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DE RUEHTV #2544/01 3191214
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 141214Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV
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RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 2250
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UNCLAS TEL AVIV 002544 
 
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 
 
¶3.  U.S.-Israel Relations 
 
------------------------- 
Key stories in the media: 
------------------------- 
 
HaQaretz reported that DM Ehud Barak has approved dozens of 
construction projects in the West Bank in recent months, 
contradicting Israel's commitments under the Roadmap.  Barak also 
approved the marketing of hundreds of housing units in settlements. 
Some of the permits for construction projects were granted in 
settlements east of the separation fence, which are beyond the areas 
that the state defines as "settlement blocs," and which the state 
expects to retain under Israel's control following a permanent 
agreement with the Palestinians. 
 
Major media printed a picture of President Bush and FM Tzipi Livni 
at UN Headquarters in New York yesterday.  This will be the last 
time the two meet in their official capacities.  Yediot reported 
that Bush wished Livni success in the elections.  The Jerusalem Post 
reported that Livni thanked Bush for his peace efforts and for 
fighting terror. 
 
HaQaretz noted that the continued fighting along the Gaza border is 
surprising because it contradicts Israeli intelligence forecasts, 
and seems to contradict both sides' direct interests.  And yet, in 
the last 10 days the IDF killed 11 Palestinians in armed clashes, 
seven Israeli soldiers were wounded and at least 70 rockets and 
mortar shells landed in the Negev.  Israel Radio reported that today 
an Israeli civilian was lightly injured by a rocket in Sderot and 
that rockets landed in Ashkelon.  Leading media quoted Hamas 
spokesman Taher a-Nunu as saying yesterday that the escalation in 
violence between Israel and the Palestinians in Gaza over the last 
week is an Israeli provocation aimed at increasing Barak's standings 
in the polls,. 
 
Israel Radio quoted a member of European inspectors at the Rafah 
crossing as saying that there is now no supervision over the passage 
of persons at the crossing.  The radio quoted force commander Maj. 
Gen. Pietro Pistolese as saying that it would be preferable if Egypt 
were a partner in operating the crossing. 
 
HaQaretz reported that relations between Israel and Britain remained 
strained yesterday over Downing Street's intention to label products 
manufactured in West Bank settlements, a week before the expected 
arrival of British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth 
Affairs, David Miliband, to the Middle East. 
 
Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Gilad, the head of the Defense MinistryQs 
Diplomatic-Security Bureau, was quoted as saying in an interview 
with The Jerusalem Post that Israel will not tolerate a nuclear 
Iran. 
 
Yediot reported that yesterday in Tel Aviv, PM Ehud Olmert told 
ambassadors from the EU that Israel will conduct negotiations with 
Syria before the Israeli elections.  The ultra-Orthodox HamodiQa 
reported that Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan told President Peres 
that Israel should leave the door open to negotiations with Syria. 
 
HaQaretz reported that Jerusalem Mayor-elect Nir Barkat has 
concluded a secret deal with the Ger (a.k.a. Gur) Hassids, who 
supported him during the municipal election campaign. 
 
HaQaretz reported that, a few months after Hamas's 2006 election 
victory, leader Ismail Haniyeh tried to start a dialogue with 
President Bush.  HaQaretz has obtained a written message from 
Haniyeh sent to Bush via Dr. Jerome Segal of the University of 
Maryland, who met with Haniyeh in Gaza.  Haniyeh asked Bush to lift 
the boycott of the Hamas government and pressure Israel to maintain 
stability in the region. 
 
Maariv quoted sources in the Prime MinisterQs Office as saying that 
the latest prisoner exchange deal with Hizbullah prevented the 
release of Gilad Shalit. 
 
HaQaretz reported that members of the new left-wing bloc will run 
for the Knesset.  The media reported on the dwindling strength of 
the Labor Party in Israeli politics.  Prominent writer Amos Oz was 
quoted as saying on Israel Radio that LaborQs historic role has 
ceased to exist.  The media repotted that the Likud primaries are 
set for December 8.  The media reported that former Police 
Commissioner Assaf Hefetz, a long-time member of the Labor Party, 
joined Likud yesterday.  He is expected to seek the post of internal 
security minister. 
 
