MEDIA REACTION: PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, SECURING THE

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000717 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD, NEA/P, 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: PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, SECURING THE GULF, AND ERDOGAN'S VISIT TO ISRAEL -------------- Stumbling Blocks To Peace -------------- ¶1. On April 26, the government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" carried an editorial entitled "Peace in the Middle East": "As a powerful country, the United States has a moral and legal responsibility to seek the best possible solutions for regional political problems and pressures. When people are suffering from social and economic ills, and legal options are not available, armed resistance is often the only alternative. The U.S. must recognize the danger represented by the existence of Israel in the Middle East, and should acknowledge that the Israelis are invaders. All necessary political and economic means must be employed to implement the United Nations resolutions." -------------- Reductions, Reform, and Resources -------------- ¶2. The privately-owned Arabic daily "Al-Watan" ran an editorial on April 30 entitled "Dialogue In The Gulf": "Since the events of September 11, the GCC has seen reductions in its economic and investment sectors. In order to protect the region from terrorism and improve the economic situation, Gulf countries need a strategic, long-term vision that encourages reform and change without resorting to violence. Dialogue must be encouraged between the governments of the region and their people. With all its vital resources, a secure Gulf will form a valuable basis for the entire industrial world." -------------- Turkish Delight -------------- ¶3. "Al-Watan" also published an editorial on May 2 under the headline "Two Faces for Erdogan's Visit": "Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Israel to downplay the effects of his recent remarks that described Israeli practices against Palestinians as `state terrorism.' This is his right as a democratically elected leader who wants to improve relations with other countries. However, Arab states are not asking Turkey to sever its relations with Israel; rather, they are asking Turkey to use its important regional position to push for the protection of Palestinian rights. Prime Minister Erdogan ought to hew to a consistent definition of terrorism, one which does not include resisting invaders." BALTIMORE