Cablegate: Israel Media Reaction

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Leza L Olson 11/28/2006 02:20:24 PM From DB/Inbox: Leza L Olson

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UNCLAS TEL AVIV 04649

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INFO: POL DAO DCM AMB

DISSEMINATION: PD
CHARGE: PROG

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

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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:
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PM Olmert's November 27 Speech

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

Israel Radio reported that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is
likely to meet this week with PA Chairman [President] Mahmoud Abbas
and PM Ehud Olmert. The radio quoted a senior US official in
Washington as saying that the meetings will probably take place in
Jerusalem and the PA on Thursday.

All media highlighted remarks made by Olmert in Sde Boker in the
Negev on Monday that Israel will resume talks with Abbas and
"evacuate ... any communities which were established [in the West
Bank] " in order to provide continuity for a future Palestinian
state. Ha'aretz reported that Olmert's speech elicited mixed
reactions from the Palestinians. Media quoted Abbas spokesman Nabil
Abu Rudeineh as saying that what is needed now are actions and not
words. Leading media reported that the government coalition's
Yisrael Beiteinu, as well as well as rightist factions, criticized
Olmert's speech. Ha'aretz reported that State Department Spokesman
Sean McCormack told Reuters that the US viewed Olmert's speech as
constructive.

The Jerusalem Post quoted senior GOI sources as saying on Monday
that confidants of Olmert and Abbas are in "constant contact" trying
to reach an agreement to expand the cease-fire in Gaza to include
the West Bank. Israel Radio quoted Defense Minister Amir Peretz as
saying that the cease-fire only applies to the Gaza Strip and that
Israel's military activity will continue in the West Bank. The
radio said that Egypt is applying pressure on Israel to put an end
to its activity in the West Bank as well.

Israel Radio reported that FM Tzipi Livni attended a meeting in
Finland with foreign ministers from Europe, the PA, Arab states, and
Iran. The radio quoted Livni as saying on Monday at the conclusion
of the meeting that durable peace can be achieved only if the
international community assists Palestinian moderates and isolate
extremist elements such as Hamas. The station quoted Egyptian FM
Ahmed Ali Abu al-Gheit as saying at the meeting that what is needed
at this time is the stabilization of the cease-fire, followed by a
prisoner-swap deal.

Ha'aretz reported that the IDF has altered its rules of engagement
along the Israel-Gaza border after two Qassam rockets were fired
from the northern Gaza Strip on Monday despite the cease-fire. The
new rules allow troops to fire should they positively identify
militants preparing to launch a rocket. Yediot reported that on
Monday Olmert conveyed a message to Abbas, saying that there is a
limit to Israel's self restraint regarding Qassam rocket fire.
Maariv and The Jerusalem Post's web site reported that Israel has
agreed to the posting in the Gaza Strip of around one thousand
Jordanian soldiers of Palestinian origin from the Bader Division.

Yediot reported that over the past two years Meretz MK Haim Oron has
held contacts with jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti in order to
help Barghouti contribute to the PA's stability, prevent the
strengthening of Hamas, and maintain open channels between Israel
and the Palestinians. The newspaper wrote that Ariel Sharon and
later Olmert have been fully cognizant of the Oron-Barghouti
connection.

The Jerusalem Post reported that this week King Abdullah II of
Jordan will separately host Abbas and Iraqi PM Nuri Al-Maliki, as
the latter will hold meetings with both Abdullah and President Bush.
Israel Radio cited The New York Times quoting a senior US official
as saying that Hizbullah has trained Iraqi Shi'ite fighters in
Lebanon.

Hatzofe cited a report by the American Consulate-General in
Jerusalem that 70 percent of its FSN employees are Arabs and that
less than 30 percent of its FSN staff are Jews. The newspaper noted
that the Consulate-General was created in order to perpetuate the
division of Jerusalem.

