Cablegate: Israel Media Reaction

VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTV #1587/01 1521047
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 011047Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1380
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 2239
RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS PRIORITY 8967
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN PRIORITY 2236
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 3041
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 2256
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 0139
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 2990
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 9871
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0346
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT PRIORITY 6950
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 4359
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 9262
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS PRIORITY 3444
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 5382
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM PRIORITY 6981
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHMFISS/COMSOCEUR VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/COMSIXTHFLT PRIORITY

UNCLAS TEL AVIV 001587

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

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

SUBJECT: ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

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

1. Mideast

2. Iran

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

Ha'aretz reported that Israel is waiting for Hamas to forward it
another list of Palestinian prisoners whom it proposes to exchange
for kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. The paper noted that Israel
rejected most of the names suggested by Hamas two months ago.
Ha'aretz cited security sources as saying that the deal is being
postponed due to the escalation in violence the Gaza Strip.

Leading media reported that in a report submitted to the Congress
and State Department by Lt. Gen. Keith Dayton, the top American
security envoy to the Palestinian Authority, he criticized Israel
for its failure to help define a 'security horizon' for the
Palestinians and its refusal to ease conditions in the Palestinian
Authority.

Ha'aretz reported that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will meet US
President George Bush on June 19, 2007 in Washington. According to
the paper, Olmert will try to use the US trip as an opportunity to
change the agenda in Israel from domestic politics to progress on
the diplomatic front.

Ha'aretz reported that according to IDF sources the main reason that
Israel does not want to start a ground operation in the Gaza Strip
is fear that a war with Syria might break out in the summer.

Maariv reported that the largest organization of civil servants in
Britain, UNISON, will decide on June 19 whether to impose an
economic and cultural boycott on Israel.

Leading media reported that Fatah and Hamas are scheduled to meet in
Cairo to discuss a cease fire with Israel and how to lower tensions
between the two parties. According to the Jerusalem Post, three
other Palestinian factions have also sent representatives to the
Cairo talks.
All media reported that 100 IDF combat reservists who live in Sderot
told PM Olmert that they will not do any reserve time as long as
Qassam rockets are being fired at Israel.

Israel Radio reported that a first sign of life of British reporter
Alan Johnston was published Friday in a video posted on an Islamic
militant Web site. In the video Johnston said he is being treated
well and calls for the lifting of international sanctions against
the Palestinian government.

The Lebanese Minister of Communications, Marwan Hamadah, was quoted
as saying in an interview with Nazareth-based Arabic-language
Assennara, following the Security Council decision to create an
international court to try the murderers of former Lebanese Prime
Minister Hariri, that such a decision protects the sovereignty of
Lebanon and prevents interference from Syria.

The media coordinator for Hamas in Lebanon, Rafat Morra, was quoted
as saying in an interview with Arab-language Kul Al Arab that the
number of Palestinians in Fateh Al Islam is just 20 of 300 members.
The Palestinians in Lebanon are not responsible for Fateh Al Islam's
entrance into the Naher Al Bared camp. The Palestinian refugees live
in a miserable situation and most have fled to Al Badawi camp.

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

Summary:
--------

Senior columnist and longtime dove Yoel Marcus wrote in the
independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz: "If the political deck is
reshuffled and an experienced defense minister is appointed, this
could provide Olmert with the push he needs to get started on a
political initiative based on the Saudi plan, in cooperation with
U.S. President George W. Bush, and seriously explore the messages
that are secretly passing back and forth between Syria and Israel."

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

"A Stronger Government"

Senior columnist and longtime dove Yoel Marcus wrote in the
independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz (06/01): "The way things look
now, not only will the Olmert administration stay put for another
year, at least, but it could grow stronger if two heavyweights like
Barak and Ayalon -- the general and the admiral, as Peretz
sneeringly calls them -- are brought in. If the political deck is
reshuffled and an experienced defense minister is appointed, this
could provide Olmert with the push he needs to get started on a
political initiative based on the Saudi plan, in cooperation with
U.S. President George W. Bush, and seriously explore the messages
that are secretly passing back and forth between Syria and Israel."

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

Summary:
--------

Diplomatic correspondent Herb Keinon wrote in the conservative,
independent Jerusalem Post: "When Mofaz and Burns meet in
Washington, they will still focus on trying to get to Iran's brain
through the pocketbook. But unless the Iranians show some sign of
stepping down, their next meeting -- at the strategic dialogue
planned for the winter -- might very well concentrate on dealing
with other options altogether."

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

"Exhausting Efforts"

Diplomatic correspondent Herb Keinon wrote in the conservative,
independent Jerusalem Post (06/01): "Sderot is bleeding in the
basement, the Arab Peace Initiative is resting on the living-room
table, and the idea of talks with Syria is again crawling in through
the attic window. But when the US and Israel sit down in Washington
on Thursday for another round of strategic talks, the only real
focus will be on the one real threat to the entire house: Iran....
Israel and the US are, for the most part, on the same page regarding
Iran and the steps that now need to be taken. Yet there still
remains one real point of disagreement, and that has to do with the
time line.... The time line is obviously key in determining when to
throw up one's hands and say that the diplomatic process has been
exhausted, and that there is now no other choice but to act
militarily. That point has not yet arrived -- and when Mofaz and
Burns meet in Washington, they will still focus on trying to get to
Iran's brain through the pocketbook. But unless the Iranians show

some sign of stepping down, their next meeting -- at the strategic
dialogue planned for the winter -- might very well concentrate on
dealing with other options altogether."
JONES

© Scoop Media