EGYPT MEDIA TRENDS: JULY 30, 2006-07-30

UNCLAS CAIRO 004646 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA/PPD FOR ROBIN SMITH AND DAVID BENZE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO PGOV PREL IS LE EG SUBJECT: EGYPT MEDIA TRENDS: JULY 30, 2006-07-30 ¶1. Summary. Egyptian media continue to focus almost exclusively on the Israel-Lebanon crisis, with an occasional turn to domestic issues, namely, the hike in gas prices. Columnists expressed what we believe to be widespread frustration with the government due to these two issues, and a resultant admiration of Hezbollah. While we believe public opinion supports Hezbollah, at least insofar as it has taken action against "the Zionist enemy," we learned that at least one Friday prayer did not exult in Hezbollah activities. On the Israel-Lebanon situation, we've seen news coverage turn toward a concentration on Israel's "inability to shut down Hezbollah." The US is characterized as "in a tough situation" for giving Israel more time to succeed in its "project,", yet it is "failing," forcing Secretary Rice back to the region. President Mubarak's weekend SIPDIS statements showed a more critical tone toward the US, and a definitive posture against Egypt becoming involved "in an illogical dispute." Breaking news today of the bombing of a building in Qana, reportedly inhabited by women and children, was aired continuously on Egyptian and regional networks. President Mubarak issued a statement condemning the shelling in Qana and criticized the slow response of the international community. End Summary. ¶2. Breaking news. Both today and over the weekend, news outlets carried new statements by President Mubarak. Today's statement was made in response to the Israeli shelling of Qana, which was aired continuously on all stations. President Mubarak condemned "the irresponsible Israeli shelling of Qana village...which resulted in the (fall of) innocent victims, mostly women and children. ... The Arab Republic of Egypt, which has called, since day one of the Israeli aggression on Lebanon, for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire, confirms the urgent need for international intervention to issue a Security Council resolution to halt the military operations immediately." President Mubarak pledged support to "Prime Minister Siniora's position during the Rome crisis." Over the weekend, pro-government daily, Al-Ahram, published President Mubarak's notable statement to Time Magazine that, "The American handling of the escalation is too late and very limited." He also said, as reported in pro-government weekly, Al-Akhbar Al-Yom, "Egypt's and Arab roles must never be belittled. We do not accept any efforts to drag Egypt into an unreasonable and illogical dispute." While his weekend statement showed the heaviest criticism thus far toward the US, this portion of the statement was not played widely, and was not repeated as of Sunday. ¶3. In the headlines. Today's headlines focused mostly on Israel's retreat from the border. Most papers played the events as "Israel's humiliating defeat" (Al-Ahram) or "the enemy's retreat" (Al-Masry Al-Yom). Opposition daily, Al-Wafd's headlines were similar, but included also a large photo of Secretary Rice at the ASEAN conference playing the piano, with the headline, "The Miss Plays the Tune of Defeat." ¶4. In the commentaries. The commentators wrote largely about the ongoing conflict, and the Government of Egypt's decision to raise gasoline prices while "the parliament is out of session" and over a long weekend. Both these situations have prompted criticism toward the current government, and created palpable frustration. A column in opposition daily, Al-Wafd, remarked that "Egyptian people are excluded from political activities and decision-making ...while the regime has succumbed to foreign decision-making." An article by a contributor to independent daily, Al-Masry Al-Yom, praised "Hezbollah's steadfastness" which is "the only strategy capable of defeating the Zionist ambitions." He concluded that "Egyptian people should apologize for Mubarak's criticism of Hezbollah as he did not represent the Egyptian public opinion." A columnist in Nahdet Misr accused the Arab regimes of "silence and inaction toward the blood of children." The editor-in-chief of pro-government daily, Rose Al-Youssef, demanded that leaders "make decisions on behalf of their countries" and dare "to defy the international community." ¶5. In the streets. According to a close embassy source, the Friday sermon at a popular mosque in Cairo, ventured into unexpected territory when the imam told the congregation, "to beware of being led astray by false heroes. Never forget that Hizbullah are Shia' degenerates intent on spreading Persian rule."