VZCZCXRO1791
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #0734/01 1211001
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 301001Z APR 08
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1338
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
RUENAAA/CNO WASHINGTON DC//POLAD//
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 7087
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4080
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 3934
RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 5432
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 3842
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2409

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000734 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PASS BBG 
STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA, NEA/PPD 
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE, SIT ROOM 
NSC FOR ABRAMS 
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 (04/30):  "DISAPPOINTMENT AND 
PESSIMISM" OVER BUSH-ABBAS MEETING OUTCOME 
 
 
------------- 
Main Stories: 
------------- 
Photos of Palestinian Premier Fayyad's tour of the separation 
barrier and villages affected by the structure dominate coverage on 
the front pages of Al-Ayyam and Al-Hayat Al-Jadida.  Fayyad 
explained that the purpose of his tour was to inspect the effects of 
the "wall" and related land confiscations on agricultural villages 
northwest of Jerusalem.  According to the dailies, Fayyad stated 
that, "our olive oil's roots are deeper than the foundation of the 
discrimination wall."  Without giving detail, he highlighted that 
several mechanisms and projects will shortly be implemented to 
promote the "economic stability of the Palestinian people." 
 
According to the lead story in Al-Quds, chief Palestinian negotiator 
Ahmad Quray refused, "with anger" an Israeli map showing possible 
Israeli and Palestinian borders under of a final agreement.  The 
map, presented recently by Israeli Foreign Minister Livni, indicated 
"total control" of Israel over major West Bank settlements, 
Jerusalem and the Jordan valley, the paper reports.  Quray asked 
Quartet envoy Tony Blair to "intervene effectively" to prevent 
Israel from destroying the peace process, the paper further notes. 
Meanwhile, the dailies also report that President Bush is very 
optimistic about the possibility of reaching a peace agreement in 
the Middle East before the end of his term, picking up on comments 
made by Bush in an April 29 White House press conference. 
 
The situation in Gaza attracts front page coverage in all dailies. 
Al-Quds reports that Israeli forces pulled out of the northern Gaza 
Strip on the morning of April 29, leaving behind "one dead, many 
wounded and enormous property damage."  Israeli forces hit the 
electricity generator in the northern community of Beit Hanoun, 
leaving 200,000 Palestinians in darkness and threatening an 
"environmental and health catastrophe," the paper continued. 
Related coverage in the dailies highlights Egypt's efforts to forge 
a united Palestinian position regarding a truce with Israel. 
Al-Quds quotes Israeli Defense Minister Barak stating that, "it is 
not the appropriate time for a truce or cease fire."  Another Al 
Quds report runs Israeli intelligence warnings of Hamas plans to 
conduct a "dangerous operation" during the celebrations marking the 
independence of Israel. 
 
An exclusive interview with US Consul General Jake Walles appears on 
Al-Ayyam's front page under the headline, "The American Consul to 
Al-Ayyam:  We will not surprise Palestinians and Israelis with any 
proposals to push the peace process forward."  The Consul General 
added, "Settlement activities should stop, including natural growth 
expansion." 
 
According to Al-Quds daily Palestinian security officials have been 
coordinating with Israeli security officials on the deployment of 
Palestinian security forces to the West Bank city of Jenin. 
According to the coverage, these groups have been trained to 
"enhance security and law" in Jenin. 
 
------------ 
BLOCK QUOTES: 
------------ 
 
¶1. Official daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida carries an op-ed entitled, 
"Resistance and the Evolution of Peace ideas" (4/30): "... lately, 
[there has been] disappointment and pessimism expressed over the 
outcomes of the meeting between [Palestinian] President Abbas and 
the President of the U.S. George Bush that did not even enable Abbas 
 
JERUSALEM 00000734  002 OF 002 
 
 
to return with a [draft] map of a Palestinian state in his 
diplomatic bag.  It is not acceptable to continue to think that 
taking the road of peaceful resistance through mere regional and 
international conferences will... [achieve] our national goals... 
[We should not believe either that a solution] will be presented on 
a plate of gold at the negotiation table.  We realize that 
conducting our struggle through peaceful means, by following 
established rules and laws... requires determination, wisdom, 
patience and a firm belief in the rights of our people...  ... 
whoever thinks that the emperor of the twentieth century, Bush, is 
able to solve this issue merely because he expressed his two-state 
vision is mistaken..." 
 
¶2.  Independent Al-Ayyam runs an op-ed by veteran columnist Hani 
Habib entitled, "Troublemakers in Cairo!" (4/30): "...according to 
the Israeli version of truce [negotiations with Palestinians], 
sources in [Israeli Premier] Olmert's Government point to the truce 
failure as being largely due to the Palestinian Authority's 
inability to control Palestinian factions and the disagreement among 
these [Palestinian] parties regarding the conditions of the truce... 
Israel is in need of a truce, regardless of its current refusal. 
The Jewish state wants its upcoming month-long independence 
celebrations to go off peacefully, under a truce with the 
Palestinian side, especially since these celebrations will be 
attended by top leaders from all over the world, chief among them, 
the American President George Bush... And Israel does not want 
anyone distracting attention away from these celebrations." 
 
WALLES