Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02AMMAN3304
2002-06-19 09:21:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION ON MIDDLE EAST

Tags:  KMDR JO 
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UNCLAS AMMAN 003304

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 story in all papers today, June 19, highlights
reports about yesterday's suicide bus bombing in
Jerusalem. Headlines refer to it as "the Jerusalem
operation". Reports also focus on Israel's decision
to retaliate in Palestinian Authority areas.
Editorial commentaries continue to criticize Israel's
occupation and its aggression against the Palestinian
people. One columnist today holds the United States
"fully responsible" for the destruction and
assassinations taking place in the Palestinian
territories.

Editorial Commentary

-- "Giving Sharon the excuse!"

Daily columnist Yaser Za'atreh writes on the op-ed
page of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-
Dustour (06/19): "They said that the heroic Jerusalem
operation is going to give Sharon the excuse he needs
to escalate his aggressions against the Palestinians
people. Yet, the Palestinians wonder when did Sharon
stop those aggressions in the first place. Giving in
to Sharon's security and then political conditions is
the only guaranteed way to stop the aggressions
against the Palestinian people. However, it is a way
that is not acceptable to the principles, values,
dignity and pride know to all free people. The heroic
Jerusalem operation and operations before it fall
within the category of resistance, combating
occupation and convincing the whole world that ending
the occupation is the only solution. The Palestinian
people and their leadership are being humiliated, and
there is no response to that other than continuing the
resistance."

-- "Will the Israeli ever learn the lesson?"

Daily columnist Jamil Nimri writes on the back page of
independent, mass-appeal Arabic daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm
906/19): "Yesterday's operation in Jerusalem says it
all about the effectiveness of the dividing wall that
Sharon is building. Insisting on dealing with the
Palestinian people with brutality, oppression and
humiliation has only succeeded in entrenching the
anger and the rage and the willingness to die, so that
more and more young men ready for martyrdom
operations."

-- "The American green light"

Daily columnist Fahd Fanek writes on the back page of
semi-official, influential Arabic daily Al-Ra'i
(06/19): "Bush is the one asking the Arabs and the
Palestinians to bear their responsibilities so that
his vision of the Palestinian state can come into
reality. Israel is never asked to do anything. It is
doing more than its share. Even more than that,
Sharon is a man of peace according to Bush, and Arafat
is a terrorist. This sums up America's vision and its
policies towards this region. Saying that American
gives Sharon the green light to act is actually
belittling American's role in the events of the
Israeli aggression. In fact, American is not only
allowing Sharon to do what he sees fit, but is also
instigating him, arming him, financing him and
providing him with a moral and legal cover in order to
protect him from the United Nations and the world.
America bears full responsibility for what is
happening in the West Bank."
GNEHM