Cablegate: Israel Media Reaction

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Leza L Olson 11/03/2006 09:04:07 AM From DB/Inbox: Leza L Olson

Cable
Text:

UNCLAS TEL AVIV 04375

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

DISSEMINATION: PD
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: A/PAO:STUTTLE
DRAFTED: PD:RPAZ
CLEARED: AIO:GANISMAN

VZCZCTVI093
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 RHMFISS RHMFIUU
DE RUEHTV #4375/01 3070542
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 030542Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7373
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
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 1139
RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS PRIORITY 7912
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN PRIORITY 0980
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 1904
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 1116
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 8778
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 1840
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 8767
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 9212
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT PRIORITY 5894
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 3266
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 8134
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS PRIORITY 2386
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 4285
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM PRIORITY 4924
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHMFISS/COMSOCEUR VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/COMSIXTHFLT PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 TEL AVIV 004375

SIPDIS

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

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

1. Mideast

2. Iran

3. Lebanon

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

All media reported that the diplomatic-security cabinet decided on
Wednesday to continue military pressure on Hamas in the Gaza Strip,
but not to expand the operation. However, it has instructed the IDF
to prepare for a larger operation if such an operation becomes
necessary. The cabinet meeting was held after a day of heavy
fighting in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanun, in which one IDF
soldier and eight Palestinians, most of them militants, were killed.
Israel radio, cites Palestinian sources that four Palestinians were
killed Thursday, among them, a fifteen-year-old boy and an elderly
man. Israel Radio reported that three Qassam rockets were launched
towards the southern town of Sderot. No casualties reported.

Ha'aretz reported that in the security cabinet meeting, other
decisions were made, among them resolutions "aimed at satisfying
American requests in advance of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's visit
to Washington." According to the paper, the government has given
its a approval to General Keith Dayton's plan to arm and train PA
Chairman Mahmoud Abbas's forces.

Leading media quoted Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya as saying,
regarding IDF's operation in Gaza: "This massacre is the first fruit
of the inclusion of the extremist Lieberman in the Zionist
occupation government. His inclusion in the government will cause
an increase in Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people."

Ha'aretz quotes senior officials as saying that Israel is ignoring
US preparations to withdraw from Iraq, despite the fact that such a
move would have a significant impact on Israel.
Leading media cited White House spokesman Tony Snow as saying that
the administration is concerned from testimonies indicating that
Syria, Iran and Hizbullah are trying to topple the Lebanese
government. Israel Radio reported that the Syrian embassy to the US
rejected the accusations and called them "ridiculous."

Israel Radio reported that after two days of negotiations in Cairo.
Hamas leaders from Damascus who came to discuss a prisoner exchange
deal have risen their demands. According to the radio they are
demanding the release of 500 prisoners prior to Corporal Gilad
Shalit's release and the release of 1000 more prisoners afterwards.
Hamas is demanding that Tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti will be freed
among the Palestinians to be released.

Israel Radio cited an official Egyptian source as warning Israel
that if it attacks the weapon smuggling tunnels in the Philadelphi
Route from the air, relations between Israel and Egypt will be
affected.

Maariv reported that US President George Bush hinted to French
President Jacques Chirac in their meeting five weeks ago that he
will understand Israel if it attacks Iran.

Ha'aretz cited Hamas officials as saying that an initial agreement
was reached on a Palestinian unity government. According to
Palestinian sources the sides were discussing the possibility of
appointing a prime minister that is identified with Hamas but not a
member of the organization.

Ha'aretz reported that British Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected
to travel to the Middle East before the end of the year. According
to the paper, Blair has started to hold a dialogue with Syria in
order to convince it to play a "positive" role in the region.

Maariv publishes a list of 19 right-wingers who made it into the GSS
list of people who were told by OC Central Command Maj. Gen. Yair
Naveh to stay out of all of Judea and Samaria. A top security source
was quoted: "Each of them has the means and the intent to perpetrate
secret and violent activity against Arabs or their property. The

SIPDIS
orders were issued based on concrete intelligence information."

Leading media reported on the results of the Social Strength Index,
measured before next week's Sderot Conference for Society. According
to the survey there is a serious deterioration in public faith in
the state and its institutions, including the Israel Defense Forces.
For example Ha'aretz publishes that: "In 2003, 27 percent of the
public said they do not trust public institutions to help them in a
time of need. That rate nearly doubled this year to 51 percent."
Leading media reported that Defense Minister Amir Peretz is holding
up his approval on IDF's round of appointments. The media reports
that there is growing tension between the Minister and IDF officials
especially Chief of Staff Dan Halutz.

All media noted that today, Thursday, is the eleven-year anniversary
of the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

The Jerusalem Post cited US Ambassador to Israel Richard Jones as
saying at a lecture given at the Transit-Global Energy and Political
Trends conference at the University of Haifa that the US goal is to
help secure a supply of gas and oil to the ME and Asia and that is
why the US is encouraging multiple pipelines.

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

Summary:
--------

Senior military correspondent Alex Fishman wrote in
mass-circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot: "In the Israeli
political and military view: the road to a second Lebanon in Gaza
goes through Hamas's ideas for a hudna. Thus, there is no chance of
a diplomatic arrangement of any kind with Hamas. And so we find
ourselves in a gradual process leading to a large-scale military
confrontation in Gaza."

Independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized: "The cabinet, in
its new, more militant composition following the entry of Avigdor
Lieberman, has been asked to approve an expanded IDF operation in
Gaza when in practice, the operation is already underway, or has at
least begun. In this case as well, it is hard to rely on the
leadership's judgments."

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

I. "The Finger Plugging the Dike"

Senior military correspondent Alex Fishman wrote in
mass-circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot (11/2): "Operation
Autumn Clouds is a pinpoint operation, with limited goals, for a set
time. But it is one more step in the direction of focusing the
military efforts in the Gaza Strip.... These are gradual, slow,
calculated actions, with a minimum of damage to the civilian
population, in the course of which the army will try to strike as
many armed men as possible, to arrest as many people as possible for
interrogation, to try and locate as many labs as possible or as many
hiding places for weapons. This action will not completely stop the
Kassam rocket fire. On the other hand, it will also not lead to a
big explosion with Hamas. Hamas at the moment does not want an
escalation. At the moment, the level of resistance on the ground
against this action is not high. But that could change.... In the
Israeli political and military view: the road to a second Lebanon in
Gaza goes through Hamas's ideas for a hudna. Thus, there is no
chance of a diplomatic arrangement of any kind with Hamas. And so
we find ourselves in a gradual process leading to a large-scale
military confrontation in Gaza."

II. "What Motivates the IDF"

Independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized (11/2): "The
legitimate differences of opinion between the government and the
army over the necessity of a large-scale military operation in the
Gaza Strip have become part of an illegitimate battle for survival
by those who conducted the second Lebanon war. In a situation where
the chief of staff is fighting for his position, a state commission
of inquiry is not yet out of the question and the Winograd Committee
is at the height of its investigation, it is hard to distinguish
manipulations from serious debate, or necessary moves from public
relations.... The cabinet, in its new, more militant composition
following the entry of Avigdor Lieberman, has been asked to approve
an expanded IDF operation in Gaza when in practice, the operation is
already underway, or has at least begun. In this case as well, it
is hard to rely on the leadership's judgments. Are there indeed
essential security reasons for reoccupying the Philadelphi Route, or
are commanders whose pride was hurt looking for a success, or at
least a diversion, or to silence the critics by mobilizing a
national consensus for a new operation? "

--------
2. Iran:
--------

Summary:
--------

Columnist Amir Taheri wrote in conservative, independent Jerusalem
Post: "The Assad regime is the typical Arab set-up that cannot
survive without the backing of an outside power. For a brief moment
in 2003 and 2004 it looked as if the US could provide that backing.
Since then, Assad has been left with no option but putting himself
under Iranian protection. And that, in turn, makes a showdown
between the US and the Islamic Republic that much more possible."

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

"The 'Iranization' of Syria"

Columnist Amir Taheri wrote in conservative, independent Jerusalem
Post (11/2): "While there is much talk of continued Syrian
machinations in Lebanon, little attention is paid to an Iranian plan
to remodel Syria into a Khomeinist state.... Last summer's war in
Lebanon that ended with Israel's 'greatest defeat,' according to
Iran, has strengthened the supporters of a Damascus-Teheran axis
within the Syrian leadership. The Assad regime is the typical Arab
set-up that cannot survive without the backing of an outside power.
For a brief moment in 2003 and 2004 it looked as if the US could
provide that backing. Since then, Assad has been left with no
option but putting himself under Iranian protection. And that, in
turn, makes a showdown between the US and the Islamic Republic that
much more possible."

-----------
3. Lebanon:
-----------

Summary:
--------

Arab affairs correspondent Zvi Bar'el wrote in independent,
left-leaning Ha'aretz: "Nasrallah's calculation is that if the
government falls, he will win more seats in the next election -- and
if he does not win a majority, he can always continue to threaten
the government from outside.... In the coming days, attempts to
reach a compromise will continue. For now, however, it seems as if
the government is en route to collapsing."

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

"Siniora's Government on the Road to Collapse"

Arab affairs correspondent Zvi Bar'el wrote in independent,
left-leaning Ha'aretz (11/2): "Even without the warnings emanating
from the White House, it is clear that Lebanon is embroiled in a
severe political crisis. Since the end of the war in Lebanon, and
especially over the last two weeks, Hezbollah leader Hassan
Nasrallah has been honing his demands of Fouad Siniora's
government.... Nasrallah is demanding the establishment of a
national unity government in which the Shi'a parties -- Amal and
Hezbollah -- would have greater representation. Currently, they
comprise only five of the 24 ministers; Nasrallah wants to increase
this to one-third.... This would effectively give the Shi'as a veto
over important decisions, since under Lebanon's constitution, such
decisions must be approved by two-thirds of the cabinet. Siniora
opposes a unity government, as this would probably restore Syria's
influence over Lebanese politics, constrain Lebanon's economic and
foreign policy.... Nasrallah's calculation is that if the government
falls, he will win more seats in the next election -- and if he does
not win a majority, he can always continue to threaten the
government from outside. Siniora, for his part, has few options: A
unity government would neutralize his political power, but he has no
guarantee of winning new elections. In the coming days, attempts to
reach a compromise will continue. For now, however, it seems as if
the government is en route to collapsing."
JONES

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