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PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTV #1706/01 2201026
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 071026Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7878
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RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 4232
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 2567
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 4992
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1851
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0063
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT PRIORITY 8843
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RHMFIUU/COMSIXTHFLT  PRIORITY

UNCLAS TEL AVIV 001706 
 
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: 
-------------------------------- 
 
Mideast 
 
------------------------- 
Key stories in the media: 
------------------------- 
 
The media reported that as a gesture to PA President Mahmoud Abbas, 
PM Ehud Olmert has decided to release Palestinian prisoners, two 
"with blood on their hands" -- but not high-profile prisoners such 
as Marwan Barghouti, Ahmad Saadat, and Hamas's Aziz Dweik.  While 
Ha'aretz reported that the prisoners to be freed number 100, other 
media reported that their number is still to be determined. 
Yesterday Gilad Shalit's father Noam wrote an article in the 
Palestinian daily Al Quds, saying that Gilad is holding hundreds of 
Palestinian prisoners hostage, as well as more than a million 
Palestinians, who are suffering from the blockade that Israel 
imposed on Gaza after Gilad was kidnapped.  In contrast, Maariv 
reported that Noam Shalit has said that it is the Hamas leadership 
which is responsible for delaying the Gilad Shalit deal, and is 
therefore responsible for preventing the release of Palestinian 
prisoners.  The Jerusalem Post reported that yesterday Israel 
released Issa Ja'bari, a former minister in the Hamas cabinet. 
 
Ha'aretz and other media reported that Israel warned Hizbullah 
yesterday that it intended to put an end to the arms smuggling into 
Lebanon.  Israel said the Shi'ite group is using the arms to bolster 
its position domestically and as a strategic threat on behalf of 
Iran.  During a meeting of the political-security cabinet on 
Hizbullah yesterday, Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, and FM 
Tzipi Livni said "Israel will not acquiesce to the continued 
smuggling of arms."  During the meeting, the ministers were updated 
on continued Syrian transfers of advanced military hardware to 
Hizbullah, including air defense systems, in an effort to limit the 
freedom of operations of the IAF in Lebanon, particularly in 
reconnaissance and surveillance operations.  The ministers were 
briefed on intelligence assessments, which hold that Hizbullah is 
interested in a confrontation with Israel over Israeli air force 
overflights.  The ministers were also alerted to the possibility 
Syria may transfer Hizbullah more sophisticated weaponry than is 
currently in the Shi'ite group's arsenal. 
 
The media reported that Regiment Commander Lt. Col. Omri Bruberg 
will be dismissed from his post in the wake of an incident where an 
IDF soldier fired a rubber bullet at a handcuffed Palestinian.  The 
IDF's Judge Advocate General, Avi Mandelblit, also decided that the 
commander and the firing soldier will face criminal charges of 
improper conduct.  Such offences are considered relatively minor and 
do not result in a criminal record.  The trial is expected to end in 
a plea bargain.  Israel Radio quoted the B'Tselem human rights 
group, which uncovered the Na'alin affair, as sayng that the plea 
bargain with the battalion commander was disgraceful, and that if 
the IDF had proof that the battalion commander ordered a soldier to 
shoot a handcuffed person, it should be considered a war crime, not 
unworthy conduct. 
 
On Israel Radio yesterday Minister Shaul Mofaz denounced Iran as the 
"root of all evil." 
 
Ha'aretz reported that Aljazeera-TV admitted yesterday that its 
coverage of Israel's release of convicted Lebanese terrorist Samir 
Kuntar violated the station's own code of ethics.  The admission 
came in response to a threat by Israel's Government Press Office to 
boycott the satellite channel unless it apologized. 
 
Ha'aretz reported that Ehud Barak ordered the destruction of the 
house of the East Jerusalem terrorist who carried out the killings 
at Jerusalem's Mercaz Harav Yeshiva.  The process will likely be 
appealed. 
 
The Jerusalem Post reported that British Foreign Office Minister Kim 
Howells has vowed to ensure that no more West Bank settlers will be 
invited to events hosted by the British Embassy in Israel. 
 
Ha'aretz reported that left-wing Israeli Prof. Jeff Halper will sail 
for Gaza with the goal of breaking the siege that Israel has imposed 
there. 
 
The Jerusalem Post reported that over 100 academics and peace 
activists joined forces yesterday to petition the Israeli government 
against attacking Iran, claiming that Israel should give more 
credence to current diplomatic efforts. 
 
Ha'aretz and The Jerusalem Post reported that the U.S. will help 
Israel develop and finance the new generation of anti-missile 
defenses -- the "Arrow 3." 
 
Maariv cited Israel's belief that Al-Qaida associates are 
responsible for the latest Hamas-Fatah crisis. 
 
Maariv quoted Syrian Minister of Expatriates Buthaynah Shabaan as 
saying yesterday that negotiations between Israel and Syria are 
moving ahead and will continue despite the crisis in Kadima. 
 
Ha'aretz reported that 40 Knesset members support the rebuilding of 
settlements in the northernmost West Bank, including Homesh. 
 