The Jerusalem Post reported that US Ambassador to Israel Richard
Jones hosted the Israel America Chamber of Commerce's annual awards
dinner at which the guest of honor was Vice PM Shimon Peres. Peres,
who was the keynote speaker, emphasized the importance of
technological cooperation between Israel and the US, especially in
the field of Homeland Security.

Leading media reported that Palestinian PM Ismail Haniyeh will leave
for a foreign trip today that includes Egypt, Syria, and Iran.
Yediot said that his trip would delay the formation of a Palestinian
unity government and the release of abducted IDF soldier Cpl. Gilad
Shalit.

Maariv reported that a few days ago Hashem Salah, a senior
Palestinian columnist at the London-based Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat,
praised the speech that liberal Israeli novelist David Grossman
delivered at the memorial rally for the late PM Yitzhak Rabin.
Salah criticized Arab intellectuals and called on his readers to
listen to voice of peaces within Israeli society.
The Jerusalem Post reported that the UN Human Rights Council
"continued its record of censuring only Israel" when it passed two
anti-Israel resolutions in Geneva on Monday in which it declared the
annexation of the Golan Heights was illegal and issued a broad
condemnation of settlement activities. Other media reported on
these developments. The Jerusalem Post quoted Yitzhak Levanon,
Israel's Ambassador to the UN Institutions in Geneva, as saying in a
telephone interview with the newspaper that events were proving that
the new council is worse than the older one, the Human Rights
Commission

Israel Radio, Hatzofe, and other media reported that on Monday in
Jerusalem around 250 Israeli and Palestinian dentists attended the
First Middle East Symposium on Dental Medicine, organized by the
Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Al-Quds University. The
Jerusalem Post reported that Kibbutz Metzer, which was the target of
a brutal terrorist attack four years ago, is engaged in a joint
organic farming venture project with the neighboring Palestinian
village of Kafr Kaffin.

Ha'aretz reported that on Monday Israel's Islamic Movement rejected
compromise proposals put forth by the Museum of Tolerance management
regarding Muslim graves discovered at the museum's construction site
in Jerusalem.

The Jerusalem Post reported that YES, Israel's satellite TV company,
will broadcast Al Jazeera International-TV to its subscribers. The
cable company HOT, YES's main Israeli competitor, may also begin
airing the new channel in the coming weeks.

Channel 2-TV reported that a leak of radioactive material from the
Dimona nuclear reactor into the Negev's "Small Crater" two years ago
was not reported to the public.

Ha'aretz quoted AP as saying that the first privately owned
English-language daily, The Palestine Times, was launched on Monday
in the West Bank and Gaza, with its editors aiming to provide news
about the region to English speakers abroad. The new publication's
web site can be found at: www.times.ps.

Maariv reported that on Sunday US troops became suspicious of the
funeral of David Avraham Shakuri, one of the last remaining Jews in
Iraq, and started firing at the mourners.

Yediot reported that the Israeli Aharon Ciechanover, a Nobel
prizewinner in Biology, has been admitted into the prestigious
Pontifical Academy of Sciences.

Ha'aretz reported that two disk jockeys, one Israeli and one
Palestinian, are planning to put on a joint performance in London on
December 21.

The Jerusalem Post reported that on Monday members of the Knesset's
Labor, Welfare, and Health Committee condemned the growing trend of
Israelis visiting China for organ transplants.

-------------------------------
PM Olmert's November 27 Speech:
-------------------------------

Summary:
--------

The independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized: " After
despairing and losing his way in the wake of the Lebanon war, Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday presented a clear political
strategy."

Senior columnist and chief defense commentator Zeev Schiff wrote on
page one of Ha'aretz: "What is particularly worrying is that Hamas
succeeded in securing calm in order to better entrench itself."

Diplomatic correspondent Ben Caspit wrote on page one of the
popular, pluralist Maariv: "The one thing that is for sure is that
this speech was a 'last chance' speech."

The conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized: "If the
US, Europe and the Arab states all joined in encouraging the
Palestinians to accept Israel's offer, there is a chance to finally
reverse the trend of Palestinian radicalization."

Political parties correspondent Sima Kadmon wrote on page one of the
mass-circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot: "In the ocean of
violence and hatred there is indeed room to admire a leader's call
for peace.... [But] actions are what will determine [reality] --
those of Olmert and of his non-partner."

Senior columnist Haggai Huberman wrote in an editorial on page one
of the nationalist, Orthodox Hatzofe: "Two initiatives that Olmert
adopted within two days turned Israel into a defeated state. The
first was the cease-fire with the Palestinians and the second was
his speech of defeat at Sde Boker, where he promised, once again,
withdrawals and uprooted settlements."
Block Quotes:
-------------

I. "Clear Political Horizon"

The independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized (11/28): "After
despairing and losing his way in the wake of the Lebanon War, Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday presented a clear political strategy.
In the speech he gave at Sde Boker, at the state memorial ceremony
for David Ben-Gurion, Olmert returned to the approach he exhibited
when he formed his government: Withdrawal from the vast majority of
the territories, the evacuation of most of the settlements and the
establishment of an independent Palestinian state are essential for
the long-term existence of the State of Israel. Or, as he has said
in the past, they are the 'lifeline of Zionism.' In turning to the
Palestinian people, Olmert proposed negotiating over the
establishment of a Palestinian state with territorial contiguity in
the West Bank, whose borders will be determined in accordance with
the April 2004 "Bush letter" to Ariel Sharon.... This is the time to
call on the Palestinians and their supporters in the Arab world to
take up the Prime Minister's challenge and come to the negotiation
table. It's true that Olmert's proposals are still far from the
Palestinian demands. It's also true that Olmert was intentionally
vague about the Jerusalem issue and other final-status questions.
But that is the nature of diplomatic negotiation, which begins from
positions that are far apart and tries to bring them closer. The
alternative that the prime minister described -- renewed violence
and many victims -- will only damage both sides and keep them away,
once again, from a chance at normal life."

II. "A Tunnel at the End of the Light"

Senior columnist and chief defense commentator Zeev Schiff wrote on
page one of Ha'aretz (11/28): "Hamas's strategy worked. In return
for symbolic concessions to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud
Abbas -- and due mostly to its employment of force against Israel
and the IDF's failure to put an end to the launching of Qassam
rockets -- Hamas is reaping a major achievement. And anyone who is
wondering whether the cease-fire will enable Hamas to become
stronger should remember that following the group's electoral
victory, Israel decided that it would not allow Hamas to consolidate
its power unless it met a number of conditions. These conditions
have not been met. The positive aspect of the cease-fire, for both
sides, is the fact that Abbas, who seeks to resume diplomatic
negotiations, succeeded in arranging it. However, Abbas is also
trying to remove the economic boycott of the Gaza Strip and gain
international recognition for a Palestinian government in which
Hamas will be a leading partner. This can be viewed as a victory
for Abbas, but it is clearly also a victory for Hamas.... What is
particularly worrying is that Hamas succeeded in securing calm in
order to better entrench itself."

III. "The Ball is in the Palestinian Court"

Diplomatic correspondent Ben Caspit wrote on page one of the
popular, pluralist Maariv (11/28): "[On Monday Ehud Olmert] spoke
about very significant concessions: the establishment of a
Palestinian state with temporary borders... on condition that the
terrorism stop, that the Palestinian government recognize Israel and
previous agreements, and an interim arrangement towards a
Palestinian state begins to take on concrete form and shape. Those
are his tenets. That is the solution that he envisages. That is
what he wants. The question is whether he believes in that as well.
The chances of that scenario playing out are not high. There is no
real partner with real capabilities on the other side. There are
enough extremists on the other side who are capable of torpedoing
and blowing up any incipient opportunity for sanity. Therefore, say
Olmert's aides, the speech is either his peace speech or his war
speech. The one thing that is for sure is that this speech was a
'last chance' speech. Because if after those explicitly made
statements it becomes evident once again that we have nobody with
whom to do business and no one with whom to make progress,
legitimacy will be ours once again. Legitimacy for what? For a
large-scale military operation in Gaza, for instance."

