MEDIA RECTION ON MIDDLE EAST

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 006613 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 RECTION ON MIDDLE EAST Summary -- Lead stories in all papers today, October 16, highlights the blast that took place at the entrance of Gaza, killing three Americans. The same lead stories highlight the U.S. veto against the Arab draft UNSC resolution condemning Israel's dividing wall in the West Bank. Reports feature the various Palestinian, Arab and international condemnations of the blast, including Jordan's official denunciation of the "terrorist operation". Editorial Commentary -- "Who benefits?" Semi-official, influential Arabic daily Al-Rai (10/16) editorializes: "Suddenly and with an ill-omened development, the bombing of the American employees' vehicle in the north of Gaza comes to increase the complications and the confusion on the Palestinian scene and to pose new questions about the agenda of the Palestinian national movement.. The `operation' seems to reflect a desire for blind revenge against the Americans for the unlimited support that the U.S. administration is showing towards Israel, the most recent of which is vetoing the Arab draft resolution considering Israel's construction of the wall illegal and a violation of international legitimacy. Yet, it is time for the Palestinians to look around them and carefully reread the regional and international scenes away from emotional reactions, that could be sometimes justifiable, but that, in reality, result in reducing international support for the Palestinian cause.. No one stands to benefit from yesterday's operation except the enemies of the Palestinian people and those who have succeeded in turning the legitimate Palestinian struggle against the occupation into terrorism which must be fought.. It is time to abandon these methods and to restore nobility to the people's non-violent and unarmed struggle, not only because the balance of power is tipping in favor of the occupation forces, but also because this would be the best way to regain the support of the world's public opinion." -- "Who killed the CIA men in Gaza?" Columnist Yaser Abu Hilaleh writes on the op-ed page of the semi-official, influential Arabic daily Al-Rai (10/16): "They did it in Beit Hanoun, exactly as they had done in the World Trade Center before. The Mossad kill the CIA men. It was not enough that they created a huge gap between the Muslim world and the United States after 9/11. They had to deepen the gap between the Palestinians and the Americans.. Politically, what happened in Beit Hanoun is disastrous and is going to hurt the Palestinian people and strengthen the Bush-Sharon alliance. The decision to carry out this attack, whoever made that decision, did not only blow up the motorcade of the CIA men, but also Palestinian-American relations. This explosion is going to have serious repercussions, not only for the Palestinians and the Palestinian Authority, but also for the region.. The Beit Hanoun explosion is another disaster that the Palestinians did not need, neither did the Americans. However, it may just alert the Americans to the extent their relationship with the region has reached. They do not need to hear repeated lectures about the need to review their policies and to limit their bias in favor of Israel. They probably need to be reassured and appeased, otherwise their feelings of revenge have the capability of destroying this region even more. Accusing the Mossad of perpetrating this explosion does not ease the anger of the Americans. But the Mossad is really responsible in an indirect way. Their crimes, which they perpetrate with American weapons, have made a large number of people view the arms makers and dealers as partners in crime. No doubt the explosion is going complicate the situation nationwide, but instead of running away from the problem, facts should be faced, no matter how bitter and harsh they are, namely the fact that the relationship between American and the Arab and Muslim world is now based on enmity and hatred. This relationship must be rectified." -- "A new veto that does not concern us" Columnist Khaled Mahadeen writes on the op-ed page of semi-official, influential Arabic daily Al-Rai (10/16): "Congratulations to the Arab regime, the Muslim regime, the European regime and to the new and old world orders for this fresh American veto.. What loss of balance and credibility is this that now governs the U.S. policy? Does such loss of balance and lack of credibility lead the superpower, the United States, to this level of floundering, determined to strike against the one that does not strike it back because it cannot strike the one that is striking it back, defeating it and providing proof of its failure in Iraq, in Palestine, in Lebanon and in Afghanistan. The Israeli entity, in its desperation and naivet, is trying to build two prisons, one for the Palestinian people and its brave resistance, and the other for the Israelis and their tools of terror. It will not be long before they find out that iron and cement cannot beat the Palestinians and peace alone, established on the values and principles of international legitimacy, can grant the Israelis hope. I, as an Arab citizen, am not concerned with this American veto. It is addressed to the governments and the foreign ministries of every Arab and Muslim country and to all those who defend friendship and alliance with Washington." GNEHM