Cablegate: Jerusalem Media Reaction (10/23): Palestinian Press Leads

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O 230555Z OCT 09
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6445
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 001936

SIPDIS

STATE PASS BBG
STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA, NEA/PPD
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE, SIT ROOM
NSC
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 (10/23): Palestinian press leads
with Secretary Clinton's report to President Obama

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Main Stories:
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The local press leads with news on Secretary Hillary Clinton's
briefing to President Obama on the status of the Middle East peace
efforts. According to coverage, the Secretary told the President
that challenges remain as the US continues to work with the
Palestinians and Israelis to re-launch negotiations in a positive
atmosphere. The Secretary stated that the Palestinians have
strengthened their efforts on security and reforming Palestinian
institutions, but they need to do more in these areas, in addition
to stopping incitement and preventing terror. Clinton added that the
Israelis have facilitated greater movement for Palestinians and
responded to the US call to freeze settlement activity by expressing
a willingness to do so, but they need to translate that willingness
into real, meaningful action and do more to improve the daily lives
of Palestinians.

Al-Hayat Al-Jadida leads with US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice's
meetings with Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Salam Fayyad
and Secretary General of the Palestinian Liberation Organization
Executive Committee Yasser Abed Rabbo yesterday. After the meeting,
Abed Rabbo noted to the press that achieving any progress in the
peace efforts depends on US efforts to exert pressure on Israel to
halt the settlement activity.

Al-Quds leads with news that Israel allocated more than $50 million
to increase settlement activity in the West Bank and Jerusalem. The
reports also note that Israel allocated more than $106 million for
projects that connect the settlements with Jerusalem. In related
news, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida runs front page news that Israel started
construction on new units in the Mikhola settlement near Tubas in
the northern West bank.

The dailies report on Yasser Abed Rabbo noting that PA President
Mahmoud Abbas will issue a presidential decree to announce the date
for holding presidential and legislative elections in the next two
days. Hamas newspaper Al-Resalah reports that Hamas will not respond
to this decree, saying that they will not approve of holding the
elections.

Gaza-based Al-Quds radio reports that five Hamas leaders and members
of the Palestinian Legislative Council will be released from Israeli
jails next month after being detained for more than 40 months.
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BLOCK QUOTES:
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1) Al-Quds independent daily runs an editorial under the title
"Which Peace Process?"(10/23): "Very surprisingly, Israel claims
that any discussion of the Goldstone report will harm peace efforts
and the peace process ... Which peace process are they talking about
when settlement activities are still going on? The Israeli position
is the only obstacle before the peace process, not the Goldstone
report!"

2) Rajab Abu Sirriyeh opines in Al-Ayyam independent daily under the
title "The Last Chance for Reconciliation" (10/23): "As a political
movement that seeks to lead the people, Hamas should have been more
flexible and more moderate. They should have agreed to additional
compromises to achieve national reconciliation and maintain its
popularity."

JERUSALEM 00001936 002 OF 002

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Cartoon of the week:
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The cartoon below shows two pigeons as symbols of peace. The one in
pink is entitled "Goldstone" while the orange is entitled
"reconciliation." Two guns are pointed towards them, the first gun
represents the US veto on the Goldstone report and the second is
Hamas's postponement of national reconciliation.

RUBINSTEIN

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