Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03AMMAN4157
2003-07-09 19:06:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Amman
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS AMMAN 004157
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
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR JO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON MIDDLE EAST
Summary
-- Lead stories in all papers today, July 9, are
reports about the Palestinian Prime Minister's threat
to resign as the head of the Palestinian government
amidst tension within the Palestinian leadership over
negotiations with Israel. Front pages also report on
the situation in Iraq highlighting Iraqi "guerilla"
attacks against Coalition forces and the latest audio
tape, claimed to have been made by Saddam Hussein,
urging Iraqis to launch "covert" attacks as "the best
way to end the occupation".
Editorial Commentary
-- "The stage of difficult tests"
Center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour
(07/09) editorializes: "Facts on the ground in the
Palestinian territory seems to be very complicated and
difficult.. The suffering of Palestinian Prime
Minister Mahmoud Abbas seems quite evident as he tries
to reconcile between the various contradictions on the
Palestinian front and manage negotiations with the
Israeli side that continues to carry out maneuvers in
an attempt to jeopardize everything that Mr. Abbas is
trying to achieve.. The Islamic Jihad Movement did
well to declare that the latest operation, which was
done by one of its members, had not been part of its
program and that it is committed to the truce. Yet,
as important as this clarification is, there has to be
total control over such action, in order not to give
the Israelis the pretext or the justification for
refusing the release of prisoners who belong to those
Palestinian factions.. We continue to urge the
Palestinian factions to block Israel's way and call
for further American follow-up and direct mediation in
order to remove the obstacles that Israel is placing
in the path to peace and help everyone overcome this
stage of difficult tests".
-- "When Mahmoud Abbas resigns"
Semi-official, influential Arabic daily Al-Rai (07/09)
editorializes: "The resignation of the Palestinian
Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas from Fateh takes the
Palestinian domestic front back to square one, just
when things have started to look like they were
heading towards calm and quiet.. Pushing Abbas
against the wall and tying his hands behind his back
achieves nothing but what we think would be a not so
noble objective, simply because it means suicide.
This is because the hole that would be left by Abbas'
resignation from government will prove to be a success
and an opportunity for the Sharon government to
portray itself as the one that wants peace and the
Palestinians as wanting nothing but extremism and
terrorism; Israeli charges by all means". GNEHM
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
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR JO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON MIDDLE EAST
Summary
-- Lead stories in all papers today, July 9, are
reports about the Palestinian Prime Minister's threat
to resign as the head of the Palestinian government
amidst tension within the Palestinian leadership over
negotiations with Israel. Front pages also report on
the situation in Iraq highlighting Iraqi "guerilla"
attacks against Coalition forces and the latest audio
tape, claimed to have been made by Saddam Hussein,
urging Iraqis to launch "covert" attacks as "the best
way to end the occupation".
Editorial Commentary
-- "The stage of difficult tests"
Center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour
(07/09) editorializes: "Facts on the ground in the
Palestinian territory seems to be very complicated and
difficult.. The suffering of Palestinian Prime
Minister Mahmoud Abbas seems quite evident as he tries
to reconcile between the various contradictions on the
Palestinian front and manage negotiations with the
Israeli side that continues to carry out maneuvers in
an attempt to jeopardize everything that Mr. Abbas is
trying to achieve.. The Islamic Jihad Movement did
well to declare that the latest operation, which was
done by one of its members, had not been part of its
program and that it is committed to the truce. Yet,
as important as this clarification is, there has to be
total control over such action, in order not to give
the Israelis the pretext or the justification for
refusing the release of prisoners who belong to those
Palestinian factions.. We continue to urge the
Palestinian factions to block Israel's way and call
for further American follow-up and direct mediation in
order to remove the obstacles that Israel is placing
in the path to peace and help everyone overcome this
stage of difficult tests".
-- "When Mahmoud Abbas resigns"
Semi-official, influential Arabic daily Al-Rai (07/09)
editorializes: "The resignation of the Palestinian
Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas from Fateh takes the
Palestinian domestic front back to square one, just
when things have started to look like they were
heading towards calm and quiet.. Pushing Abbas
against the wall and tying his hands behind his back
achieves nothing but what we think would be a not so
noble objective, simply because it means suicide.
This is because the hole that would be left by Abbas'
resignation from government will prove to be a success
and an opportunity for the Sharon government to
portray itself as the one that wants peace and the
Palestinians as wanting nothing but extremism and
terrorism; Israeli charges by all means". GNEHM