Ha'aretz cited two recent surveys showing that secular candidate Nir 
Barkat would defeat the ultra-Orthodox MK Meir Porush by more than 
20 percent if Jerusalem were to hold mayoral elections today. 
However, both polls forecast a fairly close race between Barkat, who 
currently heads the opposition in Jerusalem's city council, and the 
ultra-Orthodox incumbent mayor, Uri Lupoliansky, should he receive 
the ultra-Orthodox candidacy. 
 
-------- 
Mideast: 
-------- 
 
Summary: 
-------- 
 
Military correspondent Alex Fishman wrote in the mass-circulation, 
pluralist Yediot Aharonot: "Why is the Prime Minister, who will be 
leaving his post in a month, suddenly releasing 150 security 
prisoners?.... The main thing is that Condoleezza will not be mad at 
us, like the last time she was here." 
 
Liberal columnist Larry Derfner wrote in the conservative, 
independent Jerusalem Post: "Here's an idea: Uproot the West Bank 
settlers on the far side of the security barrier -- but keep the IDF 
there, unless and until a final peace agreement is reached." 
 
Diplomatic correspondent Aluf Benn wrote in the independent, 
left-leaning Ha'aretz: "Although he is part of the establishment, 
Netanyahu markets himself successfully as a radical who represents 
change." 
 
Block Quotes: 
------------- 
 
¶I.  "Risky Gimmick" 
 
Military correspondent Alex Fishman wrote in the mass-circulation, 
pluralist Yediot Aharonot (8/7): "Why is the Prime Minister, who 
will be leaving his post in a month, suddenly releasing 150 security 
prisoners?  What happened?  To what end?  Is there some Palestinian 
holiday in the offing?  On one hand, we bargain over the 450 
prisoners that Hamas is demanding for Gilad Shalit, and on the other 
hand we release, with a single utterance, 150 others.... These 
'light' prisoners, history shows, are the worst.   The 'heavy' 
prisoners, the ones that we are refusing to release in exchange for 
Gilad, have already sat in prison for many years, they have done 
their part and want to build a life.  Most are more engaged in 
political activity than in violent activity.  The 'light' ones, 
however, the ones who did not have a chance to do much damage and 
were sentenced to short periods, are young people who have undergone 
concentrated training in prison and will become heavy terrorists 
upon being released.... Is there really anyone in Israel who 
believes that an initiative for releasing 150 'light' prisoners, an 
initiative not supported by additional real measures on the ground, 
will strengthen Abu Mazen's standing in his public?  Perhaps.  Will 
Hamas and Hizbullah stop trying to abduct soldiers following this 
gesture?  It is highly doubtful.  But we have done our part.  The 
main thing is that Condoleezza will not be mad at us, like the last 
time she was here." 
 
II.  "Quicksand in the Settlements" 
 
Liberal columnist Larry Derfner wrote in the conservative, 
independent Jerusalem Post (8/7): "Maybe now's the time to make a 
plan, then start carrying it out.  Here's an idea: Uproot the West 
Bank settlers on the far side of the security barrier -- but keep 
the IDF there, unless and until a final peace agreement is reached. 
Evacuate 50,000-100,000 settlers and redeploy the army in the West 
Bank for the sole purpose of defending Israelis behind the security 
barrier, instead of on both sides of it.  Pulling the settlers out 
but keeping the soldiers in -- pending a final peacetreaty, if and 
when it comes -- would probably b good for Israel's security.  It 
would definitely be good for Israel's democracy.  The gridlock with 
the Palestinians would be broken; a giant step toward peace would be 
made.  Yes, it would be traumatic for the many thousands of settler 
families who'd lose their homes, but there's no way of avoiding that 
trauma if Israel is going to remain a Jewish, democratic state.  And 
afterward, if the Palestinians demanded citizenship, equality and 
the right to vote in Israeli elections, we would be able to say: No, 
but you can have an independent Palestinian state so long as it's 
peaceful.  We've just demonstrated that what we want is security, 
not more land; now it's your turn to demonstrate that you'll 
deliver." 
III.  "Why Netanyahu Is Ahead" 
 
Diplomatic correspondent Aluf Benn wrote in the independent, 
left-leaning Ha'aretz (8/7): "People believed Sharon would extricate 
them from the predicament, and therefore backed him, irrespective of 
the changes in his policies. Ehud Olmert did not become unpopular 
because of his failure in the Second Lebanon War, and not even 
because of the investigations against him.  The public simply lost 
its faith in his ability to govern.... Netanyahu is popular with the 
public because he is perceived as a leader with a message, ready to 
fight for his views in an environment of political deal brokering. 
Time and again one may recall Netanyahu's failures as prime 
minister.... But all this is nothing compared to his clashes with 
the elites as prime minister and the way he stood up to the 
Histadrut labor federation, the banks and the social lobby as 
finance minister.  Although he is part of the establishment, 
Netanyahu markets himself successfully as a radical who represents 
change.  There are minor differences between the four pretenders to 
the premiership. In the end, the least popular leader might function 
well at the Prime Minister's Bureau. But they should all learn from 
Olmert's fall not to ignore the views of the public and that 
successful marketing of a leader is no less important than managing 
a country and maintaining a coalition." 
 
MORENO