UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 000718

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KPAO KMDR OPRC EG XF ZP ZR IS DA XZ
SUBJECT: EGYPTIAN MEDIA THEMES, JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 5.



1. Summary: The past week saw a resurgence of reactions
to the Danish caricature of the prophet Mohammed, with
commentators in the press and on television identifying
it as an issue of greater intolerance of Islam. Media
outlets continued their focus on the Palestinian election
results, especially scrutinizing Hamas' ability to lead,
Fatahs need to reform and prospects for keeping the
Middle East Peace Process on track. On the domestic
side, there was an overwhelming reaction over the weekend
to the sinking of the Egyptian ferry, Al Salam Bocaccio

98. All papers led with the disaster and television
coverage was devoted entirely to the unfolding crisis. In
In
the commentaries, 33 percent of the week's columns and
editorials focused on domestic issues, including critical
opinions of democracy and politics in Egypt; 30 percent
on the Palestinian elections and the Middle East Peace
Process; 11 percent on the Danish cartoons and tolerance
of Islam; while 10 percent expressed negative views
toward U.S. policy, a rate higher than all other weeks
this year. End summary.


2. The Cheese War. The December, 2005 printing of
cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed in Danish
newspapers re-emerged during the past week and dominated
all media, with news items featuring riots, recalling of
Arab country ambassadors from Denmark and boycotts of
Danish goods. On January 31, pro-government dailies, Al-
Ahram (circulation 750,000) and Al-Akhbar (circulation
800,000) highlighted Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit's
summoning of the Danish and Norwegian ambassadors to
"clear their slate of anti-Islam campaigns, and the
Egyptian Chamber of Commerces resolution to boycott
ott
Danish products (also featured on the front pages of pro-
government daily, Al-Gomhouriyya, circulation 50,000, and
independent daily, Al-Masry Al-Yom, circulation 15,000).
The evening television talk shows also focused on the
issue. The host of Orbit satellite television's popular
evening show, El-Qahera El-Yom, devoted his January 30,

31 and February 5 programs to pushing an Egypt-wide
boycott of Danish products, interviewing the Danish
ambassador on his government's position, and traveling to
Denmark to investigate the sentiment there. Egyptian
Television Channel 2's evening show "In Depth" brought
commentators together on Feb. 1 to discuss the cartoons
in the greater context of lack of tolerance of Islam,
with a representative of Al-Azhar mosque who described
the caricatures as "a clear blasphemy" and declared that
"the unfortunate misunderstanding of Islam starts in
Danish schools."


3. Is Hamas Capable of Rising to the Challenge? Early
in the week, as the public reflected upon the news of the
Hamas victory in the Parliamentary elections,
commentators lauded the "democratic elections"; but as
the week progressed, much of the commentary, such as that
expressed in an Al-Akhbar column on January 31, focused
on Hamas' responsibility to bring peace to the region and
to rise to the responsibility of becoming a legitimate
political voice to preserve the Road Map. Many other
commentators echoed Al-Akhbars sentiment that "the
success of Hamas will depend on its creativity in
facing practical problems but also on the international
community's reaction and how it will deal with that."
Columnists pinned responsibility on Hamas, such as in Al-
Ahram on January 30, by asserting that "Hamas is now at a
crossroads where it can either negotiate for peace or
lose all that Palestinians have gained over the past ten
years." As the week progressed, more columns were focused
on "realpolitik", such as an Al-Akhbar columnist who
who
argued that "Hamas may find itself compelled to be
politically realistic when it comprehends the sizeable
responsibility on its shoulders." (Feb. 4) The difference
of opinion expressed by two of Al-Ahram's most senior
columnists was indicative of the current uncertainty over
what the future holds. Ibrahim Nafei on February 1
asserted that "Hamas is suffering its victory as it has
to deal with internal and foreign affairs with no
qualified technocrats, and with ideologies it can't give
up," and Salama Ahmed Salama asserted on February 2 that
"Hamas is adopting more pragmatic ideas and is holding to
the truce."


4. Negative Commentary on the U.S. Rises. The past week
saw a rise in negative commentary toward the U.S. in pro-
government and independent papers. Critical commentary
linked the Hamas victory to U.S. pro-democracy policy in
the Middle East. Commmentators, especially in pro-
government papers, blamed the U.S. for "destroying the
credibility of their own democratic slogans" by "failing
to work with Hamas" (Al-Ahram, unsigned editorial,
January 31), for showing "extreme double standards in
calling for democracy and cutting assistance" (Al-
Gomhouriyya, February 1), and for "weakening Fatah and
therefore supporting Hamas" (Al-Gomhouriyya and Al-
Akhbar, Feb. 2). Al-Akhbars unsigned editorial on
January 31 asserted that Hamas victory refuted Bushs
claims about the lack of democracy in the Palestinian
authority. On the cutting off of assistance, Al-Ahrams
first unsigned editorial on February 1 echoed others in
asserting that cutting assistance and enforcing a
political boycott of Hamas will only help strengthen the
fundamentalist movement. In Al-Gomhouriyya, President
Bushs State of the Union Address was characterized as a
contradiction due to his expression of support for
democracy while rejecting Hamas victory in the
elections.


5. Ferry Tragedy in the Red Sea. Domestic media
attention was quickly diverted from international issues
tional issues
to the Egypt ferry disaster on February 3. As of
February 4, all papers and television news led with the
story of the ships disappearance and President Mubaraks
visit to Hurghada. Egyptians watched protesting families
stone police at port stations, and heard transportation
and safety officials on satellite and terrestrial evening
talk shows describe compensation schemes for victims
families, and defend against accusations of lax safety
standards. By January 5, commentators in independent and
pro-government papers remarked critically about the
governments response. Columns in Al-Masry Al-Yom railed
against the governments rush to make denials about the
sunken ferry before an investigation has been conducted,
while Al-Ahram published a call on the government to
deal with the catastrophe openly and honestly and Al-
Akhbar printed the claim that accidents happen not
coincidentally, but as the result of a long history of
negligence and poor planning. Al-Gomhouriyya published
published
columns supporting the government and praising Mubarak
for standing by the people in the disaster and
encouraging the search and rescuing of many people.
Ricciardone
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