Damascus Media Reaction: Israeli Operations in Lebanon

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 003552 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: Israeli Operations in Lebanon (7/19) ¶1. Summary: Syrian papers today reported a meeting by the Syrian Cabinet emphasizing readiness in all fields to face all future scenarios. PM Mohammed Naji Ottri underlined "the importance of coordination and integration of government performance, escalating readiness in all sectors, and taking the needed procedures to face all prospects in the future." The Cabinet reviewed developments in the Lebanese and Palestinian arenas as well as all forms of support needed by the Lebanese and Palestinian peoples, in addition to what Syria is already giving in the form of medical, food and other basic needs. The PM confirmed "Syria's support of the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples in their heroic confrontation of the Israeli enemy machine that targets with its cold-blooded crimes innocent people, facilities and services." The Cabinet denounced the "Arab and international silence" against the brutal Israeli offensive, stressing the need to adopt decisive and quick stances that deter Israel and stop its hostilities and attacks on Lebanon and Gaza Strip." Papers also featured a statement by a Syrian information source strongly denying, as totally baseless and unfounded, a statement by an Israeli army spokesman that Israeli warplanes shelled trucks traveling from Syria towards Lebanon carrying weapons and ammunitions. The source pointed out that the missile which was fired by Israeli warplanes targeted a UAE aid convoy, which was carrying medicines and ambulances, in Lebanon near the Syrian border, in addition to a truck coming from Lebanon to Damascus that happened to be in the same place at the time of attack. The source stressed that such repeated Israeli statements aim to create pretexts to justify its brutal crimes perpetrated against innocent civilians in Lebanon and to prevent humanitarian aid from reaching the Lebanese people. All Syrian papers reported that a delegation of Syrian children handed the Resident Representative of the UN Program a message addressed to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan expressing deep concern over the Israeli aggression on the Palestinian and Lebanese people and their courageous resistance. The message called upon the UN to bring an end to the barbarian Zionist killing machine which has targeted the children of the region for more than half a century. It said that the "Marwahin massacre in South Lebanon reflects the inhuman situation which our people are being exposed to under the Israeli aggression and the full indifference of the UN forces about maintaining security and peace in the area". End of summary. ¶2. Selected Headlines: "The massacre continues. Israel expands its aggression with international collaboration. The US rejects cease-fire. Scores of martyrs reported. The assaults reach everywhere. The resistance responds by shelling Haifa and Israeli settlements" (Government- owned Tishreen, 7/19) "The Prime Ministry listens to a review of political developments by the Foreign Minister, praises the Lebanese resistance's steadfastness and denounces Arab and international silence towards the Israeli aggression" (Government-owned Tishreen, 7/19) "An official media source: The Israeli shelling targets medical aid convoy, not weapons" (Government-owned Tishreen, 7/19) "Syrian children address a message to UN SecGen Kofi Annan: UN forces have refrained from protecting children in Marwahim" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 7/19) "Syria intensifies campaigns of aid. Syrian organizations place their installations at the disposal of Lebanese brothers" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 7/19) ¶3. Editorial Block Quotes: -------------- "Days of Rage" -------------- Ali Qasim, an editorialist in government-owned Al-Thawra, wrote (7/19): "It seems that Arab popular anger will not be focused on the absence of Arab positions, but rather on harmful Arab positions.... "The international position has colluded to an unprecedented degree with the Israeli aggression, to the extent that international positions have turned from dealing with the executioner and the victim on an equal footing, to political support for the executioner.... "The UN Security Council has failed to take a position that compels Israel to stop its aggression.... Maybe Arab popular anger has not reached a level enabling it to express its existence and role in the required manner. However, no one can deny that this anger has reached levels it has not reached before. This is the truth which has to crystallize in the coming days." -------------- "Lessons and Examples" -------------- Omar Jaftali, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen, commented (7/18): "What is happening in Lebanon is reminiscent of what happened 60 years ago when the occupation forces abandoned our Palestinian people following mass slaughter, turning them into homeless refugees everywhere in the world. Israel is doing the same now to the residents of southern Lebanon threatening them with the same fate if they continue to hold on to their land, villages, national rights, and sovereignty in their homeland. Why? Because Israel simply wants to turn all of southern Lebanon into a security zone with guaranteed US approval supported by the civilized west and, regretfully, some Arabs.... "Only the resistance had the courage to take the decision of confrontation. It is now offering lessons and examples to the nation, stating that whoever seeks peace will eventually be stripped of everything in view of the endless US -Israeli conditions...." -------------- "Imbalanced Statement" -------------- Bassam Radwan, a columnist in government-owned Tishreen, wrote "The statement issued by the G-8 Summit constitutes a letter of support for the Israeli occupation government to continue its sinful aggression against Lebanon.... "Leaders of the G-8 summit could have adopted responsible positions to stop the Israeli aggression, but instead adopted the conditions of the Israeli murders to a ceasefire.... "It is time to realize that there will be no peace in this region as long as there is an enemy that recognizes only the language of killing and destruction, with or without a pretext, and that there is no way to curb and break this enemy but through confronting and resisting it through all possible means...." -------------- --- "A Call to Confront the Terrorism of Occupation" -------------- --- Ghassan Abdul-Aziz Othman, member of the Central Command of the National Progressive Front, wrote an op-ed in government-owned Al- Ba'th on (7/19): "The only description for the recent Israeli aggression against the Lebanese and Palestinian peoples is 'official terrorism'.... "The same description applies to the US occupation of Iraq and the military operations there.... There are several examples of 'official terrorism' practiced by Israel against Palestinians and practiced by the Anglo-American occupation in Iraq. Among these examples are the Gaza shore massacre, the Hadithah massacre, and the current barbaric massacres in Lebanon.... Those who claim to fight terrorism and wage war against it are the very ones who practice official terrorism.... "What is required now is to announce an international campaign, in which Arabs and the countries that reject the policy of hegemony take part, with the purpose of resisting the forces of terrorism in defense of the security of the world and the people's right to freedom and independence. What is also required is an angry popular reaction, including all Arab arenas, with continuing demonstrations, sit-ins and protests until Arab and international action is taken to contribute to ending the barbaric aggression against Lebanon, and the siege and massacres against the Palestinian people...." Seche