Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06AMMAN5895
2006-08-06 12:10:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Amman
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION ON ISRAEL-HIZBOLLAH COMBAT
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHAM #5895/01 2181210 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 061210Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2889 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0404 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 1326 RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUMICEA/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS AMMAN 005895
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 ISRAEL-HIZBOLLAH COMBAT
Editorial Commentary
-- "The united Arab stand"
Columnist Sameeh Maitah writes on the back-page of independent,
centrist Arabic daily Al-Ghad (08/06): "Whenever there is talk of
the Zionist aggression against Lebanon, a question is raised: where
is the united Arab stand? But the question the needs to be asked
is: did we expect a united Arab stand and would the Arab reality
produce such a stand? Another important question is: what is the
united Arab stand that we all seem to talk about? Is it
condemnation of the aggression and a declaration of rejection of the
Zionist killing and criminality, or is it providing assistance, aid
and solidarity with the Lebanese people, or is it a declaration of
war against Israel and bombing Tel Aviv with Arab rockets and jets?
Surely no one expect that, because the idea of war has long been
eliminated from the agenda of the Arab countries. Even Syria that
is closely connected with Hezbollah will not consider war and will
not fire a single shot even if all of Lebanon is destroyed. This
then is the united Arab stand that rules out the option of war....
No one wants the war. No one wants to sacrifice their relations
with the U.S. administration. Even the levels of interest in issues
are different among the Arab countries. Some believe that it is
Iran's war and do not want to become a tool in this war. The oil is
no longer a weapon, but a commodity under the sovereignty of the
friends whose armies have gathered around to protect it. What is
then the united Arab stand?"
-- "Nations' decision does not stop the war"
Chief Editor Ayman Safadi writes on the back-page of independent,
centrist Arabic daily Al-Ghad (08/06): "The French-American
agreement now is on a 'complete' halt of aggressive actions to be
started by Hizbollah's ceasefire before Israel stops its aggression.
The decision does not ask Israel to withdraw its forces from the
Lebanese territories. This means that the war will not stop because
Hizbollah already confirmed that it will not stop its resistance so
long as there is one Israeli soldier on Lebanese soil. There are
legitimate concerns that the draft decision came about in line with
Israel's conditions and not in line with requirements for achieving
a climate that actually leads to halting the war and preparing for a
viable political agreement.... The war has now entered a stage of
political battle, which will be complex and which will decided
according to Israel's considerations and the interests of
influential international and regional forces. AMERICA will
maneuver to do Israel's bidding. Iran and Syria will try to abort
anything that would diminish their influence in Lebanon. As for the
Arabs ... they will try to regain a role they have already lost due
to their failure to assume their responsibilities. Their influence
will remain weak in this struggle that is led by AMERICA and Iran at
the expense of Lebanon and its people and all the Arabs."
-- "King's remarks: a clear Jordanian political statement for those
who want to understand in Washington, Tel Aviv and the Arab
countries"
Columnist Bater Wardam writes on the inside page of center-left,
influential Arabic daily Ad-Dustour (08/06): "These remarks
represent a clear vision from an Arab leader to gets the real
information for the source; information that causes concern and that
requires an Arab response that is equal to the challenges and that
goes beyond the usual Arab conflicts and rhetorical political
bravado to organizing joint action that protects the Arab world from
the worst plan being prepared in Washington and Tel Aviv. The
remarks constitute the foundation for an official Arab political
statement that deals with the United States on the basis of
equality, political resistance and rejection of plans drawn by a
group of ignorant and bigot people who were put in the
decision-making position by the Zionist lobby and who aim only to
destroy this region."
-- "First things first"
Centrist, elite English daily Jordan Times (08/06) editorializes:
"The problem with the draft resolution ... is that it does not set a
time frame for ending the bloodshed.... All this death and
destruction could have been avoided had the United States been more
understanding of the plight of innocent people on both sides of the
fence and accepted the formula of France and like-minded power on
ending the war in Lebanon 'immediately'.... As long as the United
States remains adamant in its stance, more innocent people will lose
their lives and more destruction will occur. Surely this is not
what the international community wants. In addition to France and
the United States, 13 other members of the Security Council are to
debate the draft. They have to have their say. First, they have to
bring an end to bloodshed and destruction. Afterwards they should
work out a formula to bring about a lasting peace not only to the
Lebanese Israeli front, but to the whole region."
