will turn the Gaza Strip into a big
prison. They will try to lever the principle of total
withdrawal to demand much the same in the West Bank....
The occupation, then, looks like something unpleasant
that has stuck to a shoe. It is hard to get rid of it
and the stink remains even after the sole is
cleaned.... [According to another consideration], even
today, the world does not hold Israel responsible for
the poverty and other problems in the Gaza Strip, and
after the disengagement the attribution of this
responsibility will be even less."

III. "The Logic of the Middle East"

The Director of the Interdisciplinary Center's Global
Research in International Affairs Center, columnist
Barry Rubin, wrote in conservative, independent
Jerusalem Post (August 9): "There is every reason to
believe that the Palestinian leadership and movements
will throw away this opportunity [of a rapprochement
with Israel following the disengagement].... Does this
... mean Israel should not withdraw? Actually, one
should argue the exact opposite. For if nothing is
going to change anyway, why should Israel be bound to
the status quo? Take away the excuse of 'occupation'
and let the world -- and, far more importantly, the
Palestinians themselves -- see the real cause of their
problems.... Of course, one should add that Israel
largely withdrew from the territory 11 years ago, when
it was turned over to the tender mercies of Yasser
Arafat... The idea at the time was that Arafat would
have to deal with schools and sewage, jobs, and
housing. The problem was that he and his colleagues
had no interest in anything other than fighting Israel.
Some of his top successors have better intentions but
lack the power or determination to do better. As a
substitute, they will complain about inadequate
international support, blame Israel for everything, and
urge more militancy. Which side will be better off
after the withdrawal? To find out, watch the material
realities, not the rhetoric."

-------------------------
2. Global War on Terror:
-------------------------

Summary:
--------

Security and intelligence affairs commentator Amit
Cohen wrote in popular, pluralist Maariv: "In recent
days, the Turkish intelligence services have succeeded
where their counterparts in many states failed."

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

"Terror in Turkey Comes From Iraq"

Security and intelligence affairs commentator Amit
Cohen wrote in popular, pluralist Maariv (August 9):
"Intensive efforts made by Turkish [intelligence] has
exposed deep infiltration of Turkey by Al-Qaida....
Habib Akdas, an Afghanistan veteran, established Al-
Qaida's infrastructure of terror in Turkey.... A few
months ago, Akdas was eliminated in Baghdad. Two of
his aides were captured by American forces and moved to
the Abu Ghraib prison. Despite this achievement, some
of Akdas's people are still free in northern Iraq, not
far from the Turkish border.... In recent days, the
Turkish intelligence services have succeeded where
their counterparts in many states failed.... Contrary
to Egypt or Britain, Turkish intelligence has proven
that there is a way to deal with Islamic terror, even
if total success isn't guaranteed. Those Turkish
achievements aren't a question of luck, but of hard
work."

--------------------------
3. Iran: Nuclear Program:
--------------------------

Summary:
--------
Paris correspondent Sefi Hendler wrote in mass-
circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot: "Berlin and
Paris will soon have to decide whether they will adopt
a tough line or a conciliatory policy whose price might
be a Shi'ite bomb. Europe's moment of truth is
approaching."

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

"Europe's Moment of Truth"

Paris correspondent Sefi Hendler wrote in mass-
circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot (August 9): "The
Bush administration had placed the management of the
Iranian nuclear crisis in the hands of European
diplomats who were convinced of their ability to attain
better results in peaceful ways.... The Europeans will
now face a dilemma filled with irony: is there room for
the use of force, even without UN approval, when
diplomacy has failed? On Monday, German Chancellor
Gerhard Schroeder tried to calm the spirits: 'No one is
currently dreaming of a military confrontation.' But
Berlin and Paris will soon have to decide whether they
will adopt a tough line or a conciliatory policy whose
price might be a Shi'ite bomb. Europe's moment of
truth is approaching."

--------------------------
4. U.S.-Israel Relations:
--------------------------

Summary:
--------

Washington correspondent Shmuel Rosner wrote in
independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz: "It was law
professor Alan Dershowitz who said that Jews in America
are not 'guests in someone else's house,' but their
silence about the AIPAC affair sometimes seems like the
silence of a guest."

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

"The Silence of the Jewish Leaders"

Washington correspondent Shmuel Rosner wrote in
independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz (August 9): "Last
week, an indictment was issued against Steve Rosen and
Keith Weissman, two former AIPAC employees.... The
investigation is ... bad news for the Jewish
community.... The charges against Rosen include using
classified information in order to warn the Israeli
embassy about Iranian agents who might abduct Israeli
soldiers in Iraq. Is there any Jewish leader who would
get information of this kind and keep silent? It's a
difficult question. The answer cannot always be
explained easily to the public. Therefore it is
possible that the decision to remain silent makes sense
from a tactical point of view.... If I'm not mistaken,
it was law professor Alan Dershowitz who said that Jews
in America are not 'guests in someone else's house,'
but their silence about the AIPAC affair sometimes
seems like the silence of a guest. Even if it is
justified for reasons of caution or etiquette, even if
it can be understood, it nevertheless makes one feel
somewhat uneasy. Some of the Jewish leaders admit to
this. But only in private."

KURTZER

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