VZCZCXYZ0007
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTV #1401/01 1341130
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 141130Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1062
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAHQA/HQ USAF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEADWD/DA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUENAAA/CNO WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI PRIORITY 2158
RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS PRIORITY 8893
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN PRIORITY 2131
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 2962
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 2157
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 0031
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 2901
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 9794
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0270
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT PRIORITY 6875
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 4280
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 9179
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS PRIORITY 3370
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 5299
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM PRIORITY 6813
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHMFISS/COMSOCEUR VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/COMSIXTHFLT  PRIORITY

UNCLAS TEL AVIV 001401 
 
SIPDIS 
 
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 
 
SIPDIS 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OPRC KMDR IS
 
SUBJECT: ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION 
 
 
-------------------------------- 
SUBJECTS COVERED IN THIS REPORT: 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶1. Mideast 
 
¶2. Iran 
 
------------------------- 
Key stories in the media: 
------------------------- 
 
Yediot reported on Sunday that Minister Amir Peretz has instructed 
the officialin charge of security for the ministry, Yehiel Horev, to 
begin an official investigation on whether an official of the 
Defense Ministry helped the USG draft its "benchmarks" document, 
which was presented to Israel ten days ago. According to the media, 
IDF officials strongly oppose the benchmark plan, especially the 
proposal to remove roadblocks across the West Bank and the 
resumption of "safe passage" for Palestinians between the West Bank 
and Gaza, saying it may spawn more terror. Ha'aretz reported that PM 
Olmert agreed with the IDF's stance. 
 
All media reported that the security cabinet decided on Sunday to 
expand, but not escalate, the latest Gaza operation.  The media 
noted that the cabinet has adopted a vague stance, postponing 
further decisions until next week. 
 
All media reported that four Palestinian were killed and 14 hurt in 
a new wave of Gaza infighting. The Fatah and Hamas militants blame 
each other for the renewed violence.. 
 
On Sunday, Ha'aretz reported that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and 
Palestinian Chairman Mahmoud Abbas are scheduled to meet in a few 
weeks to discuss the future of a Palestinian state. 
 
All media on Sunday quoted Minister of Foreign Affairs Tzipi Livni 
as saying that Israel will have to make territorial withdraws from 
the West Bank in order for a Palestinian state to be established. 
 
All media quoted Mossad Chief Meir Dagan as saying in a closed forum 
last week that even if Israel decides to hold talks with Syrian 
President Bashar Assad, he will not cease support for Hizbullah. He 
also warned that the chances of war with Syria will increase if 
Israel enters negotiations that fail. Maariv cited Minister of 
Defense Amir Peretz as saying in an interview on Channel 10 that PM 
Olmert should meet the Syrian President and that he himself is not 
afraid to meet with him. 
 
All media reported that a visit by Jordan King Abdullah to Ramallah 
was postponed due to bad weather. 
 
Ha'aretz reported on Sunday that Israelis and Palestinians are 
planning to establish five industrial zones close to the Green Line, 
which would supply hundreds of jobs for Palestinians. The 
information was disclosed to the paper by Deputy Minister of Defense 
Efrayim Sneh. 
 
Sunday's Ha'aretz cited US Deputy National Security Advisor Elliot 
Abrams as saying to a group of Jewish Republicans that the effort 
the US is investing in the Israeli Palestinian conflict are aimed at 
reducing pressure from Arabs and Europeans. 
 
Leading media reported on Sunday that the waiting time for Israeli 
citizens to get a US visa is two months. The papers quoted a US 
Embassy press release encouraging people to apply for their visas as 
early as possible, since the waiting time for an interview is very 
long due to high demand in the summer months. 
 
----------- 
¶1. Mideast: 
----------- 
 
Summary: 
-------- 
 
Palestinian affairs correspondent Danny Rubinstein wrote in the left 
leaning, independent Ha'aretz (05/14): "In other words, the 
government of Israel can and should try the diplomatic way to stop 
the firing of the Qassams -- by agreeing to expand the truce to the 
West Bank as well." 
 
Right-wing columnist Elyakim Ha'etzni wrote in the mass-circulation, 
pluralist Yediot Aharonot (05/14): "If there is any chance of 
preventing the 'next war or the 'summer war' it is only if Israel 
signals that it is still capable of uniting.... If a war is declared 
upon us after all, a unity government would be ideal to prepare for 
it. Unity is also desired facing the Iranian threat." 
 