IV. "Echo Olmert's Offer"

The conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized (11/28):
"On Monday, at the grave of David Ben-Gurion in Sde Boker, Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert extended an olive branch to the Palestinians on
behalf of the people of Israel. The Palestinians should know: The
offer is real. Take it. Take yes for an answer. Olmert's offer
is simple -- stop attacking us and we will release thousands of
prisoners, give you a state and help you economically. What's the
catch, Palestinians might ask. Well, the border between Israel and
Palestine would have to be negotiated, and would not go exactly
along the 1949 cease-fire lines. Palestinians would have to agree
that their 'right of return' would be limited to the new Palestinian
state itself (just as Jews may only 'return' to Israel), so there
would be no option of destroying Israel by flooding it with
Palestinians. That's about it.... The United States could play a
critical role here as well. Though President George W. Bush's April
14, 2004, letter to Sharon was a good start, the key is to more
openly and regularly endorse Israel's requirement that the
Palestinians drop the 'right of return' to Israel, to push Arab
states to do so as well and to lead a process of normalization with
Israel by example. If the US, Europe and the Arab states all
joined in encouraging the Palestinians to accept Israel's offer,
there is a chance to finally reverse the trend of Palestinian
radicalization. All of these external forces claim to support the
two-state solution. Now Israel's support for this same solution is
more explicit than ever. Unfortunately, unless the international
community takes the opportunity to endorse and echo Israel's offer,
the trend of Palestinian rejectionism will likely continue."

V. "He Has Nothing to Lose"

Political parties correspondent Sima Kadmon wrote on page one of the
mass-circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot (11/28): "It is not
difficult to guess what brought Olmert to come up with a political
plan now whose main parts he stated already in the past, though what
is new here is that it speaks of disengagement by agreement. What
has brought Olmert to this today is precisely what brought Sharon to
come up with the disengagement plan: his situation in the polls, the
lack of political vision and hope that led to the increase of
violence, frequent political plans and, cynics will say, the threat
of proliferating investigations. But all this does not reduce the
significance of the speech. Olmert extended a hand of peace to the
Palestinian people. His courage cannot be scorned: the political
plan he proposed completely contradicts the recommendations and the
warnings of the security establishment. It could also endanger his
[government] coalition.... In the ocean of violence and hatred there
is indeed room to admire a leader's call for peace. But even
confirmed optimists are permitted to take the Sde Boker speech with
a grain of skepticism.... We have already heard a plethora of
speeches. In the end, our reality will not be determined by
speeches. Actions are what will determine it-those of Olmert and of
his non-partner."

VI. "Olmert's Speech of Defeat"

Senior columnist Haggai Huberman wrote in an editorial on page one
of the nationalist, Orthodox Hatzofe (11/28): "Two initiatives that
Olmert adopted within two days turned Israel into a defeated state.
The first was the cease-fire with the Palestinians and the second
was his speech of defeat at Sde Boker, where he promised, once
again, withdrawals and uprooted settlements. The terror
organizations can now rub their hands together in glee. Is it any
wonder that they feel as if they were the ones who are dictating
demands to Israel, such as an end to counter-terrorism activity in
Judea and Samaria [i.e. the West Bank]? They have been given a
respite to reorganize without giving anything in return, Israel
conceded victory, and the Prime Minister commits himself in advance
to realize the Palestinian interests: an independent state, the
destruction of Jewish settlements, the release of terrorists. And
all that, as noted, without demanding from them even the most
minimal commitment, barring that they temporary hold their fire for
as long as the situation suits them. They were not even required to
release the kidnapped soldier in exchange for lifting the IDF
pressure off of them."

JONES

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