MEDIA REACTION MEP; HARARE

UNCLAS HARARE 002174

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/PD, AF/S, AF/RA
NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER
LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR NEARY
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM KMDR ZI
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION MEP; HARARE



1. Under headline "Genocide in Palestine" the ZANU
PF weekly organ "The People's Voice" dedicated its
September 29 editorial to accusing the Israeli Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon of "committing genocide" against
the Palestinian people. The editorial also denounced
President Bush for "sheltering such a murderous and
genocidal regime." Excerpts follow:


2. ". . . The Israeli Army has occupied all the
towns in the Palestinian territory, demolished
Arafat's office bloc in Ramallah, and is continuously
and systematically demolishing dwelling houses and
killing people living in them, including women and
children. Mr. Sharon and his army are obviously
committing genocide.

"The only reason why Mr. Sharon is not at The
Hague's International Tribunal to answer charges
of genocide is the support he has from President
George Bush of the USA and his Government. It
is surprising that a President who is so
committed to fighting terrorism, and to promote
good governance in the world should be
sheltering such a murderous and genocidal
regime. It is now the time for all the members
of the United Nations, and all the six regions
of the world, to speak out loudly and clearly
against both Mr. Sharon and his supporter, Mr.
Bush. All the statements against terrorism lose
credibility if the worst example of terrorist
(Sharon) remains behind the American umbrella."

SULLIVAN