Cablegate: Jerusalem Media Reaction (10/29): President Abbas Speaks At

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OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #1957/01 3020553
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 290553Z OCT 09
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6490
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
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INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 7923
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4890
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 4740
RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 6228
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RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3251

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 001957

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 (10/29): President Abbas speaks at
International Forum for Jerusalem

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Main Stories:
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The lead stories in all three dailies highlight President Abbas's
speech at the International Forum for Jerusalem in Morocco
yesterday. The headlines quote Abbas reiterating that the
"Palestinian Authority (PA) is still willing to end the internal
Palestinian division and achieve reconciliation with Hamas." Abbas
also said that the increased "Israeli escalations in Jerusalem may
lead to a religious war." In his speech, Abbas noted that the PA
will consider options other than the two-state solution if Israel
continues its refusal to compromise.

Al-Quds front pages an interview with PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad
conducted by the Palestinian Studies Magazine. Fayyad is quoted as
saying that General Dayton has nothing to do with the PA's security
arrangements, noting that "Dayton works for us, we don't work for
him." Fayyad noted that Dayton's job is to oversee the training
process for the new members of the PA security forces. He noted that
approximately 2000 security forces have been trained and selected by
the PA itself, not by Dayton.

All dailies front page news on a Hamas press release announcing that
it won't allow any elections to take place in Gaza, noting that
President Abbas's calls for elections are "illegal and
illegitimate."

All front pages run stories on a report released by the Israeli
research institute Macro Center for Political Economics that shows
there will be a Palestinian majority in Jerusalem in 20 years
despite Israeli measures to diminish the Palestinian presence in the
city.

Al-Ayyam front pages news that negotiations between Hamas and Israel
over a prisoners exchange deal are underway. 450 Palestinian
prisoners would be released from Israeli jails in exchange for
Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. The report notes that Israel has
reservations over the names of 125 prisoners on the list.

Hamas newspaper Al-Resalah runs a report on US pressure on President
Abbas to make more compromises regarding the resumption of
negotiations with Israel. The report also notes that the US told
Abbas that they don't want the PA to sign a reconciliation agreement
with Hamas unless the latter recognizes Israel.
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BLOCK QUOTES:
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1) Al-Quds independent daily runs an editorial under the title "
Jerusalem ... the Scale for Peace and War!": (29/10): "The Israeli
measures in Jerusalem, including home demolitions and attempts to
diminish the Palestinian identity, must be an incentive to all
Palestinian leaders to put an end to the people's misery and
prioritize national unity."

2) Omar Al-Ghoul opines in Al-Hayat Al-Jadida official daily under
the title "Hamas, Where is the Truth?" "Hamas and its officials are
lying about its reservations on the national reconciliation
agreement because the truth contradicts its beliefs and policies.
Hamas should stop the lies and explain its real position to the
people regarding its refusal to sign the reconciliation agreement."

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RUBINSTEIN

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