Cablegate: Israel Media Reaction

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Carol X Weakley 10/20/2006 03:58:07 PM From DB/Inbox: Carol X Weakley

Cable
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UNCLAS TEL AVIV 04162

SIPDIS
CXTelA:
ACTION: PD
INFO: POL DAO DCM AMB

DISSEMINATION: PD
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: PAO:HKFINN
DRAFTED: PD:RPAZ
CLEARED: AIO:GJANISMAN

VZCZCTVI163
PP RUEHC RHEHAAA RHEHNSC RUEAIIA RUEKJCS RUEAHQA
RUEADWD RUENAAA RHEFDIA RUEKJCS RUEHAD RUEHAS RUEHAM RUEHAK
RUEHLB RUEHEG RUEHDM RUEHLO RUEHFR RUEHRB RUEHRO RUEHRH
RUEHTU RUCNDT RUEHJM RHMFISS RHMFIUU RHMFIUU
DE RUEHTV #4162/01 2931012
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 201012Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7090
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
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RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAHQA/HQ USAF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEADWD/DA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUENAAA/CNO WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI PRIORITY 1085
RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS PRIORITY 7864
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN PRIORITY 0916
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 1855
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 1060
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 8720
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 1788
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 8714
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 9162
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT PRIORITY 5846
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 3218
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 8081
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS PRIORITY 2338
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RHMFIUU/COMSOCEUR VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 TEL AVIV 004162

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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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: IS KMDR

SUBJECT: ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

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

1. Mideast

2. PM Olmert Visit to Russia

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

Ha'aretz headlined that the US and Israel see eye to eye regarding
the Syrian option and are both against opening a separate
Israel-Syrian track. This tendency comes after the meeting between
Public Security Minister Avi Dichter met US National Security
Advisor Steve Hadley in Washington on Thursday.

Maariv headlined that Industrialist Stef Wertheimer is initiating a
plan to rehabilitate the Palestinian refugee camps in Gaza and Judea
and Samaria. According to the plan, Wertheimer himself will invest a
great deal of money in the project, and also will undertake to
gather together other investors in order to raise the funds. In the
framework of the plan, a pilot of which is being planned now,
industrial areas, sources of employment, modern residential housing
and infrastructures will be built in the refugee camps in Gaza,
Nablus, Ramallah, Kalkilya, and other places. In this manner,
Wertheimer believes, the tension in the area will decline and a
foundation will be laid for political negotiations in the future.
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is a side to the secretive plan and
according to sources was enthusiastic about it.

All media cited French General Alain Pellegrini, commander of the UN
Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) as saying on Thursday that Israeli
warplanes had violated UN ceasefire resolution 1701 by entering
Lebanese airspace. Pellegrini said that France had placed
anti-aircraft missile batteries in southern Lebanon, although, as of
now, these missiles are only for self defense, to protect the French
soldiers in the peace force. He said, Israel's flights over Lebanon
are a violation of the cease-fire agreement, and if the current
diplomatic efforts are unable to put an end to these flights, it may
be necessary in the future to consider shooting at the Israeli
planes in Lebanon.
Kol Israel reported that six Qassam rockets were fired this morning
towards southern towns in Israel. No damage caused.
Kol Israel this morning reported that on the way back from Moscow
Prime Minister Olmert said that the moment of truth with the
Palestinians is approaching and that Palestinian Authority Chairman
Mahmoud Abbas will have to take action or all hopes will be lost.
The radio also cited a senior official from PM Olmert's office as
saying that Abbas wanted Israel to release hundreds of Palestinian
prisoners prior to the release of Corporal Shalit, a proposal that
Israel refused.
All media reported that the IDF continued its operation in the Gaza
Strip on Thursday reveling additional smuggling tunnels. The media
noted that 13 tunnels have been found and six of them were already
blown up. Ha'aretz cited military sources as saying that the extent
of weapon smuggling from Egypt into Gaza is even more severe then
assumed.

Kol Israel this morning reported that Fatah and Hamas officials
reached an agreement on Thursday night to cease incitement and
violence between the rival factions in the Palestinian Authority, in
honor of the conclusion of the month of Ramadan.

All media reported that Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri
yesterday called for the resumption of peace talks between Israel
and the Arab states. Yediot quoted Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as
saying that Nabih's declaration is interesting.
Kol Israel this morning cited Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
as saying on Friday that Israel no longer had any reason to exist
and would soon disappear. Addressing the US and its allies he said:
"It is in your own interest to distance yourself from these
criminals... This is an ultimatum. Don't complain tomorrow."

Ha'aretz reported on growing concern among IDF officers that Hamas
and other militant Palestinian organizations are trying to carry out
terror attacks against one of the Kibbutzim close to the Gaza Strip.

Ha'aretz reported on the meeting between Infrastructure Minister
Binyamin Ben Eliezer with Egyptian President Husni Mubarak. Ben
Eliezer was quoted as saying after the meeting that he is optimistic
regarding the possibility of the release of Corporal Gilad Shalit.

Ha'aretz published a Peace Now survey in which it was found that
some parts of 75 of the 102 outposts in the West Bank are on private
Palestinian land.

Ha'aretz cited a Human Rights Watch report claiming that Hizbullah
fired cluster bombs at Israel during the 2006 Lebanon War.

Yediot reported that in an interim inquiry made by the Air Force it
was found that the Air Force planes that attacked thousands of times
during the war often left on their missions without the ideal
ammunition due to shortage in bombs.

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

Summary:
--------

Military correspondent Amir Rappaport reported in popular, pluralist
Maariv: "The Palestinians in Gaza are having a hard time but the
time is playing mainly against Israel. Every day that passes by
brings the Hamas closer to adopting Hizbullah's model."

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

"Second Lebanon"

Military correspondent Amir Rappaport reported in popular, pluralist
Maariv (10/20): "The Palestinians in Gaza are having a hard time but
the time is playing mainly against Israel. Every day that passes by
brings the Hamas closer to adopting Hizbullah's model. If the IDF
tries to enter the Gaza Strip militarily it will be much more
difficult then it would have been a few months ago, and if the
operation is delayed, the mission might truly look like the second
Lebanon War.... But for the time being the IDF did not get the green
light from the cabinet for a wide scale operation. This kind of
operation will cause lose of lives and massive Qassam fire on
southern towns, and this is not what Israel needs while the Lebanon
wounds haven't healed yet. Israel declared that the war in Lebanon
was meant to retrieve our deterrence. As of now the deterrence
balance is working -- but mainly against us."

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2. PM Olmert Visit to Russia:
------------------------------

Summary:
--------

Conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized: "If the US
and Europe are ready to impose effective sanctions against Teheran
... and Russia is standing in the way, then the leading democracies
must not politely take their cards and go home."

Block Quotes:
-------------
"Whither Putin?"
Conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized (10/20):
"Unfortunately, based on Putin's behavior rather than his rhetoric,
Western nations must assume that the Russian leader is playing such
a double game. Accordingly, Israeli and other leaders must start
asking themselves how long they can publicly give Putin the benefit
of the doubt and pretend that Russia is playing a constructive
rather than highly obstructionist role. Russia must be judged by
its actions. If the US and Europe are ready to impose effective
sanctions against Teheran ... and Russia is standing in the way,
then the leading democracies must not politely take their cards and
go home.... If Russia wants to be considered part of the West, these
times demand joining our side, not protesting our common enemies."
CRETZ

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