MEDIA REACTION: U.S. PUBLIC DIPLOMACY EFFORTS/PALESTINE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000019 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD; NEA/RA; INR/R/MR; PA; INR/NESA; INR/B; IIP/G/NEA-SA WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE; NSC SECDEF FOR OASD/PA USCINCCENT FOR POLAD LONDON FOR MCKUNE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR AE KPAO TC SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S. PUBLIC DIPLOMACY EFFORTS/PALESTINE ¶1. SUMMARY: Arab columnists are critical of U.S. public diplomacy efforts. Al-Khaleej urges Palestinian authorities to take stronger control of the resistance and not just make statements condemning resistance groups. End Summary. ¶2. Under the headline "Brainwash", Jafar Mohamed Ahmed, a columnist wrote on Sharjah-based Pan -Arab daily "Al Khaleej," (circulation 85,000) 12/30: "The announcement inaugurating the Edward R. Murrow Journalism Fellows Program came days after the suspension of Hi Magazine whose objective was to enhance the image of Washington in the Arab and Islamic world. The U.S. stopped publishing this magazine as it failed to achieve this goal and could probably take the same step towards Radio Sawa and Al-Hurrah TV, which are both financed by the American Congress for the same objective. Will the new Washington endeavor of the Edward R. Murrow Journalism Fellows Program further tarnish the U.S. image after its failure with Sawa, Al-Hurrah and finally Hi Magazine which were all nothing but attempts of unsuccessful American brainwashing?" ¶3. Under the headline "Can diplomacy enhance US image?", a columnist, Dr. Mohamed Qirat, wrote on Dubai-based Arabic daily "Al Bayan," (circulation 90,000) 12/30: "Karen Hughes acknowledges that her mission is difficult to achieve and that Radio Sawa and Al-Hurrah TV both failed to achieve their set objectives. The question here is: Does America need to rectify its image in front of the world or does it need to change its foreign policies and its security, military and economic conduct in the world? Most likely, America needs an accurate scientific performance diagnosis as to what its image has become now. Enhancing the image is done through deeds not words." ¶4. Under the headline "Hi and American naivety", a columnist, Dr. Saleh Abdel Atheem, wrote on Dubai-based Arabic daily "Al Bayan," (circulation 90,000) 12/30: "America wants, through its media, to let the Arabic reader and viewer know that there is another tame, pleasant and shining America that has nothing to do with what is currently happening in Iraq and Afghanistan. So please Mr. Reader and viewer do not judge the U.S. through what you see in Iraq and Afghanistan and through what you see of continuous American pressure exerted on this region or through its unconditional assistance to Israel. You should forget all this and direct your entirety towards the American media and overlook these American perils in the Arab region.. Despite its pretentious naivety, the new American media presents its face of ridicule and non-understanding of contemporary Arabic trends through Hi Magazine.. As if the targeted Arab readers are expected to be more concerned with the latest American musical hits.. It seems that American government media directed towards the Arab world still reflects the U.S. political thought that the Arab world does not have a sound understanding of the current situation and circumstances in the Arab region.. So until the American political diplomacy changes its direction towards this region, and until its media naivety diminishes, all the American media organizations in the Arab region will have a similar fate." ¶5. Under the headline "Suspected weapon", Sharjah-based Pan -Arab daily "Al Khaleej," (circulation 85,000) 1/2 wrote: "IT IS NOT IN THE BENEFIT OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND THEIR CURRENT SITUATION, THE NATIONAL LAW, AND ALL THE PALESTINIAN FORCES, TO HAVE SECURITY BREAKDOWN IN GAZA. THESE BREAKDOWNS TAKE THE FORM OF UNCONTROLLED, ILLEGAL STREET FIGHTING, ATTACKS ON POLICEMEN, KIDNAPPING OF FOREIGNERS AND BOMBINGS. THESE BREAKDOWNS DEBASE THE DIGNITY OF CITIZENS, MARTYRS AND THE DIVINITY OF JERUSALEM. THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN IF THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY HAD EVERYTHING UNDER ITS CONTROL OR IF THERE WAS A REAL NATIONAL AWARENESS OF THE FACT THAT ANY WEAPON USED AGAINST NON- OCCUPIERS SERVES THE OCCUPATION BECAUSE SUCH PRACTICES HURT THE PALESTINIAN STRUGGLE AND DISTORTS BOTH ITS IMAGE AND ITS SACRIFICES. THE REASON FOR KIDNAPPING FOREIGNERS OR OTHER NORMAL CITIZENS WHO PROVIDE SOCIAL OR HUMAN SERVICES TO THE PALESTINIANS IS NOT UNDERSTOOD.. THESE ATTACKS ARE HAPPENING AT A TIME WHEN THE PALESTINIAN ISSUE IS PASSING THROUGH ITS MOST DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS STAGE.. STATEMENTS OF CONDEMNATION AND DENUNCIATION MADE BY PALESTINIAN AUTHORITIES ARE NOT ENOUGH." QUINN