Block Quotes: 
------------- 
¶I. "Extend the Truce to the West Bank" 
 
Palestinian affairs correspondent Danny Rubinstein wrote in the left 
leaning, independent Ha'aretz (05/14): "It is doubtful that there 
are any reasonable military means for stopping the firing of Qassam 
missiles at Israel. However, it is perfectly clear to all 
Palestinian spokesmen, as well as to a good many Israelis, that 
there is only one diplomatic way to stop the Qassam attacks, and 
that is to extend the fragile truce in Gaza to the West Bank as 
well.  To put this more clearly: It is necessary to stop preventive 
actions taken by the Israel Defense Forces in Judea and Samaria.... 
The prevailing Israeli argument has been that the IDF has to act in 
the West Bank because that is where the terror cells that prepare 
suicide attacks are organized.  It is difficult to accept this 
argument because preparation for such attacks inside Israel is going 
full steam ahead not only in the West Bank, but also in the Gaza 
Strip and southern Lebanon and undoubtedly also in Syria.  There is 
a series of reasons, diplomatic and other, that the government of 
Israel is not sending the IDF to act against everyone who is 
organizing to harm us, and it is definitely possible to use these 
reasons to explain what goes on in Jenin, Nablus and Tul Karm as 
well.  In other words, the government of Israel can and should try 
the diplomatic way to stop the firing of the Qassams -- by agreeing 
to expand the truce to the West Bank as well." 
 
II. "Unity Government - Now" 
 
Right-wing columnist Elyakim Ha'etzni wrote in the mass-circulation, 
pluralist Yediot Aharonot (05/14): "Ehud Barak's idea might pull 
this country out from the mud: a date for general elections would be 
decided by all parties and in the intermediate time -- a year at the 
most -- an emergency unity government would be established.  If 
there is any chance of preventing the 'next war or the 'summer war' 
it is only if Israel signals that it is still capable of uniting.... 
If a war is declared upon us after all, a unity government would be 
ideal to prepare for it. Unity is also desired facing the Iranian 
threat.... National unity would announce that we have found powers 
within us to stand on our feet again.... A unity government would 
give each side -- left and right -- what it wants: the building of 
the separation fence will continue but the suffocation of the 
settlements will stop.... National unity is good for economy, it 
would do us good among the Jewish world and towards elections it 
would grant everyone a fair chance. And if it lowers, even by little 
the inner hatred among us -- amen." 
 
-------- 
 
¶2. Iran: 
-------- 
 
Summary: 
-------- 
 
The conservative, independent the Jerusalem Post wrote (05/14): "In 
principle, there is nothing wrong with a second track indicating 
that the door is open if Iran were to decide that it was abandoning 
terrorism and aggression, nuclear-backed and otherwise.  The problem 
is that this second track has no chance of bearing fruit unless the 
first track, the 'or else' side of the equation, is greatly 
ratcheted up." 
 
Block Quotes: 
------------- 
 
"Mixed Signals" 
 
The conservative, independent the Jerusalem Post wrote (05/14): 
"Judging from the headlines, ViQ President Dick Cheney did some 
serious saber-rattling against Iran during his swing through the 
region last week.... Just a week before Cheney's tough speech, 
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met briefly with Iran's foreign 
 
SIPDIS 
minister at a conference on Iraq.... In principle, there is nothing 
wrong with a second track indicating that the door is open if Iran 
were to decide that it was abandoning terrorism and aggression, 
nuclear-backed and otherwise.  The problem is that this second track 
has no chance of bearing fruit unless the first track, the 'or else' 
side of the equation, is greatly ratcheted up.  According to a new 
Web site tracking trade with and investment in Iran ... global 
investment in Iran rose from about $5 billion in mid-2006 to over 
$45b. in the first few months of this year.... In this context, it 
is not surprising that Iran does not take the West's sanctions too 
seriously, certainly not seriously enough to abandon its nuclear 
program. For Western policy to work, Iran must understand two 
things: both that sanctions will be drastically tightened and that 
there is a meaningful threat of military action if sanctions are not 
effective.  Cheney's speech notwithstanding, military threats are 
unlikely to be credible unless the sanctions piece is being 
seriously pursued not just by the US, but by Europe as well." 
SIEVERS