EGYPT MEDIA TRENDS: AUGUST 7, 2006

UNCLAS CAIRO 004918 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA/PPD FOR ROBIN SMITH AND DAVID BENZE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO PREL PREL IS LE EG SUBJECT: EGYPT MEDIA TRENDS: AUGUST 7, 2006 ¶1. Summary. The main headlines in today's papers were the Israeli casualties of the day, Al-Jamaa Al-Islamia's denial of ties to Al-Qaeda, and the Muslim Brotherhood's temporary retraction of its call to send 10,000 "mujahadeen" to Lebanon. Headlines also revealed displeasure with the US- France sponsored UN Security Council resolution. Two television programs - one satellite and one Egyptian terrestrial - hosted opposing discussions on Hezbollah. On that note, results from the latest online poll on popular website, masrawy.com, showed the vast majority of voters get their news from satellite television. End summary. ¶2. In the headlines. "Black day for Israel: 13 Israeli soldiers killed." "Three killed and 160 wounded in rocket attack on Hayfa." Such headlines appeared on the front pages of pro- government, opposition and independent papers today, as did photos of the corpses of Israeli soldiers. Absent from the pro-government headlines, but prominent in opposition and independent papers were Al-Gamaa Al-Islamia's denial of "Al-ZawahiriQs Lies about its Leaders Joining al-Qaeda," "Muslim Brotherhood Members Refrain from Going to Beirut with the National Delegation," and "Akef Retracts: We WonQt Send Mujahadeens to Lebanon Before They are Trained and Approved by the Arab Leaders." Pro- government daily, Rose Al-Youssef's headlines focused largely on reaction to the US-France proposal. "The Security Council adds fuel to the fire." "France conceded and sided with America ... the international position weakens Siniora." ¶3. In the commentaries. Comments on two popular evening programs showed opposing positions on Hezbollah. Al-Mehwar TV, a privately-owned channel broadcast through Nilesat for paying subscribers, hosted an expert from Al-Ahram Strategic Studies Center to speak about Hezbollah on the evening political talk-show, Bebasata (Simply). The host called Hassan Nasrallah "one of the prophetQs descendents" and a student of Shiite leader, Moussa El Sadr. He described "HezbollahQs relationship with Iran" as based on "doctrinal religion," and Iran's assistance to Hezbollah as "not a crime, but a source of pride in a time when Arab states have left a strategic vacuum that Hezbollah has managed to fill." He accused Arabs who criticize Hezbollah of "trying to cover up for their weakness and suspicious relations with Israel." In contrast, government-owned, Egyptian Television's popular evening talk-show, El Bate Beitak (Your Home),whose current events, public interest talk show format appeals to Egyptian households, hosted Khayr Allah Khayr Allah, a Lebanese journalist whose spoke against Hezbollah's abduction of the two Israeli soldiers as an act against the state "causing the entire state to pay." He denied any need for Hezbollah to be armed since Israel's withdrawal," and also denied claims of Hezbollah's popularity among Lebanese. "Reality is different from what you see on television," he said, affirming that Hezbollah does not need support as it is "an extremely rich organized group that obtains weapons from Iran despite the Lebanese governmentQs rejection." He affirmed Hezbollah's agenda since the year 2000 has nothing to do with "resistance" as the group has an agenda other than LebanonQs interests. ¶4. Public sentiment. According to the latest opinion poll in popular Egyptian portal, masrawy.com, voters provided insight as to how they get their news about "the Zionist invasion of Lebanon." Out of a total of 2,211 votes, 63 percent (1,517 votes) admitted to watching satellite channels. The second most popular medium was internet sites, with 25 percent of the vote (589). Official mass media and opposition papers received significantly fewer votes, with 217 and 39 respectively. RICCIARDONE