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DE RUEHJM #0900/01 1600739
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 090739Z JUN 09
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4991
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 7714
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4692
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 4539
RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 6033
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 4454
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3031

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 JERUSALEM 000900 
 
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 (06/08):  PALESTINIANS: WAITING 
FOR THE U.S. TO TURN WORDS INTO ACTION 
 
------------- 
Main Stories: 
------------- 
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida and Al-Quds lead with news about increased 
tensions between Israel and the U.S. over American calls for a 
complete halt to settlement activities and Israeli acceptance of the 
two-state solution.  Al-Hayat Al-Jadida cites AFP reporting about a 
policy speech to be given by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu next 
week, noting that Netanyahu told press on June 7 that, "I want to 
state clearly that we want to reach a peace settlement with the 
Palestinians and Arab countries.  My goal is to reach a permanent 
peace that is based on solid foundations for Israel and its people." 
 In related reporting, Al-Ayyam runs front page coverage citing AFP 
and DPA about Israeli Defense Minister Barak's June 7 call on Israel 
to accept the two-state solution as outlined in the Roadmap. 
Finally, Al-Quds front page cites DPA in reporting that Kadima 
opposition party leader Tzipi Livni noting on June 7 that, 
"Netanyahu's rejection of the two-state solution may result in 
decreased U.S. support for Israel." 
 
Al-Ayyam runs front page coverage citing Wafa on Palestinian 
Authority Presidency spokesman Abu Rudaynah's reaction to the 
Israeli Prime Minister's upcoming policy speech.  Abu Rudaynah told 
press that the requirements for peace are clear:  Commitment to the 
two-state solution, halting settlement activities and abiding by the 
Roadmap. Abu Rudaynah stressed that, "Israel should pursue these 
requirements immediately without wasting time," according to 
reporting. 
 
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida and Al-Ayyam run front page coverage citing AFP 
on statements by Saudi King Abdullah on June 7 stressing that Arab 
countries can no longer be patient with the continuing 
Palestinian-Israeli conflict and urging President Obama to, "impose 
the solution if need be." 
 
Al-Ayyam runs front page wire coverage of the June 7 meeting between 
Egyptian Intelligence Chief Sulayman and a Fatah delegation to the 
Palestinian unity talks in Cairo.  Sulayman told press that, "ending 
the state of division between the Palestinians has become a vital 
need which will support the Palestinian people's push to advance the 
peace process and establish a Palestinian state."  Fatah 
Parliamentary block Head Al-Ahmad noted that, "Egypt has pledged to 
pursue contact with all concerned parties to achieve this vision," 
according to coverage.  The reporting followed on weekend headlines 
about, "Egypt seeks to save the national dialogue - Palestinian 
factions warn of repercussions from the recent [Qalqiliyah] 
incidents." 
 
Al-Quds runs front page coverage of Secretary Clinton's ABC TV 
interview.  The coverage highlights Clinton's remarks that President 
Obama has focused on Middle East issues from the start of his 
tenure, while also supporting the security needs of Israel. 
Clinton's statement that the "legitimate demands" of the Palestinian 
people should be met is also highlighted in coverage. 
 
Al-Quds cites DPA in front page reporting on the Jerusalem 
Municipality issuing 13 demolition orders on June 7 for apartments 
in East Jerusalem's Bayt Hanina neighborhood.  The orders cite the 
lack of appropriate construction permits, according to coverage. 
 
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida and Al-Ayyam front page news of Palestinian 
Authority Premier Fayyad's June 7 meeting with the Norwegian Foreign 
Minister in Oslo.  Fayyad called on the international community to 
provide international support to Palestinians and end Israeli 
 
JERUSALEM 00000900  002 OF 003 
 
 
restrictions on Palestinian movement in the Palestinian Territories 
thereby strengthening the Palestinian economy. 
 
Al-Ayyam leads with and Al-Quds and Al-Hayat Al-Jadida run factual 
front page coverage of early results of the Lebanese parliamentary 
elections. 
 
-------------- 
Weekend stories: 
-------------- 
Sunday June 7: 
 
All front pages headlined, "Obama and Sarkozy:  Serious and 
constructive peace talks should lead to the establishment of two 
states - It's in Israel's interest to solve the crisis peacefully, 
while Palestinians should renounce violence and incitement." 
Coverage stressed that Presidents Obama and Sarkozy were in full 
agreement on many international issues when speaking during the 
joint press conference following their one-hour meeting on June 6. 
President Obama stressed the importance of breaking the stalemate in 
the Middle East peace process and called on all parties to realize 
that their fates are closely interconnected.  Coverage also noted 
that the European Union might impose restrictions on Israeli 
settlement products to add to growing U.S. pressure on Israel 
regarding settlement activities. 
 
All papers front paged comments by "official Israeli sources" that 
Israel will have no choice but to accept the two-state solution and 
the Roadmap, but should also insist on Israel's right to natural 
growth in settlements.  Noting that the comments come, "on the eve 
of" Special Envoy George Mitchell's visit to the region, reporting 
added that the sources said that it would be better for Israel to 
quickly announce its support for the Roadmap to ease American 
pressure regarding the establishment of a Palestinian state in the 
context of another plan. 
 
Saturday June 6: 
 
All front pages reported that, "Obama and Merkel stress the 
two-state solution- Palestinians and Israelis are asked to make 
'difficult choices' and resume negotiations."  The papers reported 
extensively on remarks made by the two leaders during their joint 
press conference on June 5.  Coverage also noted, "signs of 
disagreement and tension" emerging between Israel and President 
Obama over settlements and the two-state solution. 
 
All front pages reported that Secretary Clinton confirmed that there 
is no evidence of any agreement, informal or otherwise between 
Israel and the Bush administration about U.S. approval for natural 
growth in Israeli settlements.  Separate front page reporting in Al 
Ayyam announced that a "well-informed source" revealed that the U.S. 
is working on a plan to move the regional peace process forward. 
According to reporting, "early features" of the plan, which includes 
two-states for Israel and Palestine, might be discernable next 
month. 
 
Front pages also reported on the killing and wounding of 
Palestinians during the weekly "anti-wall" protests in Bil'in and 
Nil'in villages in the West Bank.  According to coverage, Bil'in 
protestors carried signs calling for a halt to Israeli settlement 
activities and calling on President Obama to, "move from words to 
action."  Reporting also carried comments by Palestinian Authority 
advisor for Jerusalem Affairs Abdil Qader calling on Palestinians to 
participate in large numbers at protest events.  Qader stressed that 
 
JERUSALEM 00000900  003 OF 003 
 
 
Palestinians will use all legal, political, and citizen-activist 
means possible to "foil" Israeli plans to expand the Jerusalem area 
Ma'ale Adumim settlement by annexing the nearby Kidar settlement. 
 
-------------- 
BLOCK QUOTES: 
-------------- 
1) Talal Okal opines in Al-Ayyam independent daily under the title, 
"Obama is not a priest" (06/08):  "What is different about Obama's 
speech is that he did not refer to Hamas as a terrorist party, as if 
to offer it a second chance to join the [legitimate] political 
process... this is similar to the offer that Obama has made to Iran. 
 Hamas must now respond in an appropriate way that will keep the 
President enthusiastic about further change." 
 
2) Al-Quds independent daily runs an editorial under the title, 
"Unlimited right-wing greed"(06/08):  "Now that Obama has pinpointed 
the exact illness [Israeli settlement expansion], he should exert 
tremendous pressure on the greedy Israeli right-wing that is 
targeting all of the Palestinian Territories in an effort to 
transform them into settlements.  Then Obama's words and promises 
will become reality." 
 
WALLES