VZCZCXRO4870
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #0578/01 0901003
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 311003Z MAR 09
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4515
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 7610
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4595
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 4444
RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 5937
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 4359
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2933

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000578 
 
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 (03/31):  PALESTINIANS REMIND ARAB 
LEADERS TO PRIORITIZE PUBLIC GOOD 
------------- 
Main Stories: 
------------- 
The three dailies lead with reports on the Doha Arab Summit, noting 
that Arab leaders condemned recent Israeli measures [house 
 
demolitions] imposed on Jerusalemites.  According to reporting, Arab 
leaders called on Israel to pursue peace with the Palestinians 
without delay.  Palestinian Authority President Abbas urged Arab 
leaders to exert pressure on Israel to respect signed agreements and 
urge the Middle East Quartet to insist that Israel respect its 
obligations and committment to the peace process.  Palestinian 
Authority President Abbas acknowledged Egyptian support for 
Palestinian national dialogue in Cairo and reiterated his belief 
that a national consensus government, able to communicate with the 
regional and international community, is essential. 
 
Al Quds front pages an AFP report quoting an Israeli Likud official 
announcing that members of the new government will be sworn in on 
March 31.  Al-Hayyat Al-Jadida cites a wire report about Israeli 
Premier-designate Netanyahu's expressed goal of achieving "real" 
peace with Palestinians, in support of both Palestinian and Israeli 
interests.  Netanyahu also reiterated his willingness to pursue 
negotiations with Palestinian Authority President Abbas in an 
attempt to achieve economic peace.  However, reporting notes, 
Netanyahu stated that the establishment of a Palestinian State is 
not being considered. 
 
All three dailies report on Palestinian National Land Day 
celebrations on March 30.  The celebrations included visits to 
protest tents in Jerusalem as part of the Arab League-sponsored 
"Jerusalem, Capital of Arab Culture 2009" festival.  Reporting notes 
that trees and plants were also distributed in the West Bank, Gaza 
and Jerusalem areas. 
 
The three dailies report that Israel is closing its investigation 
into recent allegations that Israeli soldiers targeted Palestinian 
civilians during the recent conflict in Gza. The investigation 
concluded that the allegatons are not supported by the evidence. 
 
Al-Quds ites a Wafa report about Palestinian officials weloming 
remarks by European officials calling on te incoming Israeli 
Government to recognize the ned for establishing a Palestinian 
state.  Accordig to the report, also featured on Al-Hayyat 
Al-Jdida's front page, the EU may reconsider current rlations with 
Israel if settlement activities coninue and the two state solution 
is not accepted b Israel. 
 
Al-Quds cites a DPA report quoting Palstinian Authority(PA)Minister 
of Prisoners' Affars Ajrami stating that PA Premier Fayyad will 
reain in office until a national consensus governmen is formed. 
Al-Ayyam cites a wire report quoting PA Minister of Planning 
Abdallah stating that PA resident Abbas has sole constitutional 
authority to decide on the handling of forming a future government. 
 
-------------- 
BLOCK QUOTES: 
-------------- 
 
1)Hani Al-Masri opines in Al-Ayyam independent daily under the 
title, "Doha summit faces big challenge in second Netanyahu 
Government"(03/31):  "Israel must understand that it cannot combine 
the continuation of settlement activities, siege, aggression... with 
the so-called peace process... a united Arab position [must be 
developed] to show Israel concretely that Arabs have other 
alternatives [than dealing with Israel on Isreal's terms.] 
 
JERUSALEM 00000578  002 OF 002 
 
Main Stories: 
------------- 
The three dailies lead with reports on the Doha Arab Summit, noting 
that Arab leaders condemned recent Israeli measures [house 
demolitions] imposed on Jerusalemites.  According to reporting, Arab 
leaders called on Israel to pursue peace with the Palestinians 
without delay.  Palestinian Authority President Abbas urged Arab 
leaders to exert pressure on Israel to respect signed agreements and 
urge the Middle East Quartet to insist that Israel respect its 
obligations and committment to the peace process.  Palestinian 
Authority President Abbas acknowledged Egyptian support for 
Palestinian national dialogue in Cairo and reiterated his belief 
that a national consensus government, able to communicate with the 
regional and international community, is essential. 
 
 
2) Al-Quds independent daily runs an editorial entitled, "Arab 
Summit and Land Day"(03/31):  "On Land Day, we tell Arab Leaders 
meeting in Doha that Palestine is a pure, Arab land, a land that has 
witnessed the rise of all religions and civilizations.  It faces 
many challenges that are more important than your artificial 
conflicts and personal interests.  This reminder also goes for those 
who insist on deepening Palestinian division.  To them we say, pay 
more attention to the internal conflicts and take serious action. 
[Your response to these conflicts] is the only criterion we will 
employ when judging the outcomes of any summit." 
 
WALLES