Cablegate: Jerusalem Media Reaction (12/15): Us Financial Support To

VZCZCXRO7492
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #2268/01 3490835
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 150835Z DEC 09 ZDS
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6999
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEADWD/DA WASHINGTON DC//DAS-ZD/DACS-ZK//
RUEAHQA/CSAF WASHINGTON DC//POLAD//
RHMFIUU/CMC WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/CNO WASHINGTON DC//POLAD//
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 8004
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4971
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 4821
RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 6309
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 4740
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3344

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 002268

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (CHANGED TEXT PARA 4)

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 (12/15): US financial support to
the PA receives widespread media coverage

JERUSALEM 00002268 001.3 OF 002

-------------
Main Stories:
-------------
--------------------------------------
US Financial Support to the PA Budget:
--------------------------------------

All three dailies front page news on US Consul General Daniel
Rubinstein and PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad announcing the
transfer of $75 million to the PA budget yesterday in Ramallah.
Fayyad expressed gratitude for the US efforts and continuous support
to the PA. Al-Hayat Al-Jadida quotes Fayyad reiterating that it will
be difficult to achieve sustainable development under occupation.

Consul General Rubinstein is quoted in the three dailies noting that
President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad have established a
two-year program to build the institutions of a modern state, and to
develop the Palestinian economy and civil society. The Consul
General was quoted saying, "The President and Prime Minister have
our strong support in fulfilling the goals and priorities of this
program, which we see as integral to U.S. efforts to help achieve a
two-state solution and comprehensive peace in the region."

-------------
Yasuf Mosque:
------------

Independent news outlet Maan reports that Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi Yona
Metzger visited the West Bank village of Yasuf yesterday, following
the attack against the village mosque by settlers. According to the
Israeli daily Haaretz, Metzger was escorted into Yasuf by the
Israeli military and Palestinian police, and said "I came here to
expression my revulsion at this wretched act of burning a place holy
to the Muslim people." He added, "This is how the Holocaust began,
the tragedy of the Jewish people of Europe."

------------------------------
PLO Central Council Meeting:
------------------------------

Independent daily Al-Quds and Palestinian Authority (PA) official
daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida lead with news on the PLO Central Council
meeting today in Ramallah. The Council will discuss recommendations
from the Fatah Revolutionary Council and PLO Executive Committee for
extending the presidential term for President Abbas until the next
elections, according to the Basic Law.

The coverage quotes PLO Secretary General Yasser Abed Rabbo telling
the press yesterday that the meeting will also discuss issues
related to the negotiations and continued Israeli settlement
activities in Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories.

-----------------------
Hamas 22nd Anniversary:
-----------------------

Independent Al-Ayyam and Al-Quds front page reports on Hamas Prime
Minister Ismail Hanniyeh speaking at a huge gathering in Gaza
celebrating Hamas' 22nd anniversary. Hanniyeh stressed that
kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit will not be released until

JERUSALEM 00002268 002.3 OF 002

Israel responds to all Hamas demands. He also urged all Palestinian
factions to work on a new initiative to retain national unity and
end the state of division.

Hamas affiliated news outlet Paltimes.net quotes senior Hamas
official in Gaza Mahmoud Al-Zahar saying that resistance is a
general concept and is not limited to armed resistance.

-----------------------------------------
UK Issues Arrest Warrant for Tzipi Livni:
-----------------------------------------

The three dailies and Maan news agency report on the arrest warrant
issued by a British court for former Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi
Livni for her involvement in Israel's assault on Gaza last winter.
The reports note that the British government is looking into the
repercussions of such a warrant.
-------------
BLOCK QUOTES:
-------------

Al-Quds runs an editorial under the title "Guided Resistance"
referring to Hanniyeh's speech to mark Hamas' 22nd anniversary. In
his remarks, Hanniyeh referred to Hamas' "guided resistance" without
further explanation. According to the writer, one can easily
conclude that Hanniyeh is referring to the unannounced truce with
Israel. The writer questions, "If this is Hamas' option, why didn't
Hamas make this choice from the beginning and avoid all this
destruction and suffering?"

RUBINSTEIN

© Scoop Media