SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: Israeli attack on Lebanon

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 002887

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD; NEA/RA; INR/R/MR; PA; INR/NESA; INR/B;
RRU-NEA
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 TC
SUBJECT: SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: Israeli attack on Lebanon


1. Summary. Israeli air, sea and land strikes against Lebanon
received first page coverage in the UAE and other UAE-based print
and electronic media. Arabic and English dailies highlighted the
killing of Lebanese civilians as a result of the Israeli raids. AP
photo of a man carrying the body of a dead Lebanese girl is
front-page on the major Arabic and English dailies. An editorial
asserted that all Arab issues are linked, which explains why U.S.
efforts to separate these issues will not lead to peace. Another
editorial calls on the Lebanese to remain united to help the
resistance and urges all Arabs to support them. A columnist in
"Al-Khaleej" opines that Israel will be obliged to negotiate for its
prisoners following the operation in Southern Lebanon simply because
Israel knows well the potentials of Hezbullah." End summary.


2. Headlines in the main Arabic dailies read:

- Sharjah-based Pan-Arab daily "Al-Khaleej" (cir. 90.000):
"Tens of Martyrs among them children and families and Bush
unilaterally legitimatizes the aggression and calls for making Syria
accountable." "Israel invades Lebanon." "The resistance targets
settlements and military sites, kills three and threatens to shell
deep in Israel." "The Security Council meets today."

- Dubai-based daily "Al-Bayan" (cir. 85.000):
"Israel terrorism spreads destruction in Lebanon." "52 martyrs fell
among them three (entire) families, destruction of Beirut airport
and other vital installations." "Hezbullah missiles kill three and
hit 91 settlers and Bush threatens Syria."

- Abu Dhabi-based semi-official Arabic daily "Al-Ittihad" (cir.
65.000):
"100 missiles push half a million Israelis to shelters." "War is
knocking at the gates of Beirut." "55 martyrs fell in shelling of
civilian installations." "A missile hits Haifa."

- Dubai-based Arabic tabloid "Emarat El-Youm" (cir. 35.000):
"Hizbullah shells an air base in Safed and threatens Haifa." "An
Israeli massacre in Lebanon."


3. Unsigned editorial in Abu Dhabi-based Arabic daily "Akhbar
Al-Arab" (cir. 25.000):

"One of the advantages of the "Operation Fulfilled Promise," which
was carried out by Hizbullah and captured two Israeli soldiers, is
that it has awakened the world after a long time of indifference to
the Israeli military actions and ugly massacres in Gaza and the West
Bank. It also revealed the illogical manner in which the world
community, represented by the UN and Security Council, is dealing
with major Middle Eastern issues. Despite continuous Israeli
aggression against the Palestinians, including killings and
massacres, the international organization did not act, but rather
talked about human catastrophes that might impact the Palestinian
people as a result of the aggression, still making no move to end
the aggression... The Security Council must be aware that Arab
issues are inter-related. The issue of Palestinian prisoners is not
separated from the Lebanese prisoners, just as the settlement of the
Palestinian issue is not isolated from other Middle Eastern issues.
The U.S. tried hard to separate the Palestinian issue from other
Arab and Islamic ones, yet it has been proven that separating them
from one another has failed, and any attempt to disengage them means
that the road towards peace is stalemated..."


4. Under the headline "Unity is the Weapon of Lebanese", "Al-Bayan"
editorializes:

"... The Lebanese are capable of overcoming the economic damages,
but what is more important is their strength to unify their internal
ranks, in light of last weeks' statements and political stances....
The Israeli aggression does not only target Hizbullah and the
Shiites of Lebanon. Israeli missiles and war planes reach the
Shiites, the Sunnis and the Christians, yet what is required now is
a unified position that will overcome narrow political differences.
If Israel aims to impose a fait a compli on Lebanon and the region,
it is the duty of the Lebanese and Arabs to confront this plan and
resist it through solidarity, and not to leave the resistance to
Lebanon alone."


5. Under the headline "Negotiation by Force", Husam Kanafani writes
in "Al-Khaleej":

"It seems that aggression is not the best option to bring back the
prisoners, especially after the front has been expanded and is not
confined to Gaza. It is totally different when it comes to
Hizbullah and Israel knows well its strength, which it has
experienced for twenty years. Israel also is well aware that any
aggression on Lebanon will be met with attacks that will hit deep
inside Israel, in light of Hizbullah's possession of long-range
missiles that are capable of reaching to major cities. Therefore,
the action and reaction are relatively balanced, unlike the
prevailing situation in Gaza...negotiations and prisoners' exchange
will be imposed by force on the occupation forces."


6. Dubai-based English daily "Gulf News" (cir. 100.000)
editorialized:
"The bullying reaction of Israel in Lebanon in retaliation to a
brazen operation by the Hezbollah fighters shows the Hebrew state
still thinks in the same old way: flexing its mighty muscles to
spread more destruction and casualties to squash resistance.
Enjoying its supremacy of power, Israel believes it will enjoy peace
by forcing people to forget their rights, but the results are always
against its objectives....With the US and the European Union
supporting Israel's barbaric acts against Lebanon and Palestinians,
it will not help achieve an end to the problems of the region. The
US and the EU should tell the Israeli government that the only
solution to its growing problems is very simple: Stop the use of
force and think of restoring peace based on equality with
neighbors."

SISON