Cablegate: Israel Media Reaction

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STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA, NEA/PPD

WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE, SIT ROOM
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JERUSALEM ALSO ICD
LONDON ALSO FOR HKANONA AND POL
PARIS ALSO FOR POL
ROME FOR MFO

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

SUBJECT: ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION

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SUBJECTS COVERED IN THIS REPORT:
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Election of Barack Obama to President

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Key stories in the media:
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Leading media reported that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is
arriving in the region today.

All mainstream media led with the election of Sen. Barack Obama to
President of the U.S. Banners in Yediot: QAmericaQs HopeQ; Maariv:
QThe ChosenQ; Israel Hayom: QThe Obama EraQ; and The Jerusalem Post:
QTriumphant Obama: Change Has Come to America.Q HaQaretz chose to
highlight ObamaQs comment in his victory speech: QThat's the true
genius of America, that America can change.Q The first page of the
newspaper is a full translation of the speech.

All media reported that president-elect Obama has offered the post
of White House Chief of Staff to Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D- IL). His
father is a former Israeli who was a member of Menachem BeginQs
Irgun underground movement.

HaQaretz reported that the purpose of PM Ehud OlmertQs visit to
President Bush later this month will be an attempt to reach last
minute agreements and extract a number of promises before both
leaders step down. Olmert is looking for commitments from Bush on
the peace process with the Palestinians, U.S. military aid and
various arms deals.

Media reported that yesterday PM Olmert congratulated Obama and
said: "U.S.-Israeli ties are special and based on shared values and
interests that manifest themselves in close cooperation. Israel and
the U.S. have a joint interest to improve relations." HaQaretz
reported that FM and Kadima Chairwoman told the Knesset, in
criticism of Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu: QIf Israel
represents itself as a country that opposes any [peace] process then
the world, headed by the U.S., will try to force processes on it.
Just saying 'no' has never helped Israel in any diplomatic sphere."
Leading media quoted U.S. Ambassador to Israel James Cunningham as
saying yesterday at a reception at JerusalemQs King David Hotel that
Barack Obama will be a Qgreat president and a great friend of

Israel.Q The Jerusalem Post noted that Cunningham declared that it
was a proud day in American history and part of a process, and
lauded John McCain for Qhis incredibly gracious concession speech.
HaQaretz reported that Obama could replace Cunningham immediately.

Many media and social activists wish for an QIsraeli ObamaQ: QWhy
not an Ethiopian, Arab, or Yemenite PM?

Israel Radio reported that last night the IDF attacked Islamic Jihad
positions in northern Gaza, killing an Islamic Jihad militant.

The Jerusalem Post quoted police as saying that PM Olmert will
undergo a ninth round of investigation from the National Fraud Unit
tomorrow.

The Jerusalem Post reported that yesterday the homes of East
Jerusalem Arabs were demolished, prompting riots.

Israel Radio reported that MK Israel Hasson, No. 2 in Yisrael
Beiteinu and former deputy head of Shin Bet, has joined Kadima.

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Election of Barack Obama to President:
--------------------------------------

Summary:
--------

The independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized: QIn an era
when America became anathema in the world, and the Wall Street
crisis dragged its people and many people all over the globe to the
abyss of uncertainty and fear of the future, America chose the
chance for peace and dialogue and socioeconomic repair in the spirit
of the New Deal.

The conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized: QThe
members of the new administration will see with their own eyes that
no one wants peace more than Israel. No one. Congratulations
President-elect Obama on a historic victory. Godspeed.

Liberal columnist Yael Paz-Melamed wrote in the popular, pluralist
Maariv: QA new wind will blow from the White House -Q not a hostile
one, but a different one.

Chief Economic Editor Sever Plotker wrote in the mass-circulation,
pluralist Yediot Aharonot: QObamaQs electrifying election call, Qyes
we can!Q becomes, for president-elect Obama a tough personal
question: Qcan he?Q Can Obama? Billions of people believe that he
can, and that is already an excellent start.

The nationalist, Orthodox Makor Rishon-Hatzofe editorialized: QAs a
whole we must turn to the ancient rule: QIf I am not for myself, who
will be?Q This is the lesson to be learned from the aftermath of
the U.S. elections.

