MEDIA REACTION: ARAB SUMMIT, ISRAELI MACHINATIONS, AND

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000522 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI (TROBERTS),NEA/PPD (CWHITTLESEY),NEA/P (FFINVER),INR/R/MR LONDON FOR GOLDRICH PARIS FOR ZEYA USCENTCOM FOR PLUSH FOREIGN PRESS CENTER/ASILAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO KMDR OIIP MU SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: ARAB SUMMIT, ISRAELI MACHINATIONS, AND AMERICAN FAVORITISM -------------- Calls For Israeli Withdrawal -------------- ¶1. On March 25, the privately-owned Arabic daily "Al-Watan" carried an editorial entitled "The Positive Algerian Summit": "Despite the absence of public enthusiasm for the Arab summit, its outcome was positive. The summit made any peace initiative contingent upon Israel's withdrawal from Arab territories, including Syrian, Palestinian, and Lebanese lands, as well as the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Arab leaders insisted that their aim was to encourage Israel to comply with UN resolutions on the Palestinian issue." -------------- Israel Hinders Peace -------------- ¶2. On March 26, the government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" carried an editorial entitled "Sabotaging the Peace Process": "When 13 Palestinian factions met in Cairo and agreed to an unofficial truce with Israel, many observers both in and outside the region were optimistic that the Israeli-Palestinian issue had entered into a new and promising phase. However, Sharon's announcement of plans to expand three SETTLEMENTS in the West Bank has destroyed that optimism. It is clear that the Israeli prime minister has intentionally endangered the peace process for internal political reasons." -------------- Double Standards -------------- ¶3. The privately-owned daily "Al-Watan" published an editorial on March 27 entitled "America's Polite Criticism of Israel": "The American administration sometimes rebukes Israel for doing things that hinder the peace process. However, these mild reprimands do not amount to very much because America never uses words like "condemn" or "denounce" in reference to Israeli actions. Nevertheless, if an Arab country deviates from American policy, the U.S. administration raises its club and threatens to beat the country into submission through military might, economic boycotts, or international pressure." BALTIMORE