EGYPT MEDIA TRENDS: AUGUST 6, 2006

UNCLAS CAIRO 004840 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA/PPD FOR ALBERTO FERNANDEZ, ROBIN SMITH AND DAVID BENZE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO PREL PREL IS LE EG SUBJECT: EGYPT MEDIA TRENDS: AUGUST 6, 2006 ¶1. Summary. Continuation of fighting in Lebanon amid reports of a draft resolution sponsored by the US and France were the main stories in all papers on Sunday. Pro-government papers continued what we perceive as efforts to downplay support for Hezbollah in commentaries, while many papers continued unfettered criticism of President Bush and his "rightists." Hugo Chavez joined Hassan Nasrallah as the hero of the day in opposition media. End summary. ¶2. In the headlines. While no singular theme emerged in the headlines, the following evidenced the public fatigue over the rising death toll, and the focus on achieving a ceasefire. Of note, leading opposition daily, Al-Wafd's banner headlines were similar to leading pro-government daily, Al-Ahram's, in the focus on the killing of Israeli soldiers and the US-France ceasefire agreement. Centrist, pro-government daily, Al- Akhbar, bannered Egypt's statement to Washington regarding "the urgency to stop the aggression against Lebanon." The accompanying photo of a Lebanese woman standing amidst ruins looking up, read, "She is praying to God to exact revenge against the Zionists." Pro-government daily, Rose Al-Youssef's banner headline examined Iran's role by asking the question, "Hassan Nasrallah or the Party to Bring Victory to Iran?" The two front- page photos showed a Lebanese woman with a look of horror and a Lebanese man fleeing the bombing. Popular daily, Al-Gomhouriya's banner headline announced the "new Israeli massacre" that killed 40 civilians. The independent press's headlines focused more on the US role and its "greater Middle East" ambitions than did the pro-government papers. Liberal independent daily, Nahdit Misr's banner headline decried Washington for "hindering the ceasefire by insisting that Israel remain in southern Lebanon." The accompanying photo portrayed a Lebanese corpse surrounded by people. Independent daily, Al-Masry Al-Yom, announced its special report on "An Islamic Middle East Versus an American One" and, separately, looked at the "resistance still standing" amidst strong clashes and Israel's "killing of 35 Palestinians in 48 hours." ¶3. In the commentaries. In what appears to be an effort to reflect public opinion while simultaneously influencing it, the opinion pages in pro-government papers showed that condemnation of the US does not exclude condemnation of Hezbollah on the same day in the same paper. For example, Al-Gomhouriya's editor-in-chief attacked Hassan Nasrallah for "criticizing Arab rulers and his illusions that he will become a hero" and spoke against the Iranian foreign minister as "the godfather of Hezbollah aimed at prolonging the war," while publishing an unsigned editorial asking the US how it will "deal with the Arab nation when the mask has fallen off its ugly face." Similarly, Al-Ahram published an unsigned editorial criticizing the US for "preventing the Security Council from issuing an immediate ceasefire," while publishing the views of a well- known, young columnist criticizing Nasrallah for "trying to appear as the Arab hero, but bringing destruction to his own people." A columnist in opposition daily, Al-Wafd, used the example of Venezuela's Hugo Chavez "bringing back the Venezuelan ambassador in Israel in opposition to the war" to shame Egypt into "standing up to its responsibilities." ¶4. Public sentiment. Over the weekend, independent and opposition papers carried news of demonstrations after Friday's noon prayers "condemning Israeli aggression against Lebanon." The sermon called upon God to "help Hezbollah triumph over the Jews." Demonstrators carried photos of Hassan Nasrallah and chanted slogans against the Arab governments. The papers highlighted that similar demonstrations would take place in a number of provinces. RICCIARDONE