VZCZCXRO5919
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #0685/01 1121031
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 221031Z APR 09
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4694
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 7650
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4626
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 4475
RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 5969
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 4390
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2967

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000685 
 
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 (04/22): PALESTINIANS EXPRESS 
SUPPORT FOR LAW AND ORDER EFFORTS 
 
------------- 
Main Stories: 
------------- 
All dailies lead with reporting and pictures of President Obama's 
meeting with Jordanian King Abdullah in Washington on April 21. 
According to coverage, the two leaders expressed serious commitment 
to achieving peace and stability in the Middle East including ending 
the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.  Obama noted that he is committed 
to the two-state solution and to a comprehensive peace in the Middle 
East and added that the next few months will witness some positive 
changes and good faith initiatives regarding the Palestinian 
-Israeli conflict.  President Obama stressed the importance of 
bilateral talks between Israel and Palestinians, noting that there 
must be a clear timeframe for talks that should yield tangible 
results on the ground, the papers report.  Reporting further notes 
that Obama will support the Arab Peace Initiative.  King Abdullah 
noted that he will do everything he can to help Obama achieve 
regional peace and stability, reporting concludes. 
 
All front pages report, citing DPA, that Obama will invite 
Palestinian Authority President Abbas, Israeli Prime Minister 
Netanyahu and Egyptian President Mubarak for separate talks in the 
U.S. at an unspecified time in the future.  In related coverage, Al 
Quds runs an inside political cartoon showing Obama holding a dove 
in one hand, labeled "Arab Peace Process," and waiving with his 
other hand dismissively at Israeli Premier Netanyahu who is 
chanting, "economic peace." 
 
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida runs front page coverage on April 22 visit of 
Egyptian Intelligence Chief Sulayman to Israel.  Sulayman will 
discuss a number of issues related to the Palestinian -Israeli 
conflict, the situation in Gaza and particularly, the status of the 
prisoner-exchange deal involving the release of captured Israeli 
soldier Shalit.  Sulyman is expected to meet with Prime Minister 
Netanyahu and Defense Minister Barak, the paper notes. 
 
All dailies front page coverage, citing AFP, of six Norwegian 
lawyers filing a suit in Norwegian courts against senior Israeli 
officials for war crimes and other human rights abuses allegedly 
committed during the recent conflict in Gaza.  The suit names former 
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Defense Minister Barak and seven other 
senior military officers, according to coverage. 
 
All front pages report on the April 21 visit of Palestinian 
Authority (PA) President Abbas to the United Arab Emirates(UAE) 
where he met with senior officials and discussed the impact of 
Special Envoy Mitchell's recent visit.  In related news, Al-Quds 
runs a front page story citing DPA about the purpose of Abbas' visit 
to the UAE, which is to request financial assistance to the PA since 
donor countries have not met pledges for assistance in March and 
April.  The buget shortfall is delaying payment of PA employeesalaries, according to coverage. 
 
Al Hayat Al-Jaida front page and inside pages of Al-Quds and 
A-Ayyam run reports on Palestinian Authority (PA) Premier Fayyad 
receiving the Brazilian Minister of griculture and a French 
delegation in Ramallah o April 21.  In meetings, Fayyad noted that 
"contnued, severe" Israeli measures [home demolitions, ettlements, 
restrictions on movement] will only strengthen Palestinian resolve 
to end Israeli occuation and establish an independent state. 
 
All dilies report on inside pages that Palestinian Authority 
Minister of Religious Affairs Bawatna met with a delegation from the 
U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem on April 21.  Bawatna expressed 
 
JERUSALEM 00000685  002 OF 002 
 
 
his great appreciation for U.S. support to the Palestinian 
Authority, according to coverage. 
 
In cultural news, all dailies report on the concert tour by a Cajun 
band that was sponsored by the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem. 
Coverage notes that the group played concerts and gave workshops in 
Jerusalem and throughout the West Bank.  In related news, Al-Hayat 
Al-Jadida and Al-Ayyam run inside stories on an April 21 visit to 
Jenin by a delegation from the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem. 
The "cultural affairs" delegation visited Arab American University 
in Jenin to "explore opportunities for mutual cooperation," 
according to coverage. 
 
In economic news, all dailies report on USAID West Bank and Gaza 
Mission Director Sumka's trip to Hebron on April 21 where he visited 
a number of USAID funded projects and met with the Hebron Mayor and 
Businessmen Forum to explore support to economic growth efforts in 
the district.-------------- 
BLOCK QUOTES: 
-------------- 
1) Radwan Sayyid opines in Al-Quds independent daily under the 
title, "Israelis, Arabs and future peace talks"(04/22):  "After U.S. 
Envoy Mitchell's repeated visits to the region to pave the way for 
peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians... Israel began to 
realize that it has no choice but to pursue peace talks... 
especially since the U.S. position has changed with coming of 
Obama's era, [Obama] is in favor of a comprehensive peace based on 
the two-state solution..." 
 
2) Regular columnist Hamada Faranah opines in Al-Ayyam daily 
y 
independent under the title, "Rejecting the attack on [Hamas]PLC 
member Bitawi" (04/22):  "Any attack committed by Palestinians 
against [any] Palestinian Legislative Council members is not 
acceptable... particularly since Palestinian Security Forces are 
working hard to maintain and promote law and order in the 
Palestinian Territories... The Palestinian people have suffered 
enough at the hands of Israel, we should not also be harming 
ourselves." 
 
WALLES