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MEDIA REACTION REPORT
SUBJECT: ISRAEL MEDIA REACTION
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SUBJECTS COVERED IN THIS REPORT:
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1. Mideast
2. Iraq
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Key stories in the media:
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Major media reported that on Sunday, the Central Elections Committee announced it was correcting a mistake in the Knesset elections results, taking one Knesset seat from the Labor Party and adding it to United Arab List-Arab Renewal, headed by Ahmed Tibi. At this time, the composition of the 17th Knesset appears as follows: Kadima: 29; Labor: 19; Shas: 12; Likud 12; Yisrael Beiteinu: 11; National Union-National Religious Party 9: Pensioners' Party: 7; United Torah Judaism: 6; Meretz: 5; Arab parties: 10 (Balad-National Democratic Assembly: 3; Hadash: 3; and United Arab List-Arab Renewal: 4).
Over the weekend, all media reported on Labor Party Chairman Amir Peretz's attempts to form a coalition with right-wing parties. This morning, Israel Radio quoted Peretz's associates as saying he is not interested in heading a right-wing government.
Leading media reported that over the weekend, the GOI directed the IDF to cut off all contacts with Palestinian security forces under the authority of the Hamas government. Over the weekend, all media quoted Deputy State Department Spokesman J. Adam Ereli as saying on Friday: "We've advised our mission in Jerusalem, as well as other missions around the world that have dealings with the Palestinian Authority, that there should be no contact between US government officials and PA officials who are under the authority of the Prime Minister or any other minister in the Hamas-led government. This includes ... working-level officials in those ministries." On Sunday, Ha'aretz quoted former President Bill Clinton as saying in a weekend interview with BBC-TV that he backs dialogue with the Hamas-led government if several conditions are met, in particular a halt to violence. Leading media reported that on Sunday, in an interview with the Chinese news agency Xinhua, Palestinian FM Mahmoud Zahar, who is considered a Hamas hard-liner, reiterated Hamas's desire to eliminate Israel and replace it with an Islamic state. On Sunday, Yediot featured Palestinian PM Ismail Haniyeh's political adviser, Ahmed Yousef, who lived for more than 20 years in the US, where he headed a research center that served as a cover for Hamas activity. Over the weekend, major media reported on Haniyeh's call to end public displays of weapons, and on Palestinian in-fighting.
On Sunday, Ha'aretz and other media reported that over the weekend the IDF pounded the northern Gaza Strip with a massive artillery, air, and naval barrage, targeting Qassam launch sites. All media reported that two Israeli Arabs were arrested in the Bet She'an area on Sunday on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack. They were unarmed. All media reported that the police had declared a high alert in northern Israel.
Ha'aretz reported that last Wednesday, the day after Election Day, Elad, one of two organizations working to purchase houses and settle Jews in Jerusalem neighborhoods, took control of two large, populated, and sensitive compounds in two East Jerusalem neighborhoods, Silwan and A-Tur (on the Mount of Olives).
Yediot reported that Attorney General Menachem Mazuz said that the agreement between the Hebron settlers and the IDF and the state prosecutor's office, which provided for the voluntary evacuation of settlers from the city's wholesale market, is null and void. Mazuz was quoted as saying that the agreement, which said that the settlers could eventually return to the market, contradicted the Chief of Staff's instructions.
Ha'aretz reported that Arab banks holding accounts belonging to the PA have recently tried to convince the PA to withdraw its assets from the banks. Ha'aretz wrote that the Arab banks apparently fear that banks in the US and other Western countries could impose sanctions on them for holding terrorism-related money.
Yediot cited The Washington Post as saying that Iran would respond to an attack on its nuclear installations with a worldwide terror offensive. Yediot wrote that The Washington Post cited an unnamed terrorism and intelligence expert. Major media cited an Iranian announcement that Iran devised the "fastest and most advanced" torpedo in the world. Maariv reported that Israeli Foreign Ministry official Meir Yitzhaki was chosen to represent Western countries at a professional advisory committee to the UN General Assembly dealing with WMD proliferation. Maariv noted that the committee has been inactive for three years.
