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Cablegate: Jerusalem Media Reaction (9/08): Internal Division Colors

VZCZCXRO7498
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #1658/01 2521004
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 081004Z SEP 08
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2704
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEADWD/DA WASHINGTON DC//DAS-ZD/DACS-ZK//
RUEAHQA/CSAF WASHINGTON DC//POLAD//
RHMFIUU/CMC WASHINGTON DC
RUENAAA/CNO WASHINGTON DC//POLAD//
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 7307
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4289
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 4142
RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 5636
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 4057
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2623

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 JERUSALEM 001658

SIPDIS

STATE PASS BBG
STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA, NEA/PPD
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE, SIT ROOM
NSC FOR ABRAMS
CMC WASHINGTON DC FOR POLAD

JERUSALEM ALSO FOR ICD
LONDON FOR HKANONA AND POL - TSOU
PARIS ALSO FOR POL
ROME FOR MFO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KMDR KPAL KWBG KPAO IS
SUBJECT: JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (9/08): INTERNAL DIVISION COLORS
ALL PALESTINIAN PUBLIC DISCOURSE

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Main Stories:
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With photos of Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmud Abbas and
Jordanian King Abdullah II, the three dailies lead with front page
reports on the two leaders' meeting in Jordan on September 7.
According to a statement made by Jordanian royal protocol, Abbas and
Abdullah II discussed efforts being made to push forward
Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. King Abdullah confirmed Jordan's
support to the PA's efforts to solve all final status issues,
reporting notes. Following their meeting, Abbas told press that he
will meet with Arab foreign ministers on September 8 in Cairo to
discuss latest negotiations with Israel.
All front pages highlight news that Israel's police have recommended
that Israeli Premier Olmert be indicted on a series of corruption
charges.
All dailies front-page a Wafa report that Palestinian Authority (PA)
Premier Fayyad noted that the European Parliament has discussed
Palestinian prisoner issues for the first time, according to a
statement made by Fayyad during a September 7 Ramallah area iftar
held in honor of released Palestinian prisoners. Fayyad confirmed
that the prisoners' cause will not be resolved until all prisoners
are released without restrictions or pre-conditions. In related
coverage citing DPA and Ma'an news agencies, the three dailies
report that Hamas denied reports that Egypt's mediation role
regarding Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit has changed. Hamas spokesman
Ismail Radwan confirmed that, "reports on moving Shalit's case from
Egypt to other Arab parties are inaccurate and untrue," adding,
"Egypt is still mediating the prisoners' exchange deal with Israel."

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Al-Suds' front page highlights that Israel's government on September
6 postponed discussion on legislation that would pay Jewish settlers
to leave their homes in the West Bank, as part of a future peace
agreement with the Palestinians. The paper cites news agencies and
Israeli army radio.

The Gaza-Egypt Rafah crossing point will be open for two additional
days this week, according to Al Qud's front page. Official
Palestinian sources explain that the opening will alleviate, "the
hardship of the sick, citizens, and students in the Gaza Strip."

---------------
Weekend stories
---------------

Sunday, September 7, 2008
Large photos of Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas and
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak introduced front page reporting in
all three dailies about the September 6 meeting of the two
presidents in Cairo. During their meeting, Abbas reportedly told
Mubarak that chances of reaching peace with Israel by the end of
2008 look slim. Abbas was quoted as saying, "Jerusalem and the
right of return are inalienable Palestinian rights." Regarding
Egyptian mediation efforts to heal the inter-Palestinian rift, Abbas
expressed appreciation for Egypt's supportive stance, saying that
Egypt's continued efforts towards the resumption of an
inter-Palestinian reconciliation dialogue will soon bear fruit.
The front pages cited news agency reports about the September 6
meeting between Palestinian Authority lead negotiator Ahmad Quray
and former U.S. peace envoy Dennis Ross. Quray briefed Ross on
latest developments in the Palestinian Territories, highlighting the
issues of increasing Israeli military "invasions" into the West Bank
and random arrests, and the construction of settlements and "facts
on the ground" in Jerusalem that serve to, "wrest the city from the

