MEDIA REACTION ON ISRAEL-HIZBOLLAH COMBAT

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