Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04AMMAN10019
2004-12-20 11:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION ON FRANCE'S CLOSURE OF MANAR

Tags:  KMDR JO 
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UNCLAS AMMAN 010019

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR JO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON FRANCE'S CLOSURE OF MANAR
TV

Summary

-- Lead story in all papers today, December 20,
focuses on the response of the Lower and Upper Houses
of Parliament to the King's speech from the throne.
Another lead story highlights reports about Saddam
Hussein's first meeting with his lawyer. Other
stories continue to highlight the escalation of
violence in Iraq, with one paper reporting allegations
of Shia and Sunni leaders of Israeli Mossad
responsibility for deadly explosions.

Editorial Commentary

-- "Do they fear our voices so much?"

Columnist Hussein Rawashdeh writes on the op-ed page
of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour
(12/20): "Assassinating the voice of Al-Manar TV, be
it by banning its broadcast in France or placing it on
the American list of terrorism, simply means that the
western talk about freedom has failed miserably in all
the tests.. The free Arab and Muslim media, just like
the free Arab man, the free Arab word and the free
resistance, has become `legitimate' targets of anyone
who targets our nation with invasion, deterioration
and backwardness.. Al-Manar TV, and even Al-Jazirah
TV, will not be the last, just as Baghdad, Fallujah
and Rafah are not going to be the last."

-- "The Zionist pressure groups are behind the closure
of Al-Manar TV"

Columnist Ibrahim Absi writes on the op-ed page of
center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour
(12/20): "We had thought that France is the land of
free art, free thought, free expression, free opinions
and words, and free political stances, and that it had
rid itself completely of the enemies of freedom and of
the Zionist pressure groups. Yet, here we stand, face
to face with a shocking French decision, which is by
all means a decision against France, against freedom
and against art and thought. Namely, it is the
decision to close down the free Arab satellite TV
station, Al-Manar, on the pretext that it is anti-
Semitic and on the pretext of the hijab [head scarf]
worn by the women presenters. Yet, French officials
know very well that the reason for the closure, which
seems to be out of their hands, is completely
different, namely the fact that this free station,
which was never anti-Semitic but anti-Zionism,
managed, with its limited resources and in a very
short period of time, to expose the lies and deception
of the Zionist media channels.. The closure of Al-
Manar TV is a victory for hate over love, for lies
over truth, for slavery over freedom, for Zionism over
free France, for the Zionist entity over the Arab
nation - the nation that failed to establish an Arab
satellite station that would engage the western public
opinion, and failed to protect this free Arab station
that has brought the Arab voice and image to Europe
and the world."
HALE