JERUSALEM 00001658 002 OF 003


hands of Palestinians." Quray affirmed to press after the meeting
that the way to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the region
is clear: Through an end to the occupation, a halt in settlement
building and the construction of the separation wall, and
recognition of a Palestinian stake in Jerusalem. He added that peace
can be quickly realized and that Palestinian leadership is
"clinging" to President Bush's vision of a two state solution.
Finally, Quray reaffirmed the commitment of the Palestinian
leadership to the Arab peace initiative and related international
resolutions.
Citing DPA, all dailies' front pages reported that Deputy Chief of
the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine Mr. Abdul Rahim
Maluh said, in an interview with the London-based newspaper,
Al-Hayat Al-Londoniyya, published on September 6, that the only exit
from the current Palestinian crisis is fixing a date for holding
early Palestinian presidential and parliamentarian elections.
Al-Quds and Al-Hayat Al-Jadida highlighted on their front pages a
new poll conducted by Near East Consulting conducted between August
29 and 31. According to the poll, 72% of Palestinian respondents do
not expect reunification between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
before the end of 2008; 79% support the formation of a national
unity government to help solve the internal Palestinian crisis; 56%
support the involvement of Arab security forces in the Gaza Strip;
70% are against confederation with Jordan; 78% trust Palestinian
Authority President Mahmud Abbas; 41% support Fatah; 70% support
signing a peace agreement with Israel; 58% want Hamas to change its
stance regarding the elimination of Israel; 86% suffer from
frustration.
Saturday, September 6, 2008

Citing Wafa, the three dailies led with front page news on about
Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas' speech at the
Ambrosetti Forum in Italy on September 5. President Abbas said that
the siege and sanctions imposed on Gaza will cause a human disaster.
In related coverage on front pages, the three dailies cited a
Reuters' report about Abbas' doubts about the possibility of
reaching a comprehensive peace agreement with Israel by the end of
this year.

With large photos on their front pages, the three dailies reported
that tens of thousands of worshipers performed the first Friday
prayer during the holy month of Ramadan on September 5 at Al-Aqsa
Mosque in Jerusalem. According to reports, Israeli authorities
imposed strict procedures and prevented West Bankers under the age
of 45 from reaching Jerusalem to perform the Friday prayers at
Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Al-Quds and Al-Hayat Al-Jadida cited news agency reports about the
historic visit of US Secretary of State Rice to Libya on September 5
and her meeting with its leader Muammar Qadhafi. According to
coverage, the White House said Rice's visit marked a "new chapter"
and that cooperation could expand in the areas of education and
culture, commerce, science and technology, security and human
rights.

------------
BLOCK QUOTES:
------------
1. Independent Al-Quds editorialized in "We are not in Need of More
Division," (9/8): "Once again, division in the Palestinian arena has
resurfaced in the expression of political positions related to the
teachers' strike in the Gaza Strip. This is, of course, not a
political issue because the teachers' demands are clear and not
related to the political conflict in the Palestinian arena...

JERUSALEM 00001658 003 OF 003


political powers including, Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the
Presidency, Dr. Fayyad Government and the former government of the
Gaza Strip, should be reminded that it is everyone's duty to work on
solving the teachers' problems and to work on ending internal
division..."

2. Independent Al-Ayyam runs an editorial by daily columnist Samih
Shbayb entitled, "The Internal Conflict Crisis" (9/08): "Efforts
made in Cairo to heal inter-Palestinian division seem absurd. They
are incapable of identifying the correct party that is hindering the
process and the role of that party in continuing its control of the
Gaza Strip through military force. The suggested solutions seem
ridiculous and impossible to implement...which way will
Palestinian-Palestinian dialogue turn after Ramadan, and will things
be left [hanging] because of an open agenda, awaiting the future
international and regional developments?!"

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