TERRORISM: EGYPTIAN MEDIA THEMES,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 005473

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PA FOR J. ADAM ERELI; NEA/PD FOR FRANK FINVER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KPAO KMDR OPRC UK IZ IS EG
SUBJECT: TERRORISM: EGYPTIAN MEDIA THEMES,
JULY 11 TO 17



1. Summary: The Egyptian media continued to comment on
the murder of Egyptian envoy to Iraq Ehab Al-Sharif and the
London bombings. Some commentators blamed "western double
standards" for terrorism. Others pointed towards
corruption and "a lack of democracy" as the cause. Some
commentators questioned why the Egyptian Government had
sent murdered envoy Ehab Al-Sharif to Iraq in the first
place; while another accused Egyptians of being
disingenuous when referring to the violence in Iraq as
"resistance," rather than "terrorism." The media gave wide
coverage to the arrest of the Egyptian-born chemist accused
of involvement in the London attacks and to Deputy
Secretary Zoellick's visit to Egypt to discuss political

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and economic reform. One pro-government newspaper accused
D/S Zoellick of attempting "to pressure Egypt on political
reforms" by meeting with opposition figures. Renewed
violence between Palestinians and Israeli forces dominated
media coverage over the weekend, with commentators
universally condemning Israeli actions. End summary.


2. London bombing: "Britain is responsible for the
attacks in London, because it failed to listen to Egyptian
warnings about giving asylum to Islamists," wrote a
commentator in pro-government Al-Akhbar (circulation:
800,000) on July 15. A commentator in opposition Al-Wafd
(circulation: 50,000) wrote on July 14, "These attacks show
that the West is paying for its stupid policies in the Arab
world." On July 14, an independent columnist in pro-
government Al-Ahram (circulation: 750,000) blamed "western
double standards" for terrorism; while an Islamist
commentator writing in the same issue asserted that the
attacks "will close the doors of education and work
opportunities for Muslims in Europe." The Egyptian media
covered the arrest of Magdy Nasher, the Egyptian-born
chemist accused of playing a role in the London attacks.
The July 16 front page of pro-government Al-Gomhouriya
(circulation: 500,000) printed the Egyptian Minister of
Interior's assertion that Nasher "has no connection with
Al-Qaeda." The same day, a commentator in pro-government
Al-Ahram (circulation: 750,000) wrote, "It is impossible
that a young professor sent to London for his education to
serve his nation becomes a terrorist." Also on July 16,
Al-Gomhouriya's Editor-in-chief blamed the American and
British media for "their ready accusations" against Nasher
and "their attempts to prove a link between him and Mohamed
Atta before the investigation is finished."


3. Egyptian envoy to Iraq murdered more commentary: On
July 16 Egyptian satellite Dream TV's program Al-Haqiqa
("The Truth") featured several guests who spoke about Ehab
Al-Sherif's murder. "Our ambassador was sent under U.S.
pressure," claimed a People's Assembly member, "to give
legitimacy to a fake and illegal Iraqi government."
Another commentator contradicted him by stating that Iraq's
government was "accepted internationally and is
legitimate." An Egyptian who was kidnapped by Sunni
insurgents also appeared on the program to claim that his
kidnappers "treated me kindly" and blamed Shiite security
forces for "treating Sunnis unfairly." A fourth guest,
dubbed a "political analyst," claimed, "It's in the best
interest of the U.S. that terrorism does not stop in Iraq,
so it can use terrorism as a reason to stay," while also
charging that the U.S. finances Zarqawi. On July 12, Nile
TV hosted an Egyptian political writer and analyst who
listed "western double standards" and "poverty, corruption,
and the lack of democracy" as the causes of the terrorism
that led to Ehab Al-Sherif's murder. A columnist in
independent daily Nahdet Masr (circulation: 20,000),on
July 14, accused Egyptians of failing "to name things for
what they are" by not calling the violence in Iraq
"terrorism," rather than "resistance."


4. Deputy Secretary Zoellick visit to Egypt: The pro-
government media welcomed Deputy Secretary of State Robert
Zoellick's visit to Egypt by claiming on July 13 that he
would "discuss increasing U.S. investment in Egypt" and
"work on concluding a free trade agreement." The headline
in Al-Ahram on July 15 read, "Egypt to take the lead in
political and economic reforms," along with photos of
Zoellick meeting with President Mubarak. The front page of
pro-government Akhbar Al-Youm (circulation: 1,000,000)
highlighted Zoellick's comments to a journalists roundtable
on July 14 that "Egypt's role in the Middle East peace
process is key." Independent Nahdet Masr profiled Zoellick
on its front page on July 16 under the headline, "Zoellick:
The New Reformers in the NDP are Serious About Change;
There is No Substitute for International Monitoring to
Ensure Honest Elections." Al-Gomhouriya's new Editor-in-
chief, Mohamed Ali Ibrahim, criticized Zoellick's July 13
meeting with opposition figures as "an attempt to pressure
Egypt on political reforms" and asserted that the U.S. "is
seeking a president from the opposition." (For more
details on coverage of the Deputy Secretary's visit to
Egypt, see septel.)


5. Israel: The lead story in Al-Ahram on July 14 reported
on Israel's "re-occupation" of Tulkarem and renewed
violence in the Palestinian Territories, with a lead photo
of Israeli soldiers "attacking" a home. The same day, all
newspapers printed FM Aboul Gheit's comments condemning the
Netanya suicide bombing. "Israel is the enemy of life,"
inveighed the unsigned editorial in Al-Akhbar on July 15.
Several commentators lined up against Israel on Dream TV's
Al-Haqiqa on July 16. "Israelis hate us," stated one
commentator, pointing to negative Israeli press commentary
about Egypt, while another commentator claimed that the
Qualified Industrial Zone (QIZ) and natural gas agreements
were ways of "rewarding the enemy for their brutal and
aggressive policies." However, one commentator an NDP
member begged that the audience understand "diplomatic
protocols" between Egypt and Israel, explaining, "Our
relations with Israel, a neighboring country, are as
important as those with Libya and Sudan."

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