Makor Rishon-Hatzofe quoted Nawaf Mussawi (phon.), who is in charge 
of HizbullahQs foreign relations, as saying during a meeting with 
the Norwegian Ambassador in Lebanon that his organization demands 
that Israel withdraw from seven villages in the Galilee. 
 
All media highlighted the expected government economic recovery 
plan.  Maariv reported that pension plans will be further affected 
next week. 
 
Israel Radio reported that the police will interrogate Olmert for a 
tenth time today. 
 
HaQaretz (English Ed.) reported that the U.S. Democratic Party's 
local branch is embroiled in an internal power struggle involving 
accusations over an exit poll showing overwhelming support for 
Republican candidate John McCain in Israel. 
 
HaQaretz (English Ed.) reported on the activity of a group of 
Israeli-Americans who model themselves on the NRA and are trying to 
ease restrictions on gun ownership in Israel. 
 
------------ 
¶1.  Mideast: 
------------ 
 
Summary: 
-------- 
 
Senior columnist and longtime dove Yoel Marcus wrote in the 
independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz: QEven if we assume that Olmert, 
the old fox, is playing a cynical game, in the end what he is saying 
is being etched in the public mind as an existential problem that 
cannot be solved by being swept under the rug. 
 
Military correspondent Alex Fishman wrote in the mass-circulation, 
pluralist Yediot Aharonot: QIsrael does not intend to expand the 
tahdiya to the West Bank.  Hamas does not intend to give up its 
efforts to approach the fence.   This is the formula that is 
bringing the next round closer. 
 
Block Quotes: 
------------- 
 
¶I.  "Seeing Beyond the Skepticism" 
 
Senior columnist and longtime dove Yoel Marcus wrote in the 
independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz (11/14): QEhud Olmert's remarks 
in his last few months in office about the territorial concessions 
he believes Israel must make to achieve peace wouldn't shame a dove 
like Yossi Beilin.  At the opening of the winter session of the 
Knesset, he gave a speech that even Shimon Peres wouldn't have been 
ashamed of.  In fact, it would have won him a knighthood from the 
Order of the Leftists.  But the most left-wing speech of all was 
reserved for the state ceremony commemorating Yitzhak Rabin, in 
which Olmert called for a complete withdrawal from the territories 
and a return to the pre-1967 borders, including giving up Arab 
neighborhoods in Jerusalem. Any future government will need to tell 
the truth, he said, and this truth will necessitate ripping away 
many portions of the homeland. There are quite a few people who 
think he is settling accounts with Livni this way, burdening her 
with missions that he believes her administration will never be able 
to carry out. They say he is banking on this specter of concessions 
to induce the Likudniks in Kadima to race back to Netanyahu's Likud, 
where there is lots of empty space and high hopes for victory.... 
[Some people say that] as a lame duck, he is now free to dig up 
every cliche about peace he can possibly find and to embarrass the 
next government.  Personally, I am not joining the Olmert bashers, 
because the things he is saying are important and need to be said. 
His words, which are being recorded by our Arab neighbors, and which 
are seeping into the consciousness of the new U.S. administration 
and countries of Europe, are perceived as Israel's policy and 
aspiration.  So even if we assume that Olmert, the old fox, is 
playing a cynical game, in the end what he is saying is being etched 
in the public mind as an existential problem that cannot be solved 
by being swept under the rug. 
 
II.  "To Be or not to Be" 
 
Military correspondent Alex Fishman wrote in the mass-circulation, 
pluralist Yediot Aharonot (11/14): QSecurity officials in Israel 
realized -- very belatedly, but they realized--that Hamas means what 
it says when it declares that the tahdiya [lull] in its present 
format will end after six months, on December 19.... Hamas decided 
to test the IDF's threshold of reaction in advance of December 19. 
The goal: To accustom Israel to a daily level of terror attacks -- 
here a Qassam rocket, there a mortar shell-without having it react. 
Yesterday, Israel decided to react.  It is not willing to accept 
Hamas on the fence.  Four armed Palestinians who approached the 
fence were killed.  The Southern Command was put on alert.  The 
division commander was not replaced.  Hamas -- whose self-confidence 
has grown greatly in the past six months -- returned to threatening 
severe terror attacks, including attacks that would be committed 
through Egypt.  Israel does not intend to expand the tahdiya to the 
West Bank.  Hamas does not intend to give up its efforts to approach 
the fence.   This is the formula that is bringing the next round 
closer. 
 
