Damascus Media Reaction: Palestinian Territories, Iraq,

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 001821 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR PA, NEA/ARN, INR/IC/CD, INR/S:STHIBEAULT AND JMCCARTER, VOA NEWS CA, NEA/PPD:CBOURGEOIS, DBENZE AND AFERNANDEZ, IIP/G/NEA-SA RWINCHESTER WHITE HOUSE FOR NSC CENTCOM FOR CCPA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY SUBJECT: Damascus Media Reaction: Palestinian Territories, Iraq, Lebanon, Iran (4/20) ¶1. Summary: Syrian papers today reported that the Syrian Popular Committee to Support the Palestinian People opened special accounts at the Real-Estate Bank of Syria and the branches of the Commercial Bank of Syria in Damascus, Hama, Homs, Lattakia, Aleppo, Tartus, Daraa, Swieda, Der-Ezzor, Kamishli, Hasaka and Idleb for donations in support of the Palestinian people. The Committee called on Syrian citizens to make donations. Papers also reported that the US Communist Party sent a message of solidarity with Syria on the occasion of the 10th Conference of the Syrian Communist Party, currently in session in Damascus. "The term 'war against terrorism' led by Washington and its ally London is being used to block democracy and justify the occupation of Iraq," the US Communist Party's message said. "The US Communist Party stands against all forms of occupation and military bases on foreign lands and against the provocative policy of Israel in the Arab region," it added. The US Party expressed desire for "a better and deepened cooperation based on building a new world free of greed and racism." "The Communist Party Conference is being held during a critical stage where the Arab nation, particularly Syria, faces big threats that target her steadfastness and struggle for the Arab interests," Suleiman Qaddah [Vice Chairman of the National Progressive Front] added. End of summary. ¶2. Selected Headlines: "FM Al-Moualem [to Al-Jazeera TV]: Borders cannot be demarcated in occupied land; recognition of sovereignty is not exclusively linked to the presence of embassies" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 4/20) "Al-Moualem calls for respecting Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity: Israel is the sole threat to Arabs" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 4/20) "A special bank account is established to raise funds for Palestinians" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 4/20) "Moscow offers USD 10 million in aid to Palestinians. Arab treasuries contribute USD 5 million. Hanieh confirms constant principles. Palestinian factions reject foreign pressure" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 4/20) "Hamas denies storing weapons in Jordan. Canceling Al-Zahar's visit is submission to foreign pressures" (Government-owned Al- Thawra, 4/20) "Saudi FM Al-Faisal emphasizes the importance of ridding the Middle East of WMD. Straw: Israel should be included" (Government- owned Al-Ba'th, 4/20) "Lebanese factions confirm Lebanon's Arab identity and distinguished relations with Syria, rejecting US aid coupled with political diktat" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 4/20) "Blair considers a military operation against Iran unlikely. Moscow's international contacts fail to take any decision against Iran" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 4/20) ¶3. Editorial Block Quotes: -------------- -------------- "You Who Live in Glass Houses, Do not Throw Stones" -------------- -------------- Isam Dari, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen, commented (4/20): "The US and Europe have denounced the Tel Aviv bombing and described it as 'a horrifying brutal act'.... while they remain silent on Israel's terrorism.... "Why do the United States and the EU condemn what happened in Tel Aviv, which is an individual act resulting from the circumstances of coercion, repression, siege, and aggression that the Palestinian people are experiencing, while they issue no condemnation against the killings, destruction, terrorism, and assassinations that Israel perpetrates even against children and pregnant women...?" -------------- "Weak Pretexts" -------------- Omar Jaftali, a commentator in government-owned Tishreen, commented (4/20): "The situation in the occupied Arab territories after the Tel Aviv operation, which was carried out by a Palestinian teenager, does not differ from the situation that existed before the operation. For years now, Israeli terrorism against the Palestinian people has been a daily routine.... "We regret the blind and illogical international bias that justifies Israeli terrorism and sees it as reaction to Palestinian 'terrorism'.... "It is inconceivable to say that the occupier-killer is engaged in self-defense while the victim of the aggression and occupation is not allowed to react or even condemn. "A Palestinian who lives under occupation and faces Zionist crimes has nothing to use other than his body as a means to reject injustice and respond to his executioners.... "The UN Security Council must shoulder its legal and ethical responsibility and take the side of right and justice...." -------------- "The Tenth Anniversary of the Qana Massacre" -------------- Muhammad al-Khadir, an editorialist in government-owned Al- Ba'th, commented (4/20): "Ten years ago more than 100 Lebanese civilians, who had sought refuge at a UN base in Qana, were killed by Israeli shelling during Operation Grapes of Wrath.... "The targeting of civilians under the UN flag in 1996 is being repeated daily and in various forms by the Israeli occupation without any deterrence or international action to end this terrorist policy that gives no weight whatsoever to international laws and norms. On the contrary, it appears that the United States and the EU are in harmony with the Israeli policy that seeks to starve out the Palestinians...." -------------- "A US Threshing floor and Angry Harvesters" -------------- Khalid al-Ashhab, an editorialist in government-owned Al-Thawra, commented (4/20): "The American war on Iraq has failed to bring the claimed democracy to that country or help Iraqis live in peace and security. But what is more important is that what at first appeared to be a holy war on what was termed world terror does not appear so today, especially after that holiness brought a tremendous quantity of sins and crimes not only against Iraq and the Iraqis, but also against Americans and their sons, as more and more coffins return to the United States from a war that they now know very well is the war of an obsessed ruling group, not a holy war.... "The winds of change are blowing against the United States, and the opposition to Rumsfeld's policies is in fact opposition to the policies of President Bush and his team...." -------------- - "Do not Think, We Are Thinking on Your Behalf" -------------- - Ali Nasrallah, an editorialist in government-owned Al-Thawra, commented (4/20: "The West does not want Iran and the developing world to advance scientifically and technologically.... The West argues that oil-rich Iran has no need for nuclear energy.... "It is for Iran, not others, to decide whether it needs to develop its energy sources. Through this, Iran is exercising a right acknowledged by international law. The 'free democratic world' should abandon its arrogance and stop its attempt to fabricate a losing battle with Iran...." Seche