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P 051139Z OCT 09
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UNCLAS TEL AVIV 002188 
 
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 
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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 
 
------------------------- 
Key stories in the media: 
------------------------- 
 
Over the weekend the media cited Israeli officialsQ overall 
satisfaction over the deal involving the publishing of a 2Q42 
recording of captive soldier, Gilad Shalit, in exchange for the 
release of 20 jailed Palestinian women.  Some commentators raised 
doubts about ShalitQs condition.  A Jerusalem Post survey found that 
the likelihood of ministers in Netanyahu's cabinet voting in favor 
of a deal involving ShalitQs release is higher than during Ehud 
OlmertQs more left-leaning cabinet.  Yediot reported that 33 Left 
and Right-leaning heads of pre-military educational institutions 
wrote DM Ehud Barak that ShalitQs release should not come at any 
price.  Media initially quoted senior Hamas official Mahmoud 
al-Zahar as saying that Shalit will be set free within weeks or two 
months at most, suggesting that the Islamic group might show greater 
flexibility in upcoming negotiations.  However, Zahar was quoted as 
saying yesterday in interviews with various Israeli media that a 
swap deal is still a long way off. 
 
All media reported on the resumption of violence on the Temple 
Mount.  On Friday Raed Salah, the leader of the Islamic Movement's 
northern branch, told followers at the annual al-Aqsa convention in 
the Israel Arab city of Umm al-Fahm that should Muslims have to 
choose between renouncing the al-Aqsa Mosque and becoming martyrs 
they will choose the latter.  Thousands of Muslims heeded Salah's 
call and made their way to Jerusalem's Old City yesterday.  Israel 
Radio cited inciting broadcasts on Al Jazeera-TV and 
Hamas-controlled TV outlets.  Israel Radio reported that yesterday 
the Jordanian Foreign Ministry summoned Israeli Ambassador in Amman, 
Yaakov Rosen, demanding that Israel stop the disturbances in the Old 
City of Jerusalem. 
 
The Jerusalem Post  wrote that the violence that has erupted in 
Jerusalem's Old City in the past few days can be seen in the context 
of the PA leadership's attempts to divert attention from what a 
Palestinian minister described as "one of the worst scandals since 
the establishment of the Palestinian Authority."  PA representatives 
have been urging Palestinians to save the Aqsa Mosque from being 
"destroyed" or "captured" by Jewish "fanatics."  The Jerusalem Post 
reported that a PA minister scoffed at Abbas's decision to establish 
a commission of inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the PA's 
move at the UN.  The Jerusalem Post reported that a PA official 
accused Israel and the U.S. of "seriously embarrassing" the PA 
leadership by making public "secret understandings" regarding the 
deferral of the vote.  He was quoted as saying that the 
understandings were supposed to remain secret.  Another official 
claimed that the decision was taken by Fayyad, who did not consult 
with Abbas.  However, sources close to Fayyad denied the claim and 
accused Abbas' advisers of exploiting the scandal to defame the PA 
prime minister and get rid of him.   Yediot also cited mutual 
accusations among the PA leadership. 
 
The Jerusalem Post, Yediot, and Israel Hayom reported that yesterday 
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi made a secret visit to 
France for meetings with Adm. Michael Mullen, the Chairman of the 
Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Gen. Georges Georgelin, the chief of the 
French Defense Staff.   The meeting focused on assessments regarding 
Iran, Syria, Hizbullah, and the joint Israeli-U.S. Juniper Cobra 
defense exercise that is scheduled later this month.  The exercise 
will include the Israeli Arrow missile defense system as well as 
three American systems -- the THAAD, Aegis, and PAC3 -- that will 
all be deployed in Israel for the duration of the exercise. 
 
Analyzing Assistant Secretary of State Michael PosnerQs address to 
the U.N.Qs Human Rights Council, The Jerusalem Post wrote that the 
U.S. came out strongly in favor of the Israeli position on the 
matter, but left a door open for an external probe of Operation Cast 
Lead. 
 
HaQaretz reported that a video tape made during a guided tour of the 
archaeological excavations at Silwan (the City of David) near 
Jerusalem's Old City walls reveals how Elad, the association that 
runs the dig, works together with the Israel Antiquities Authority, 
the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, and the Jerusalem 
municipality to dig under the homes of Arab residents -- potentially 
endangering them. 
 
HaQaretz reported that Vice PM Moshe YaQalon recently canceled a 
planned trip to Britain for fear of being arrested there for his 
role in the assassination of senior Hamas terrorist Salah Shehadeh 
in July 2002.  The attack also killed 14 civilians. 
 
The Jerusalem Post, Yediot, Maariv, and Israel Hayom reported that 
former U.S. President Bill Clinton will visit Israel in mid-November 
to participate in the Saban CenterQs Forum for Middle East Policy. 
The conference, slated to take place in Jerusalem, will focus on 
strategic issues and cooperation between the new administrations in 
the U.S. and Israel.  Some media reported that California Governor 
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Senator Joe Lieberman (IND-CT) will also 
attend the event. 
 
The media reported that for the first time since Operation Cast 
Lead, IAF planes raided Gaza City on Saturday in responses to Qassam 
rocket fire. 
 
