Cablegate: Jerusalem Media Reaction (09/01): Palestinians Continue

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

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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 (09/01): Palestinians Continue
Calls for Complete Settlement Freeze

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Main Stories:
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The three dailies lead with news on Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor
Lieberman criticizing Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister
Salam Fayyad's plan for ending the occupation and building the
institutions of an independent Palestinian state in two years.
Lieberman warned the Palestinians against implementing such a plan
irregardless of the progress of negotiations and expressed his
skepticism about achieving any positive dialogue with the
Palestinians, according to coverage.

The dailies also lead with Fayyad noting during his meeting with
European Union Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana August 31 in
Ramallah that building an independent Palestinian state is a
"Palestinian responsibility." Solana stressed in a joint press
conference with Fayyad that the EU fully supports this plan and
called for the complete cessation of settlement activity.

All dailies run front page coverage on PLO Chief Negotiator Saeb
Erekat noting on August 31 from Qatar that the PA has not been told
about a new US peace plan for the Middle East, stressing that all
parties must abide by their Road Map obligations. Erekat also noted
that the Israeli cessation of settlement activity is an obligation
that should be met by Israel in order to pave the way for successful
negotiations.

Al-Ayyam runs front page news citing Reuters on Senior Fatah leader
Nabil Shaath noting to the press on August 31 that PA President
Mahmoud Abbas will not re-start negotiations with Israel unless the
latter completely halts all settlement activity in the West Bank and
Jerusalem. -------------
BLOCK QUOTES:
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1) Al-Quds independent daily runs an editorial under the title "No
negotiations parallel to the settlements" (09/01): "President Obama
has to understand that the Palestinian people fully support the
position of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas not to
re-start negotiations with Israel unless there is a freeze in
settlement activity, including Jerusalem. The continuation of
settlement construction will jeopardize any initiative to end the
conflict and achieve peace."

2) Hani Al-Masri opines in Al-Ayyam independent daily under the
headline "The US peace initiative" (09/01):" Without real US and
international pressure exerted on Israel to force it to accept the
international laws and resolutions for ending the occupation and
recognizing the rights of the Palestinian people ... the US peace
initiative will not do the region any good. On the contrary, it will
harm all efforts for achieving regional peace and security and will
grant Israel more time to complete its settlement construction."

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