VZCZCXRO9446
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #0232 0400743
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 090743Z FEB 10
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7508
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 8079
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 5034
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 4878
RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 6366
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 4800
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3401

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 000232 
 
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 (02/09):Palestinian official says 
that Hamas will make goodwill gestures towards Fatah within the next 
two days 
 
------------- 
Main Stories: 
------------- 
The three dailies front page news on Monday's clashes in Shufat 
refugee camp after Israeli civil and paramilitary police stormed the 
camp and detained dozens. Confrontations erupted near the military 
checkpoint at the main entrance to the camp after young Palestinians 
pelted Israeli soldiers with stones and empty bottles. Soldiers 
responded by firing tear gas, rubber-coated bullets and stun 
grenades. Hours earlier, a large deployment of Israeli forces raided 
the neighborhoods of As-Salam, Ras Khamis, and Ras Shahada in the 
camp, north of East Jerusalem, and detained over 60 Palestinians 
affiliated with the Salafi movement and Fatah. 
 
The dailies report on Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud 
Abbas stating in a joint press conference with the Japanese Prime 
Minister in Tokyo yesterday that they discussed ways to strengthen 
Japanese economic and political support to the Palestinians. Both 
parties agreed on a number of tangible steps that would support 
building the institutions of a Palestinian state 
 
Al-Ayyam front pages news on Palestinian officials stating that 
Special Envoy George Mitchell suggested indirect talks between 
Palestinian and Israeli officials. The report notes that Mitchell 
will either conduct marathon visits or stay in the region for some 
time to conduct these talks. 
PLO Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat is quoted in Al-Hayat Al-Jadida 
denying news in the local media that Abbas agreed to resume peace 
talks. 
 
The dailies report that the PA cabinet decided yesterday during its 
weekly meeting to hold municipal and local elections in the West 
Bank and Gaza Strip on July 17, 2010. Directives were given to the 
Palestinian Central Elections Committee to begin preparations. 
Al-Ayyam reports on Hamas criticizing the decision and saying that 
no elections should be held prior to achieving national 
reconciliation. 
 
PLO Central Committee member Nabil Shaath is quoted in the dailies 
noting that Hamas will release detainees held on political grounds 
and reopen the Fatah party headquarters in Gaza within the next two 
days.------------ 
BLOCK QUOTE: 
------------ 
Under the title "Stop the Mutual Incitement First", an editorial in 
Al-Quds urges Hamas and Fatah officials to stop the incitement and 
trading blame for problems the Palestinian people are facing. The 
author urges both movements to focus on ending the division and 
achieve national unity. 
 
RUBINSTEIN