Over the weekend media quoted LondonQs The Times as saying that PM 
Benjamin Netanyahu passed on to the Kremlin the list of Russian 
scientists who assist Iran.  Yesterday The Jerusalem Post reported 
that on Friday IsraelQs Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren welcomed 
the arrangements worked out between the U.S. and other world powers 
with Iran the day before, in some of the first comments by an 
Israeli official on the talks. 
 
The Jerusalem Post reported that yesterday South African jurist 
Richard Goldstone accepted an invitation from Sderot Mayor David 
Buskila to visit his city on his next trip to Israel. 
 
The Jerusalem Post reported that hundreds of Likud activists and 
members from across the country will attend a Likud rally against 
the de facto West Bank settlement freeze in the northern West Bank 
settlement of Revava. 
 
HaQaretz reported that the interministerial committee dealing with 
earthquake preparedness decided last month that early-warning 
systems will be activated in the near future to warn Israelis in the 
event of a tsunami in the Mediterranean Sea. 
 
Leading media reported on the visit to Israel of American actor 
Elliott Gould, who is a member of the jury at the Haifa 
International Film Festival.  Maariv reported on Brad PittQs and 
Angelina JolieQs goodwill tour of Syria and Jordan on behalf of the 
U.N. 
 
Maariv reported that Eva Miedzyborz (sp.) will replace Ron Kleinfeld 
as its Director-General. 
 
------------ 
¶1.  Mideast: 
------------ 
 
Block Quotes: 
------------- 
 
¶I.  "If This Is How Obama Handles the Olympics" 
 
Columnist Shmuel Rosner, who was HaQaretzQs correspondent in 
Washington, wrote in the popular, pluralist Maariv (10/5): QA 
weakened Obama is also more dangerous to Israel -- because a 
weakened Obama is a weakened United States.  And a weakened United 
States means less chances of applying effective pressure on Iran, an 
increased chance that additional countries will decide to ignore 
WashingtonQs political messages, and an increased concern that the 
global cop will lose his ability to prevent chaotic developments. 
One should hope that he will learn from his failures and his accrued 
experience.  But one must take into account the fact that Israel, 
too, will pay the tuition fee.  And the payment might be heftier 
than a settlement freeze or the evacuation of an outpost.... Thus, 
it is not sure whether one should be happy with the hurdles on 
ObamaQs road. 
 
II.  "Complete the Exchange" 
 
The independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz editorialized (10/4): QPrime 
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his representative in the 
negotiations [over the release of Gilad Shalit], Haggai Hadas, have 
changed the program for the talks that was set forth by their 
predecessors, former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his 
representative, Ofer Dekel.  The German mediator who joined the 
efforts has gained the trust of both parties and created a new 
mechanism for dialogue, whose first result has been the exchange of 
the tape for the female prisoners.  Netanyahu has succeeded in 
keeping the details of the talks secret.... Now Netanyahu needs to 
complete the deal, bring back Shalit, and put an end to this painful 
affair.... Yesterday Noam Shalit accused the QState of Israel and 
its decision makersQ of omissions that have needlessly prolonged his 
son's captivity.  His pain is understandable, and his claims merit 
thorough examination, but now the Government needs to focus on 
achieving a reasonable compromise with Hamas, which would allow 
Shalit to return home to his family and country. 
III.  "The Public Has Decided" 
 
Liberal columnist and television anchor Ofer Shelach wrote in the 
popular, pluralist Maariv (10/4): QFrom now on, the release of [the 
video recording including Shalit], which has great significance in 
the negotiating process, will be like something that is 
self-understood, a procedure that cannot be overridden.... Netanyahu 
has apparently made a final decision to go for a deal, and thatQs 
definitely legitimate. 
 
--------- 
¶2.  Iran: 
--------- 
 
Block Quotes: 
------------- 
 
¶I.  "Iran Sidetracks the World" 
 
The conservative, independent Jerusalem Post editorialized (10/5): 
QNo matter how the U.S. intelligence reassessment goes, or how 
Iran's export gambit plays out, or what happens when the inspectors 
visit Qom, at the end of the day -- and in keeping with the mullahs' 
strategy -- Iran will have bought time.... At this point, there are 
only three possibilities: (a) Iran will build a bomb; (b) draconian 
sanctions, spearheaded by Washington, will persuade Teheran to abort 
its program; (c) military intervention will significantly set the 
mullahs back.  Assuming Obama realizes that the second option is by 
far the most preferable, he must not allow Tehran to sidetrack the 
discussion.  All the world needs to know is when Iran will stop 
enriching uranium, and when it will end its weapons program. 
 
 
 
II.  "Peace in Exchange for the Bomb" 
 
Senior op-ed writer Akiva Eldar commented in the independent, 
left-leaning Ha'aretz (10/5): QIt is certainly possible that the 
ayatollah regime seeks to mislead the Americans in order to buy more 
time to complete its nuclear program.  But what will we do if the 
Iranians surprise Obama with an offer to rid the Middle East of 
nuclear weapons and to help establish peace throughout the entire 
region?  It is so convenient for us to remain tied to the policy of 
ambiguity on both issues.  Netanyahu needs to prepare himself for 
the possibility that Iran will redeem its concessions vis-a-vis its 
nuclear program with Israeli concessions over the territories. 
 
CUNNINGHAM