Ha'aretz reported that American televangelist John Hagee told Jewish American community leaders over the weekend that the 40 million evangelical Christians in the US support Israel and that he plans to utilize this power by launching a Christian pro-Israel lobby -- Christians United for Israel. Hagee was quoted as saying that the new lobby will be more powerful than AIPAC.
Ha'aretz cited the hope of Israeli and Palestinian professors that the modest math exhibition that opened on Sunday in the Bloomfield Science Museum in Jerusalem will be the progenitor of a Palestinian science museum.
Yediot reported that Egypt plans to turn the Taba border crossing into a large duty-free zone in order to attract Israeli tourists to the Sinai.
The Jerusalem Post quoted Israeli and Jordanian Health Ministry representatives as saying that, three weeks after the discovery of bird flu in the area, Israeli and international health authorities are being cautiously optimistic about their progress in combating the disease in the region, despite the fact that they are still unable to predict its spread.
Major media reported that on Sunday, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw made a surprise visit to Baghdad.
Yediot reported that Shimon Peres, No. 2 in Kadima, will meet with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican on Thursday.
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1. Mideast:
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Summary:
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Senior Middle East affairs analyst Zvi Bar'el wrote in independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz: "In the American hierarchy of principles, there is apparently a distinction between righteousness and interests. It is ... even justified that interests take priority. Even Hamas understands this."
Ha'aretz editorialized: "If the Palestinians have chosen to ignite even the region Israel has evacuated, it is a worrisome precedent with regard to future withdrawals. Accordingly, Olmert must not radiate weakness."
Senior op-ed writer Akiva Eldar commented in Ha'aretz: "Labor and Meretz must not join a 'no partner' government under any circumstances.... Without peace, there will be no money to raise the minimum wage or old- age stipends in any event."
Political parties commentator Sima Kadmon wrote in mass- circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot: "This is a fraud. A blatant violation of a campaign promise. The nightmare of anyone who voted for the Labor Party as a left wing party, and could get a right wing government."
Block Quotes:
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I. "Let Hamas Do Its Work"
Senior Middle East affairs analyst Zvi Bar'el wrote in independent, left-leaning Ha'aretz (April 2): "In the American hierarchy of principles, there is apparently a distinction between righteousness and interests. It is not surprising and is even justified that interests take priority. Even Hamas understands this. And not only today. It demonstrated this when it declared the first cease-fire, the hudna, and when it modified the name to tahdiya (calm). It is also acting this way now, as its leaders begin to formulate a "new language" in referring to Israel.... No disaster would occur, and the plan for unilateral convergence would not be hindered one bit if Israel's new ministers soon begin to meet with their Palestinian colleagues -- not, heaven forbid, to discuss the convergence plan or jointly forge a political solution, but just to coordinate administrative matters, really. Hamas would not emerge any stronger from such meetings. After all, they are already the elected government. On the contrary, if it is strengthened by meeting with Israel, this would demonstrate that it recognizes Israel. And there is another latent issue: Rice noted that Washington supported the disengagement plan from Gaza, among other reasons, because what started as a unilateral step 'was ultimately coordinated with the Palestinians.' This is a not very subtle hint to those who still believe in a unilateral withdrawal or who think that the previous withdrawal was truly unilateral. If this is also going to be the American condition in the future, it would be best to start recognizing the new 'non partners.'"
II. "Ensuring Convergence"
Ha'aretz editorialized (April 2): "Ensuring peace and quiet in the south [of Israel] and creating an effective balance of deterrence with the Palestinians in Gaza is very important. Kadima's achievement in the elections was smaller than the party had hoped, a fact that will cast a shadow over attempts by Olmert to implement his convergence plan. Continued terror in the Negev will make it difficult to persuade others that if the attempt to move ahead with the road map fails, a major unilateral withdrawal from the West Bank should be implemented. If the Palestinians have chosen to ignite even the region Israel has evacuated, it is a worrisome precedent with regard to future withdrawals. Accordingly, Olmert must not radiate weakness. So that he does not, the Israel Defense Forces must continue to take aggressive measures against the Qassam launchers, as it began to do on Saturday."
