Cablegate: Israel Media Reaction

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DE RUEHTV #2711/01 3391238
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P 041238Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV
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RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 5494
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 4715
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 3136
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 5487
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 2334
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0559
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT PRIORITY 9286
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 6775
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UNCLAS TEL AVIV 002711

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

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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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Mideast

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Key stories in the media:
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Leading media reported that DM Ehud Barak and the IDF decided to
expedite preparations for the evacuation of the QHouse of
Contention,Q following Tuesday's violence between settlers and
Palestinians. Yesterday, amid general quiet, settlers broke into two
Arab homes near the wholesale market- - the so-called Shapira House
and Vizman House -- which they had evacuated about two and a half
years ago after an agreement with the state. HaQaretz reported
that Barak was scheduled to meet with the Yesha Council of Jewish
Settlers in the Territories today to discuss the evacuation, but he
was quoted as saying that despite the last-ditch effort to postpone
the house's evacuation, "we might be facing a wave of violence that
could spread to the entire West Bank." Maariv and other media
reported that secret negotiations have already taken place between
Barak and the leaders of the House of Contention. Leading media
reported that the leaders of the three major parties and Yisrael
Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman came out against hurting members
of the security forces. Shas refused to join them.

HaQaretz quoted PM Ehud Olmert as saying yesterday that Palestinians
in Hebron also have rights and a heritage. HaQaretz reported that
senior PA officials expressed concerns that the vandalism by
settlers against Muslim mosques and cemeteries could provoke a
revenge attack by Palestinians. The Jerusalem Post reported that
yesterday the PA called on the GOI to pull the settlers out of
Hebron and that it warned that the growing tensions in the city
could erupt into an all-out confrontation.

The Jerusalem Post reported that visiting Congressman Robert Wexler
(D-FL), one of President-elect Barack ObamaQs most prominent early
supporters in the Jewish community, told the newspaper yesterday
that there is little doubt that Obama could work well with Likud
head Benjamin Netanyahu, should the latter become IsraelQs next
prime minister.

The Jerusalem Post reported that the IDF is drawing up options for a
strike on Iranian nuclear installations that that do not include
coordination with the U.S. The newspaper noted that Israeli
officials have said that it would be difficult, but not impossible,
to launch a stake against Iran without receiving codes from the U.S.
Air Force, which controls Iraqi airspace. Israel also asked for the
codes in 1991 during the First Gulf War, but the U.S. refused.

Leading media reported that yesterday Knesset Member Rabbi Yitzhak
Levy (National Union-National Religious Party) announced his
intention to leave politics, declaring he would not run for a place
on the right-wing Habayit Hayehudi (Jewish Home) party list. Israel
Radio reported that today the Jewish Home will choose a leader.

Leading media reported that yesterday dozens of activists held a
demonstration outside AshkelonQs Shikma prison to protest the
conditions enjoyed by Palestinian prisoners there. The protesters
demanded that privileges such as regular family visits be suspended
as long as Hamas refused to allow the Red Cross or other officials
to meet with Gilad Shalit.

The Jerusalem Post reported that a Qatari charity group announced
that it, too, will send a boat to Gaza.

HaQaretz reported that Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz will ask
the U.S. not to lower the flight safety rating at Ben Gurion
Airport.

The Jerusalem Post reported that a new Arab party that aims to
improve the daily lives of Arabs and promote Jewish-Arab dialogue in
the country was officially launched yesterday. The daily quoted
party leader and cofounder Sheikh Abbas Zakour (United Arab
List-TaQal) as saying that Hizb al-Wasat al-Arabi (the Arab Center
Party) will focus on serving the day-to-day needs of Arab citizens,
rather than on international or regional issues that are beyond
their mandate.

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Mideast:
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Summary:
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The independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized: QThe silent
majority in Israel [might receive a message from the plunderers]
that the future of the Jewish Zionist state is being held hostage by
[the QJewish terroristsQ] who pray for its destruction.

The conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized:
QNetanyahu, a student of American politics, knows that both
Democrats and Republicans have made room for non-centrist voices.

Block Quotes:
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I. "Standing Up to Jewish Terrorism"

The independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized (12/4): QThis
week, Israel has reached the point of no return, which will also
determine who controls the state: the justice system and a
government elected by democratic means, or Jewish terrorism. If the
government does not remove, as soon as possible and without fear of
violence, the riotous core of settlers in Hebron, which has
disengaged from the state and its institutions and now endangers the
public, the blood of the victims of religious fanaticism in the
territories will be on its hands. No less grievous would be the
message sent to the plunderers that they were victorious and proof
for the silent majority in Israel that the future of the Jewish
Zionist state is being held hostage by those who pray for its
destruction. No other moral claim, not even the just claim of the
Jewish people for a national home, will stand, either at home or
abroad, against such a capitulation to terror.

II. "Let Feiglin Be Feiglin"

The conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized (12/4):
QNot unreasonably, Netanyahu is worried that allowing [far Right
Likud activist Moshe] Feiglin too high a profile will send the wrong
message about Likud philosophy. In our view, however, he could
solve this problem by rejecting the advice of his handlers to stay
vague and explicitly articulate his vision for the party....
Tactically, letting Israelis know where he stands on territorial
concessions and negotiations with the Palestinians would settle the
Likud's orientation. Feiglin could hardly then claim, as he does
now, that he represents the Qreal LikudQ.... Netanyahu, a student of
American politics, knows that both Democrats and Republicans have
made room for non-centrist voices. Today's diverse GOP includes
those divided over the role of government; today's Democratic Party
includes those divided over social and personal values.

MORENO

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