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

I. "The Dawn of a New Era"

The independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized (11/6): QThe
election of Barack Obama as president of the United States is a
moving, historic event that inspires hope.... Obama was elected not
only because of his good qualities, his personal charm and his
verbal abilities. He was chosen first and foremost because he
represents, in the most acute and genuine way, the change for which
the citizens of the United States so desperately yearn.... In an era
when America became anathema in the world, and the Wall Street
crisis dragged its people and many people all over the globe to the
abyss of uncertainty and fear of the future, America chose the
chance for peace and dialogue and socioeconomic repair in the spirit
of the New Deal.... With his election, the deepest wound in American
society, which was born with slavery but continued to bleed overtly
and covertly in race riots and discrimination, has begun to heal.
With Barack Obama's entry into the White House, the U.S., and
together with it the entire world, stands on the threshold of a new
era. If Obama succeeds in fulfilling the hope that is pinned on
him, the day of his election will go down as the day that wrought a
change in the entire world, and will grant those living there a
reason to look forward to the future with hope.

II. "Mazal tov, Obama"

The conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized (11/6):
QJust as the people of the United States were electing Barack
Hussein Obama as their next president, Hamas was putting the
finishing touches on a plot to abduct Israeli soldiers and break the
relative cease-fire which has prevailed for the past five months....
Even as Hamas-controlled Gaza, fueled by religious fanaticism and
mired in the culture of victimization, pursued its predictable
violent trajectory -- 6,000 miles away, the splendor of peaceful
change, representative democracy and political civility was on
display for all to see. Those in our part of the world dedicated to
rejectionism, violence, and terror will soon discover anew that the
relationship between Washington and Jerusalem is above partisanship.
And the members of the new administration will see with their own
eyes that no one wants peace more than Israel. No one.
Congratulations President-elect Obama on a historic victory.
Godspeed.

III. "The Dawn of a New Middle East"

Liberal columnist Yael Paz-Melamed wrote in the popular, pluralist
Maariv (11/6): QWhen Israel pledged to vacate 26 unauthorized
outposts and we did not even evacuate one of them, the friend from
the White House [Bush] turned a blind eye.... A new wind will blow
from the White House -Q not a hostile one, but a different one. If
[ObamaQs] advisers for the region are indeed people like Dan
Kurtzer, Dennis Ross, or Martin Indyk, one can anticipate more
proportionality towards Israel and its policy. Those advisers,
together with the powerful pro-Israeli lobby, in addition to
pressure from the Pentagon, will certainly moderate American policy
as Obama might perhaps have wanted to see it. But there will be
change anyway. Apart from our politics, everything is changing, and
the hope blowing from ObamaQs election is necessary for Israel,
too.

IV. "Mr. World"

Chief Economic Editor Sever Plotker wrote in the mass-circulation,
pluralist Yediot Aharonot (11/6): QHumankind is united today like
never before. Democracy, in all its various and not always perfect
forms, is more common today than in the past. When people describe
their problems in terms of dreams and not in terms of wars, Barack
Obama is viewed as the right man in the right place. He crosses
borders, religions, and races. All the world is Obama. And yet,
the hard part is still in front of him. Obama has never yet managed
anything except his own lection campaign, and that is not much. He
is a American-style social democrat, who is getting Amrica in a
condition of fear and trepidation -- astrong nation, but confused
and expectant.... To win in the elections you have to know how to
make promises. To lead after the elections you have to know how to
keep them. The test of decisions is very different from the test of
speeches. ObamaQs electrifying election call, Qyes we can!
becomes, for president-elect Obama a tough personal question: Qcan
he?Q Can Obama? Billions of people believe that he can, and that is
already an excellent start.

V. QObama and Israel

The nationalist, Orthodox Makor Rishon-Hatzofe editorialized (11/6):
QLike in the past, Israel adopted a neutral approach to both
candidates.... At this time, the Mideast policy of the elected
Democratic candidate is unclear. As his latest statements
demonstrate, he might take steps that will lead to a rapprochement
between Washington and Tehran, not between the U.S. and Syria.... At
present it is IsraelQs duty to prepare anew and set its policy
according to its interests to protect its well-being and the
security of the state. Not one will take of our security. As a
whole we must turn to the ancient rule: QIf I am not for myself, who
will be?Q This is the lesson to be learned from the aftermath of
the U.S. elections.

CUNNINGHAM

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