Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06AMMAN6008
2006-08-09 10:48:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Amman
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION ON ISRAEL HIZBOLLAH COMBAT
how-toVZCZCXYZ0030 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHAM #6008 2211048 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 091048Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3008 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0408 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 1332 RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUMICEA/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// IMMEDIATE
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
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