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 ISRAEL-HIZBOLLAH COMBAT
Editorial Commentary
-- "The united Arab stand"
Columnist Sameeh Maitah writes on the back-page of independent,
centrist Arabic daily Al-Ghad (08/06): "Whenever there is talk of
the Zionist aggression against Lebanon, a question is raised: where
is the united Arab stand? But the question the needs to be asked
is: did we expect a united Arab stand and would the Arab reality
produce such a stand? Another important question is: what is the
united Arab stand that we all seem to talk about? Is it
condemnation of the aggression and a declaration of rejection of the
Zionist killing and criminality, or is it providing assistance, aid
and solidarity with the Lebanese people, or is it a declaration of
war against Israel and bombing Tel Aviv with Arab rockets and jets?
Surely no one expect that, because the idea of war has long been
eliminated from the agenda of the Arab countries. Even Syria that
is closely connected with Hezbollah will not consider war and will
not fire a single shot even if all of Lebanon is destroyed. This
then is the united Arab stand that rules out the option of war....
No one wants the war. No one wants to sacrifice their relations
with the U.S. administration. Even the levels of interest in issues
are different among the Arab countries. Some believe that it is
Iran's war and do not want to become a tool in this war. The oil is
no longer a weapon, but a commodity under the sovereignty of the
friends whose armies have gathered around to protect it. What is
then the united Arab stand?"
-- "Nations' decision does not stop the war"
Chief Editor Ayman Safadi writes on the back-page of independent,
centrist Arabic daily Al-Ghad (08/06): "The French-American
agreement now is on a 'complete' halt of aggressive actions to be
started by Hizbollah's ceasefire before Israel stops its aggression.
The decision does not ask Israel to withdraw its forces from the
Lebanese territories. This means that the war will not stop because
Hizbollah already confirmed that it will not stop its resistance so
long as there is one Israeli soldier on Lebanese soil. There are
legitimate concerns that the draft decision came about in line with
Israel's conditions and not in line with requirements for achieving
a climate that actually leads to halting the war and preparing for a
viable political agreement.... The war has now entered a stage of
political battle, which will be complex and which will decided
according to Israel's considerations and the interests of
influential international and regional forces. AMERICA will
maneuver to do Israel's bidding. Iran and Syria will try to abort
anything that would diminish their influence in Lebanon. As for the
Arabs ... they will try to regain a role they have already lost due
to their failure to assume their responsibilities. Their influence
will remain weak in this struggle that is led by AMERICA and Iran at
the expense of Lebanon and its people and all the Arabs."
-- "King's remarks: a clear Jordanian political statement for those
who want to understand in Washington, Tel Aviv and the Arab
countries"
Columnist Bater Wardam writes on the inside page of center-left,
influential Arabic daily Ad-Dustour (08/06): "These remarks
represent a clear vision from an Arab leader to gets the real
information for the source; information that causes concern and that
requires an Arab response that is equal to the challenges and that
goes beyond the usual Arab conflicts and rhetorical political
bravado to organizing joint action that protects the Arab world from
the worst plan being prepared in Washington and Tel Aviv. The
remarks constitute the foundation for an official Arab political
statement that deals with the United States on the basis of
equality, political resistance and rejection of plans drawn by a
group of ignorant and bigot people who were put in the
decision-making position by the Zionist lobby and who aim only to
destroy this region."
-- "First things first"
Centrist, elite English daily Jordan Times (08/06) editorializes:
"The problem with the draft resolution ... is that it does not set a
time frame for ending the bloodshed.... All this death and
destruction could have been avoided had the United States been more
understanding of the plight of innocent people on both sides of the
fence and accepted the formula of France and like-minded power on
ending the war in Lebanon 'immediately'.... As long as the United
States remains adamant in its stance, more innocent people will lose
their lives and more destruction will occur. Surely this is not
what the international community wants. In addition to France and
the United States, 13 other members of the Security Council are to
debate the draft. They have to have their say. First, they have to
bring an end to bloodshed and destruction. Afterwards they should
work out a formula to bring about a lasting peace not only to the
Lebanese Israeli front, but to the whole region."
HALE