MEDIA REACTION: CRISIS IN LEBANON

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 002954

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: MEDIA REACTION: CRISIS IN LEBANON



1. Summary: The Israeli invasion of Lebanon continues to generate
extensive coverage in the UAE's print and electronic media. One
writer in "Al-Bayan" criticized the G8 member states for mimicking
the United States in condoning Israel's aggression. Another writer
in "Akhbar Al-Arab" questioned the Bush administration's choice to
limit UN response to the situation, despite Lebanon's requests for
aid. Yet another in "Emarat al youm" criticized the lack of
regional Arab solidarity. End Summary.


2. On 07/18, under the headline "International hypocrisy," the
Dubai-based daily newspaper "Al-Bayan" (cir. 85.000) published the
following in a lead editorial:

"It's disgraceful that the leaders of the international community,
who should serve as guardians of human rights and international law,
continue to compete with one another in justifying Israeli
aggression, calling on Hezbollah to free the two captured soldiers
and end its attacks on Israel even as they merely ask Israel to
practice some self-restraint, effectively giving Israel a green
light for its actions in Gaza and Lebanon... The international
community has passed countless resolutions demanding the return of
Arab territory, namely UNSCRs 242 and 338, and has continued to
press this angle in resolution 1559. The same resolution calls for
the withdrawal of all foreign troops from the Lebanese territories.
While Syria has since left Lebanon, Israel continues to occupy the
Shebaa Farms and three other hills in the area. We all know that if
Israel had left Shebaa farms, the present situation would not have
developed as it has. Israel's non-compliance with international law
lies behind this latest wave of death and destruction in the Middle
East."


3. On 07/17, under the headline "Paralyzed international will", the
Abu Dhabi-based pan-Arab daily "Akhbar Al-Arab" (circulation 20,000)
published the following in an unsigned editorial:

"Per usual, America has prevented the UN from issuing any resolution
that would help restore stability in Lebanon. US ambassador to the
United Nations John Bolton justified his stance by noting
Washington's preference not to have the UN involved so as to leave
doors open for possible diplomatic initiatives stemming from the
ongoing G8 conference. Such a justification is utterly bizarre, as
the conflict is closely related to the United Nations and its prior
resolutions, while the eight countries Bolton referenced has
representatives present while he spoke! This begs the question, why
does Washington prevent the UN from performing its job while Israel
escalates its aggression against a fellow UN member-state? US
solidarity with Israeli aggression is nothing new, but what doesn't
make sense is the UN's total paralysis even as a member-state is
being attacked. The only solution to this paralysis is popular
politics, wherein the world voices publicly its solidarity behind
Lebanon and insists on an intervention that can prevent the region
from erupting into open war."


4. On 07/17, under the headline "Support your brother", the Editor
in Chief of the Dubai-based Arabic-language daily "Emarat al youm"
(circulation 15,000) wrote the following:

"Even as Lebanon is being attacked indiscriminately, Arab Foreign
Ministers are arguing and mocking each other. Those assembled
ignored Lebanon's suffering over the past six days, and laid blame
at the feet of the Lebanese people for adventurism. These ministers
should have first dealt with Israel's aggression and Lebanon's
suffering, and then blamed whoever they desired... Some other Arab
countries even hesitated to label Israeli actions as aggression! So
goes Arab solidarity... "

SISON