KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION, NOVEMBER 20-23: ISTANBUL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 005381

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INR/R/MR, NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, PA, INR/NESA, IIP/G/NEA-SA,
INR/BWHITE
HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICELONDON FOR GOLDRICH, PARIS FOR
O'FRIEL
SECDEF FOR OASD/PACINCCENT FOR CCPAUS
DOC FOR 4520/ANESA/ONE/FITZGERALD-WILKS
USDOC FOR ITA AND PTO/OLIA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KU KDMR
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION, NOVEMBER 20-23: ISTANBUL
BOMBINGS; PRESIDENT BUSH IN UK; WORLD JERUSALEM DAY; JANE
FONDA AND WOMEN'S RIGHTS

REF: KUWAIT 05317


1. SUMMARY: All media report condemnation by Kuwait's
Council of Ministers of the November 20 bombings in
Istanbul, although editorial commentary has not yet caught
up with the event during this late-Ramadan period in Kuwait.
In regard to the November 15 attack against a synagogue in
Turkey, one Islamist writes churlishly that "despite the
Jews' aggressive and ill-mannered nature. we condemn the
attacks in Turkey."

One writer links the protests in London surrounding
President Bush's visit to "hatred of American's policy of
suppression," but little else on the POTUS speech in London
has appeared. The occasion of World Jerusalem Day this week
inspired one or two formulaic denunciations of Israel and
Zionism.

A high-ranking Ministry of Education official denies that
female students were expelled on November 18 for not wearing
the headscarf (reftel),but rather for not wearing the
"school uniform," adding that "we cannot force women to wear
the headscarf." A prominent liberal writer calls the
expulsions "intellectual terrorism."

On the news pages, Al-Watan published an interview with Jane
Fonda in which she reportedly stated her willingness to come
to Kuwait "if Kuwaiti women needed her support" in their
efforts to secure political rights. END SUMMARY.


2. News stories: All papers report a strong condemnation of
the November 21 blasts in Istanbul at the British Consulate
and HSBC Bank by Kuwait's Council of Ministers (Cabinet).

Six NGOs issued a statement denouncing the expulsion of
schoolgirls for not wearing headscarves, first reported in
local media on November 18(reftel),as "an act in violation
of the values of tolerance and freedom," Al-Qabas reports.

On November 24, all newspapers report that Assistant
Undersecretary for Education Dr. Hamoud Al-Sadoon stated
that the students were not expelled for failing to wear the
headscarf, but rather for not wearing the "school uniform."
He added, "We cannot force women to wear the headscarf."

Al-Qabas reports that Kuwaiti security forces were placed on
alert on November 20 after receiving information of a group
of terrorists intending to infiltrate into Kuwait to carry
out attacks.

Al-Qabas reports that Islamist MP Waleed Al-Tabtabei
attacked Kuwaiti secularists by accusing them of
"Westernizing women under the pretext of liberating them,"
in an interview with a Qatari newspaper. He added that
Islamists in the National Assembly support women's rights,
but are against "the exploitation of women."

In an interview with Al-Watan newspaper, actress Jane Fonda
urges Kuwaiti women to continue their efforts to obtain
their political rights, adding she is willing to come to
Kuwait if Kuwaiti women need her support.

Islamist MP Dr. Hassan Jowhar stated during the First Annual
Jerusalem Conference in Kuwait, "It is a joke to say that
America is a broker of peace" between Israel and the
Palestinians.

Editorials:


3. "Bush at World Jerusalem Day"
Shiite former MP Abdelmohsen Jamal wrote in independent Al-
Qabas (11/22): "The visit of President Bush to Britain
coincided with World Jerusalem Day, the anniversary which
Iranian President Khomaini called for prior to his death.
While we witnessed demonstrations against Bush in Britain,
other demonstrations were also taking place to condemn the
Zionist entity. Bush's visit to Britain has revealed the
extent of the hatred held by many people toward the policy
of suppression by the US administration."

4. "Intellectual Terrorism"
Liberal Director of the Center for Future and Strategic
Studies at Kuwait University, Dr. Shamlan Al-Essa wrote in
independent Al-Seyassah (11/24): "There is a link between
the expulsion of the unveiled schoolgirls and terrorism in
the Gulf region. What happened in Kuwait is intellectual
terrorism and what took place in Saudi Arabia is terrorism
and violence. However, intellectual terrorism is the most
dangerous type of terrorism practiced by political
Islamists. What happened in Kuwait is clear proof that
religious groups opposed to pluralism and tolerance dominate
the Ministry of Education."


5. "Jerusalem Day: It is Time for People to Speak Out"
Amna Al-Mussawi wrote in independent Al-Rai Al-Aam (11/21):
"[World Jerusalem Day] has become the only hope for Arabs to
express their opinions towards Jerusalem. Israel's efforts
to obliterate the Palestinian cause could not occur without
full American support for the Zionist State."


6. "Why Did They Triumph Over Arabs?"
Islamist Salafi Dr. Wael Al-Hassawi wrote in independent Al-
Rai Al-Aam (11/20): "In spite of the Jews' aggressive and
ill-mannered nature. they have dominated the world's economy
and media, making them the most effective lobby in the
Western world. In spite of this, crimes committed against
synagogues in Arab and Islamic countries are unjustified and
therefore we condemn the attacks in Turkey."


7. "Anti-Semitism"
Adnan Zaid Al-Kazemi wrote in independent Al-Watan (11/23):
"Zionism has strived to use the term `anti-Semitism' against
those who oppose its ideology. [T]he recent polls conducted
in Europe [reflecting a belief by some that Israel is the
greatest threat to world peace] were a slap in the face for
America and its bastard child, Zionism. To call someone
anti-Semitic is the same as calling someone anti-Zionist,
and no one accepts these accusations any longer."

URBANCIC