VZCZCXRO7492
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #2268/01 3490835
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 150835Z DEC 09 ZDS
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6999
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 8004
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4971
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 4821
RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 6309
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 4740
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3344

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 002268 
 
C O R R E C T E D  C O P Y (CHANGED TEXT PARA 4) 
 
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 (12/15): US financial support to 
the PA receives widespread media coverage 
 
JERUSALEM 00002268  001.3 OF 002 
 
 
 
 
 
------------- 
Main Stories: 
------------- 
-------------------------------------- 
US Financial Support to the PA Budget: 
-------------------------------------- 
 
All three dailies front page news on US Consul General Daniel 
Rubinstein and PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad announcing the 
transfer of $75 million to the PA budget yesterday in Ramallah. 
Fayyad expressed gratitude for the US efforts and continuous support 
to the PA. Al-Hayat Al-Jadida quotes Fayyad reiterating that it will 
be difficult to achieve sustainable development under occupation. 
 
Consul General Rubinstein is quoted in the three dailies noting that 
President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad have established a 
two-year program to build the institutions of a modern state, and to 
develop the Palestinian economy and civil society. The Consul 
General was quoted saying, "The President and Prime Minister have 
our strong support in fulfilling the goals and priorities of this 
program, which we see as integral to U.S. efforts to help achieve a 
two-state solution and comprehensive peace in the region." 
 
------------- 
Yasuf Mosque: 
------------ 
 
Independent news outlet Maan reports that Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi Yona 
Metzger visited the West Bank village of Yasuf yesterday, following 
the attack against the village mosque by settlers. According to the 
Israeli daily Haaretz, Metzger was escorted into Yasuf by the 
Israeli military and Palestinian police, and said "I came here to 
expression my revulsion at this wretched act of burning a place holy 
to the Muslim people." He added, "This is how the Holocaust began, 
the tragedy of the Jewish people of Europe." 
 
------------------------------ 
PLO Central Council Meeting: 
------------------------------ 
 
Independent daily Al-Quds and Palestinian Authority (PA) official 
daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida lead with news on the PLO Central Council 
meeting today in Ramallah. The Council will discuss recommendations 
from the Fatah Revolutionary Council and PLO Executive Committee for 
extending the presidential term for President Abbas until the next 
elections, according to the Basic Law. 
 
The coverage quotes PLO Secretary General Yasser Abed Rabbo telling 
the press yesterday that the meeting will also discuss issues 
related to the negotiations and continued Israeli settlement 
activities in Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories. 
 
----------------------- 
Hamas 22nd Anniversary: 
----------------------- 
 
Independent Al-Ayyam and Al-Quds front page reports on Hamas Prime 
Minister Ismail Hanniyeh speaking at a huge gathering in Gaza 
celebrating Hamas' 22nd anniversary.  Hanniyeh stressed that 
kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit will not be released until 
 
JERUSALEM 00002268  002.3 OF 002 
 
 
Israel responds to all Hamas demands. He also urged all Palestinian 
factions to work on a new initiative to retain national unity and 
end the state of division. 
 
Hamas affiliated news outlet Paltimes.net quotes senior Hamas 
official in Gaza Mahmoud Al-Zahar saying that resistance is a 
general concept and is not limited to armed resistance. 
 
----------------------------------------- 
UK Issues Arrest Warrant for Tzipi Livni: 
----------------------------------------- 
 
The three dailies and Maan news agency report on the arrest warrant 
issued by a British court for former Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi 
Livni for her involvement in Israel's assault on Gaza last winter. 
The reports note that the British government is looking into the 
repercussions of such a warrant. 
  ------------- 
BLOCK QUOTES: 
------------- 
 
Al-Quds runs an editorial under the title "Guided Resistance" 
referring to Hanniyeh's speech to mark Hamas' 22nd anniversary. In 
his remarks, Hanniyeh referred to Hamas' "guided resistance" without 
further explanation. According to the writer, one can easily 
conclude that Hanniyeh is referring to the unannounced truce with 
Israel. The writer questions, "If this is Hamas' option, why didn't 
Hamas make this choice from the beginning and avoid all this 
destruction and suffering?" 
 
 
 
 
RUBINSTEIN