MEDIA REACTION ON MIDDLE EAST

UNCLAS AMMAN 002204

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TAGS: KMDR JO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON MIDDLE EAST


Summary

-- Lead stories published in all papers today, May 6,
report on "the U.S.-Israeli campaign" to change the
Palestinian leadership and Prime Minister Sharon's
visit to the United States. Papers also carry wire
service reports featuring excerpts from remarks made
by the National Security Advisor about the
"unacceptable" situation in Iraq.

Editorial Commentary

-- "Sharon's files"

Chief Editor Taher Udwan writes on the back page of
independent, mass-appeal Arabic daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm
(05/06): "The right-wing U.S. administration proved
that it is the most biased in favor of Israel in the
entire history of America. This administration has
supported Sharon's war and policies in such a flagrant
and blatant manner, after it was chosen as the only
godfather of peace in this region. After Sharon's
massacres and slaughters in Jenin and Nablus, we
believe that this administration will not be able to
hold on in the face of Arab and international protests
and condemnations. It will not be able to defend
Sharon's wars much longer. The Israeli prime minister
has fully depended on America's political and media
support in his dirty war against the Palestinians. In
return however, the Palestinian cause received
unprecedented support on the level of the people and
organizations. This will surely affect America's bias
for Israel and will force Washington, sooner or later,
to shy away from supporting a man, whose history is
filled with horrible massacres."

-- "Worrying American stances"

Center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour
(05/06) editorializes: "Washington, having went to
extremes in its pressure on the Palestinian leadership
and in politically administering the Israeli
operations, now goes back to instigating against the
Palestinian leadership. What is there left of the
American vision [for a comprehensive political
solution] when Washington wages a war of siege with
the Israeli generals and rabbis? What negotiations
and what international conference when all the Arab
parties who want to see an end to the occupation, are
undergoing the worst type of American classifications?
What peace and what political process can Washington
launch when it is waging its own wars to oust the
Palestinian leadership, to isolate Syria and to
pressure Lebanon?"

-- "The Zionist movement and the U.S. administration"

Daily columnist Mazen Saket writes on the op-ed page
of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour
(05/06): "The clarity of the relationship and the
alliance between the U.S. administration and the
Zionist movement proves the anti-Arab stand of the
United States and the failure of those who claim that
the United States can have the honest broker's role in
a political settlement. This proves that the United
States is the major enemy of the Palestinian cause and
the Arab Nation."

BERRY