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