MEDIA REACTION ON ISRAEL HIZBOLLAH COMBAT

UNCLAS AMMAN 006008 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 -- "Israel has disappointed America" Columnist Fahd Fanek writes on the back-page of semi-official, influential Arabic daily Al-Rai (0809): "In America, there has been an ongoing debate about whether Israel is still an asset for America or just a stumbling block after 9/11. That is why Zionist writers in America took advantage of Israel's war on Hizbollah to portray this war as being a direct service to America's strategy in the Middle East and as a reiteration of Israel's value for America. It is seems that the U.S. administration swallowed the bait, and so very clearly took Israel's side and stood an obstacle against issuing an international decision for a ceasefire, in order to give Israel sufficient time to override Hizbollah and rid Iran and Syria of one of their most important ace cards. With this, America placed its reputation and image in the region on the line and at the same time angered the Arab public opinion and its allies of Arab countries.... But the Israeli army, which had before this war an extraordinary and feared reputation, shocked and disappointed America and failed to achieve the aspired objective. Thus, America paid dearly for its anti-Arab stand without getting the longed-for prize, which is striking Hizbollah and diminishing Iran and Syria's influence in Lebanon.... True, Israel was not defeated, but it did not win either, and Hizbollah did not win, but it was not defeated either. It is an equation whose military implication says that Hizbollah succeeded. After one month of fighting, Hizbollah has become stronger than it was and its local, Arab and international standing has been strengthened. America has the right to feel bitter because Israel has let it down. It remains to be seen how America is going to express its disappointment about Israel's failure and about its own exposure." HALE