III. "Peace Talks First, Wage Talks Later"
Senior op-ed writer Akiva Eldar commented in Ha'aretz (April 3): "Who said last week's elections were a referendum on the issue of dividing the land of Israel?.... Less than a week later, our elected officials are involved in coalition negotiations to determine which party will get the Ministry of Finance.... Perhaps the Hamas victory has already put paid to the vision of peace, fulfilling the prophecy that Abu Mazen is not a partner for a final agreement. Labor and Meretz must not join a 'no partner' government under any circumstances. In light of the abyss gaping below us, the new government must make every possible effort to renew talks with the Palestinians. Amir Peretz and Meretz chairman Yossi Beilin must focus their coalition negotiations on an uncompromising demand to form a coalition for negotiations. Without peace, there will be no money to raise the minimum wage or old-age stipends in any event."
IV. "Laboring to Fool Us"
Political parties commentator Sima Kadmon wrote in mass- circulation, pluralist Yediot Aharonot (April 3): "This is a fraud. A blatant violation of a campaign promise. The nightmare of anyone who voted for the Labor Party as a left wing party, and could get a right wing government. Not to mention those who were persuaded to vote for Labor just to strengthen it in Kadima's government. Even a country with a memory as short as ours has not yet forgotten Peretz's promise not to sit in one government with the Likud.... A coalition partnership between the Labor Party and the National Union-National Religious Party? Really, there is a limit.... Let us not be confused: The government for which the right wing parties are striving is intended only for one thing: To postpone, if not to halt, the process of separation from the Palestinians. And what does Peretz want? He too wants only one thing: To be prime minister. And if on the way it is possible to send Olmert to the devil, and shaft Peres, Ramon and Itzik: So much the better. Anyone who thinks this is a tactic, a maneuver aimed at gaining strength versus Olmert, does not know what he is talking about. Peretz's appetite reaches much further than a ministerial position.... Peretz would do well to come to his senses quickly. To acknowledge the fact that Kadima is the largest party, and it will be the one to form the government, which will be headed by Olmert.... If this does not happen, Peretz will be responsible for the insane prices that the public will pay on the way to forming the government. He will pay a heavy personal price for not keeping his promises. There is a deep abyss between me and the Likud -- he said on the eve of the elections. There will be such an abyss between him and his voters."
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2. Iraq:
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Summary:
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The Director of the Interdisciplinary Center's Global Research in International Affairs Center, columnist Barry Rubin, wrote in the conservative, independent Jerusalem Post: "It is ... dangerous for the US government to do what can certainly be called 'the right thing' in theory."
Block Quotes:
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"When 'Being Right' Is Bad Policy"
The Director of the Interdisciplinary Center's Global Research in International Affairs Center, columnist Barry Rubin, wrote in the conservative, independent Jerusalem Post (April 3): "People tend to like those who are on their side. American and other coalition forces fight and risk their lives largely to protect the majority from terrorists whom they despise. As long as this relationship continues the US task in Iraq may be heavy but it is not impossible. But what if that equation should change; what if, instead of saying, 'Thanks to the Americans, who are helping us be in power,' Shi'ites shifted to claiming, "Down with the Americans, who are keeping us from exercising power"? The anti-American forces in Iraq would increase, in very rough terms, from about one-tenth of the population (i.e., some of the Sunni Arabs) to half or even more. Such a situation would make what has gone on in Iraq so far seem like a picnic by comparison. That is why it is so dangerous for the US government to do what can certainly be called 'the right thing' in theory.... For the US government to take sides with Sunni and Kurds against [Acting Prime Minister Ibrahim Al-Jaafari] injects America into Iraqi internal politics in a way that will not endear it to the Iraqi majority.... If [President Bush] actually thinks that the US should stay until the insurgency is repressed and an ideal democracy is installed, his administration is heading for far more trouble than it has yet accumulated." JONES
