MEDIA REACTION ON MIDDLE EAST

UNCLAS AMMAN 009278 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 MIDDLE EAST Summary -- Lead stories in all papers published today, November 21, focus on developments in Iraq and the Palestinian Territories. On Iraq, reports continue to highlight ongoing battles in various parts of Iraq, while other reports highlight U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Myers' remarks saying that he "would not be surprised" if a civil war breaks out following the elections in Iraq. On the Palestinian front, reports highlight ongoing issues with the Palestinian elections. Editorial Commentary -- "Iraq and the current difficult stage" Semi-official, influential Arabic daily Al-Rai (11/21) editorializes: "While attention is drawn towards the Sharm Al-Shaikh conference in support of Iraq with the participation of effective and influential international and regional parties . what is happening in Iraq now, in terms of killing, slaughter, destruction and security chaos, are reminders of actions that can only be described as terrorism.. What is happening in Iraq now should be a motive for conferees to provide qualitative and actual support to the Iraqi government. What is happening in Iraq should be a reminder to the conferees that they need to have the wisdom and the farsightedness to overcome the conflicts that ruled some of them before and after the war, for the benefit of peace and security in the region and the world." HALE