Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06AMMAN5251
2006-07-13 08:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Amman
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION ON ACTION IN SOUTH LEBANON
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHAM #5251 1940816 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 130816Z JUL 06 FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2244 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0366 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 1294 RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUMICEA/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS AMMAN 005251
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARN, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA, B/BXN,
B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN
USAID/ANE/MEA
LONDON FOR TSOU
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR JO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON ACTION IN SOUTH LEBANON
Editorial Commentary
-- "Open possibilities"
Columnist Nahed Hattar writes on the back-page of independent,
mass-appeal Arabic daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm (07/13): "Hezbollah's bold
decision to deal a new successful blow to the Israeli occupation
army lies on that dividing line between being a support tactic to
ease Israel's aggressive pressure on Gaza, amidst Arab and
international silence, and being a defense-offense strategy.... Tel
Aviv of course has the option of a comprehensive escalation,
including strikes or even war against Syria and Iran. This means
that the region would go on fire, with the United States reaping the
negative effects in Iraq and a new popular wave against the U.S.
policies would be launched. The colonialist American Israeli
alliance is able to bring more harm to the Palestinians, Iraqis,
Lebanese and Syrians. But there will never be a military solution
to colonialist fight with the Arab people who can no longer tolerate
the aggression, the arrogance, the contempt, the usurpation and the
starvation. The conflict is open then as long as there is
resistance, which not just a mere idea, but effect organizations in
Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq.... A war would do away with Abu
Mazen's presidency and the cooperative Palestinian trend, and would
immediately finish off the active Lebanese formula that came about
following Hariri's assassination, but the most important development
would be the fall of the Malki government in Iraq, the end of the
sectarian warfare in that country, and turning all weapons against
the American occupation. Amidst all this, Jordan would be able to
breathe easily with regard to the Sharon-Olmert plan to swallow the
West Bank and implement the old-new plan for the alternative
homeland in Jordan.... We did not invent the conflict with Israel
and America and we did not choose it. It is imposed on our nation
and is challenging its existence and the fate of its people. There
is no choice but for the nation to accept the challenge."
-- "The south is on fire"
Chief Editor Ayman Safadi writes on the back-page of independent,
centrist Arabic daily Al-Ghad (07/13): "South Lebanon is going to
go on fire and this fire may reach Beirut and Damascus. On the
surface, Hezbollah can be held responsible for the escalation, but
the scene is much more complicated. The scene must be looked at in
its entirety, and in this scene Israel takes full responsibility for
keeping the shadow of war hovering over the region's present and
future. The past years have seen Israel's retraction from the peace
process. The result is that Israel benefited from the peace process
while the Palestinians got nothing, making the situation a time bomb
waiting to explode. Rights are not given; the oppression is not
eased; peace is not accomplished. Israel enjoys security and peace
and the Palestinians are deprived of them and suffer more and more.
The state of imbalance is not corrected. There had to be some
action.... One cannot look at what is happening in south Lebanon
and Gaza in isolation of the conflict's history and the results of
the Israeli policy. In this formula, Israel is condemned by all
means and measures."
HALE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARN, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA, B/BXN,
B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN
USAID/ANE/MEA
LONDON FOR TSOU
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR JO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON ACTION IN SOUTH LEBANON
Editorial Commentary
-- "Open possibilities"
Columnist Nahed Hattar writes on the back-page of independent,
mass-appeal Arabic daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm (07/13): "Hezbollah's bold
decision to deal a new successful blow to the Israeli occupation
army lies on that dividing line between being a support tactic to
ease Israel's aggressive pressure on Gaza, amidst Arab and
international silence, and being a defense-offense strategy.... Tel
Aviv of course has the option of a comprehensive escalation,
including strikes or even war against Syria and Iran. This means
that the region would go on fire, with the United States reaping the
negative effects in Iraq and a new popular wave against the U.S.
policies would be launched. The colonialist American Israeli
alliance is able to bring more harm to the Palestinians, Iraqis,
Lebanese and Syrians. But there will never be a military solution
to colonialist fight with the Arab people who can no longer tolerate
the aggression, the arrogance, the contempt, the usurpation and the
starvation. The conflict is open then as long as there is
resistance, which not just a mere idea, but effect organizations in
Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq.... A war would do away with Abu
Mazen's presidency and the cooperative Palestinian trend, and would
immediately finish off the active Lebanese formula that came about
following Hariri's assassination, but the most important development
would be the fall of the Malki government in Iraq, the end of the
sectarian warfare in that country, and turning all weapons against
the American occupation. Amidst all this, Jordan would be able to
breathe easily with regard to the Sharon-Olmert plan to swallow the
West Bank and implement the old-new plan for the alternative
homeland in Jordan.... We did not invent the conflict with Israel
and America and we did not choose it. It is imposed on our nation
and is challenging its existence and the fate of its people. There
is no choice but for the nation to accept the challenge."
-- "The south is on fire"
Chief Editor Ayman Safadi writes on the back-page of independent,
centrist Arabic daily Al-Ghad (07/13): "South Lebanon is going to
go on fire and this fire may reach Beirut and Damascus. On the
surface, Hezbollah can be held responsible for the escalation, but
the scene is much more complicated. The scene must be looked at in
its entirety, and in this scene Israel takes full responsibility for
keeping the shadow of war hovering over the region's present and
future. The past years have seen Israel's retraction from the peace
process. The result is that Israel benefited from the peace process
while the Palestinians got nothing, making the situation a time bomb
waiting to explode. Rights are not given; the oppression is not
eased; peace is not accomplished. Israel enjoys security and peace
and the Palestinians are deprived of them and suffer more and more.
The state of imbalance is not corrected. There had to be some
action.... One cannot look at what is happening in south Lebanon
and Gaza in isolation of the conflict's history and the results of
the Israeli policy. In this formula, Israel is condemned by all
means and measures."
HALE