MEDIA REACTION ON MIDDLE EAST

UNCLAS AMMAN 002204 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARN, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA, B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN USAID/ANE/MEA LONDON FOR GOLDRICH PARIS FOR O'FRIEL USCINCCENT//CCPA, USCENTCOM REAR MACDILL AFB FL STATE PASS TO AID E.O. 12958: N/A 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