MEDIA REACTION: SYRIA-LEBANON/THE ROADMAP

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000058 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 KPAO AE TC SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: SYRIA-LEBANON/THE ROADMAP ¶1. SUMMARY: "Al-Khaleej" advised the Arab nation to take decisive and collaborative actions to contain the worsening situation in Syria and Lebanon. "Al-Bayan" cites some of the problems in the Middle East and stresses that such issues must be resolved before it becomes too late. "Al-Khaleej" claims the roadmap is being used by Sharon to allow time him the time he needs to achieve his goals. End Summary. ¶2. Under the headline "Beyond Syria and Lebanon ", Sharjah- based Pan-Arab daily "Al Khaleej," (circulation 85,000) 01/04 wrote: "A quick intervention is required from Arabs, as the situation is clearly worsening in Syria and Lebanon. The Arab nation should strive to contain the situation before it reaches the point of no- return, especially after the Arab League initiative to put things together was declined... This aggravating situation is spreading beyond Syria and Lebanon. Arabs should move swiftly to rescue what can be saved before the storm turns into a hurricane." ¶3. Under the headline " An explosive start", Dubai-based Arabic daily "Al Bayan" (circulation 90,000) 01/03 wrote: "Iraq inaugurated the year 2006 with a frightening wave of car bombs and the kidnapping indicating that the security situation continues to suffer... The Palestinian arena again continues to deteriorate in an unprecedented manner... However, the Lebanese- Syrian issue had witnessed developments loaded by potentially political outbreak, further complicating itself and therefore leading to a situation never experienced before... The rapid simultanious deterioration of these situations and requires a unified effort to contain them before they reach the point of no- return. We know that the key of containment is in Arab hands. What is required is for them to wake up before it is too late." ¶4. Under the headline " If the roadmap was annulled", Sharjah- dased Pan-Arab daily "Al Khaleej," (circulation 85,000) 01/03 wrote: "THE ANTICIPATED STEP TAKEN BY SHARON COMPLETES THE UNILATERAL PLAN OF QUITTING GAZA, WHICH ISRAEL TURNED INTO A HUGE PRISON BESIEGED BY ISRAELI FORCES, AND HIS INTENTION TO REPEAT THIS WITH THE WEST BANK. HE IS REDUCING THE PALESTINIAN LAND TO ONLY A DREAM EMBRACED BY THOSE WHO BELIEVED THE PROMISES OF PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH, THINKING HE WOULD PUT THE NEEDS OF THE PALESTINIANS ABOVE THAT OF ISRAEL... EVER SINCE THE ROADMAP PLAN WAS ANNOUNCED AND GEORGES BUSH PROMISED A PALESTINIAN STATE, SHARON HAS BEEN EXPLOITING TIME TO ACHIEVE HIS GOALS FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF THE RACIAL WALL THAT SWALLOWED LARGE PARTS OF PALESTINIAN. THE QUESTION NOW IS: WHAT WILL THE ARABS DO?" SISON