Cablegate: Jerusalem Media Reaction (11/13): Unity - "Before It Is

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FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3227
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INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 7400
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4380
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 4233
RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 5727
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RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2715

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 002029

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STATE PASS BBG
STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA, NEA/PPD
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE, SIT ROOM
NSC FOR ABRAMS
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 (11/13): UNITY - "BEFORE IT IS
TOO LATE"

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Main Stories:
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Al Quds leads with news of the failure of internal Palestinian
dialogue in Cairo, noting that Egypt accused Hamas of undermining
the dialogue for "regional agendas." Egypt also charged that Hamas
has been using, "misleading positions and invalid pretexts," such as
the issue of Hamas prisoners in Palestinian Authority (PA)
detention, to mobilize public support for its boycott of talks. The
paper also quotes "Arab diplomats" stating that Iran sought to
intervene in the dialogue, and statements from the PLO Executive
Committee accusing Hamas of foiling dialogue. PA President Abbas is
quoted pledging to exert all efforts necessary to achieve national
unity, according to reporting.

All dailies run front page photos of Palestinian Authority (PA)
President Abbas laying a cornerstone for a museum about the life of
former PA President Arafat in Ramallah. In related news, the paper
reports that Arafat's widow and daughter have expressed a
willingness to return from their self-imposed exile in Tunisia to
the West Bank.

Al Ayyam and Al Hayat Al Jadida lead with news of an Israeli
incursion into Gaza on November 12 that killed four Palestinians.
Al Ayyam's lead photo shows an Israeli tank leaving Gaza after the
incursion, while Al Hayat Al Jadida's lead photo shows medics
carrying one of the dead Palestinian's body. In other Gaza news,
all dailies note that Israeli Premier Olmert has formed a committee
to tighten sanctions on Gaza and that the Israel Discount Bank has
decided to stop money transfer to Gaza. The papers also report that
a Texas jury is deliberating on a judgment in the pending law suit
against the charitable organization "Holy Land", accused of
transferring $12 million to Hamas. Finally, Al Quds' front page
reports that Israel has prevented distribution of its newspaper for
a seventh day in the Gaza Strip.

Al Quds' front page reports that both president-elect Obama and
Hamas deny that meetings were held before the U.S. presidential
election between Obama's advisors and Hamas, as asserted recently by
Hamas official Ahmad Yousef.
Meanwhile, Al Ayyam's front page reports that URWA renewed its
warning on November 12, that it will be forced to halt food aid
distribution in Gaza if Israel does not reopen Gaza border
crossings.

All front pages report that Israeli Premier Olmert admitted on
November 12 that Israel has intentionally discriminated against its
Arab population since the establishment of the Israeli state. He
continued that he wanted Israeli Arabs to be better integrated into
Israeli society, according to the reports.

Al Quds publishes front page statements by the King of Jordan and
Saudi King calling for the resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli
conflict. The statements were made at the Interfaith Conference at
the U.N. in New York on November 12. In related news, Al Hayat Al
Jadida runs front page statements by former Israeli Premier
Netanyahu calling for support to the Palestinian economy. The paper
also announces that Israeli Premier Olmert revealed that his Foreign
Minister Livni has reached agreement with the Palestinians on the
issue of Jerusalem.

In settlement news, Al Ayyam's front page reports that newly elected
Israeli Jerusalem Mayor Barakat has called for the building of new
houses in Israeli settlements in and around Jerusalem. The article

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also reports that Israel's High Court has ordered a halt to the
construction of 35 Israeli settlement apartment units in Beit El
near Ramallah. In related reporting, Al Ayyam front pages a report
that the Israeli military demolished two Palestinian houses near
Ramallah on November 12.

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BLOCK QUOTES:
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1) Jawad Bashiti writes in Al Ayyam under the title, "The president
they are creating out of Obama" (11/13): "Rahm Emanuel was not
selected by Obama, as we think, or as he himself thinks. He did not
come to Obama, but rather he was sent to Obama... We have nothing
but a "moral lobby" that can pray for Obama that Allah gives him
insight and shows him the correct path. We forget the fact that the
president there is not elected, and once he is elected, he is molded
into [the desired form of leader]."

2) Azzam Abu Sud opines in Al Quds under the title, "Are we going
bankrupt?" (11/13): "The failure of the [Cairo Palestinian]
dialogue conference causes us to pray for peace upon [former
Palestinian Authority President] Arafat's soul. He united us and
after his death, we became dispersed. This failure will, sooner or
later, make us summon up the courage to publicly declare that we
will be bankrupt, politically, socially, morally, culturally,
economically and religiously, unless we act before it is too late."

Walles

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