--------- 
¶2.  Iran: 
--------- 
 
Summary: 
-------- 
 
Deputy Managing Editor and right-wing columnist Caroline B. Glick 
wrote in the conservative, independent Jerusalem Post: QIsrael will 
need to neutralize IranQs nuclear program before the Obama 
administration begins implementing AmericaQs new foreign policy. 
 
Block Quotes: 
------------- 
 
"The Perils Ahead" 
 
Deputy Managing Editor and right-wing columnist Caroline B. Glick 
wrote in the conservative, independent Jerusalem Post (11/14): QWhat 
is most alarming about ObamaQs emerging foreign policy toward Iran 
and its proxies on the one hand and Israel on the other is that it 
will cause actual harm to the Jewish state.  By pressuring Israel to 
cede land to Syria and the Palestinians, ObamaQs apparent foreign 
policy will provide Iran with still more territory from which to 
attack Israel both through its terror proxies and with its expanding 
ballistic missile arsenal.... Over the past few years, ObamaQs top 
nuclear nonproliferation adviser, Joe Cirincione, has repeatedly 
advocated placing IsraelQs nuclear arsenal on the negotiating table 
and offering it up in exchange for an Iranian pledge to end its 
nuclear program.... All of the Obama teamQs 
post-election/pre-inaugural foreign policy signals place IsraelQs 
next government -Q which will only be elected on February 10 Q in an 
extraordinary difficult position.  It is not just that their 
positions make clear that the Obama administration will do nothing 
to prevent Iran form acquiring nuclear weapons.  The Obama teamQs 
pre-inaugural signals indicate strongly that IsraelQs next 
government will need to strike IranQs nuclear installations before 
two rapidly approaching deadlines.  The strike will have to occur 
before the mullahs enrich sufficient quantities of highly enriched 
uranium to produce nuclear bombs.  And Israel will need to 
neutralize IranQs nuclear program before the Obama administration 
begins implementing AmericaQs new foreign policy. 
 
-------------------------- 
¶3.  U.S.-Israel Relations: 
-------------------------- 
 
Summary: 
-------- 
 
The independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized: QRecently, a 
new Jewish lobby has been formed, J Street, which proposes a 
left-wing liberal alternative to AIPAC.... It is good to hear a new 
voice emanating from the American Jewish community. 
 
Block Quotes: 
------------- 
 
"Welcoming a New Jewish Voice" 
 
The independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized (11/14): QIn 
the past, Israel has not made do with its leaders' persuasive 
efforts to ward off U.S. pressure.  It tended to recruit an 
aggressive, powerful Jewish lobby to assist it: the American Israel 
Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).  Over the years, this organization 
became not only the lobbying extension of Israel's policy -- but in 
many cases it forged its own independent policy, usually with a 
right-wing agenda, which posited that renouncing the territories 
posed a threat to Israel's existence. This lobby, known for its 
pro-Israel activity, managed to create the illusion that American 
Jews spoke with one voice, and that this voice spoke exclusively and 
automatically for the Jewish right wing and Israeli government. 
Recently, a new Jewish lobby has been formed, J Street, which 
proposes a left-wing liberal alternative to AIPAC.  This is 
important news to both peace supporters in Israel and the U.S. 
Jewish community.... Israel should not have to decide which lobby 
represents it, and America's Jews do not need Israel's permission to 
voice the range of its opinions.  Ultimately, the policy of Israel's 
government, which was elected by its citizens, is the one that 
should determine its relationships with its neighbors and with the 
U.S.  This said, it is good to hear a new voice emanating from the 
American Jewish community. 
 
CUNNINGHAM