Damascus Media Reaction: Israeli Operation in Lebanon,

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 003573 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 Operation in Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, Iraq (7/20) ¶1. Summary: Syrian papers continued to focus on the Israeli military action in Lebanon. Headlines featured President Asad's phone call with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyib Erdogan, which dealt with "the continuing Israeli aggression against Lebanon and Palestine." Papers also reported that the Regional Command of the Syrian Baath Party decided to form a higher popular committee to boost the steadfastness of the Lebanese people. The committee will set plans to mobilize popular capabilities and hold national campaigns to collect financial donations and contributions for the Lebanese people. Papers also reported that Foreign Minister Walid Mouallem and Alexander Sultanov, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, discussed the dangerous situation in Lebanon, and Palestine and ways to reach a ceasefire. In a meeting in Damascus the two sides exchanged views on the situation in the region, including the support of the political process in Iraq. The Russian and Syrian diplomats reiterated the importance of ending bloodshed and violence in the Middle East through a political and diplomatic settlement for the crisis. Papers also reported that Italian FM Massimo D'Alema expressed appreciation for Syria's efforts to achieve stability and calm in the Middle East, saying that "the Italian government depends on Syria's constructive and efficient role to realize stability in the region." D'Alema rejected allegations and accusations about the so-called non-positive role of Syria and Iran. He stressed that Syria, through its latest contacts, has shown a great desire to play a pivotal regional role. The Italian Minister reiterated criticism of the continuing Israeli aggressions against Lebanon and the Palestinian territories, noting that these offensives have surpassed the limits of logic, violated international law and led to catastrophic outcomes in Lebanon and Palestine. He warned against the possibility of expanding the war to other countries in the region, calling on Europe to play a key role in the region. He also criticized the US war on Iraq, saying that this war ignited hostility and terrorism against western countries and created a very dangerous situation in the world. End of summary. ¶2. Selected Headlines: President Asad and Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan: The international community is delaying enforcement of a cease-fire" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 7/20) "The Regional Command of the Baath Party forms a higher popular committee to support the Lebanese people" (Government-owned Al- Thawra, 7/20) "The EU thanks Syria for its help in evacuating its nationals; Foreign Minister Mouallem discusses the situation in Lebanon and Palestine with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sultanov" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 7/2) "The hysteria of the Israeli aggression expands in Palestine. Over 15 Palestinians martyred in Nablus and Gaza" (Government- owned Al-Ba'th, 9/20) "Syria's Ambassador to the UN: A US-Israeli agenda to continue the Israeli aggression another week" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 7/20) "Unlimited Israeli terrorism in Palestine and Lebanon. Two Israeli massacres in Salaa and Sarifa. Heroic acts by the resistance in a ground battle with Israeli forces. Six Israeli soldiers killed, 14 injured, 4 Israeli tanks destroyed and an F- 16 plane brought down" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 7/20) "Arrest of traitors who display signs for the Israeli warplanes to shell specific targets in Beirut" (Government-owned Tishreen, 7/20) "Italian Foreign Minister D'Alema: The Israeli aggression against Lebanon has surpassed limits of logic. We rely on a constructive Syrian role to achieve stability" (Government-owned Tishreen, 7/20) "The hysteria of Israeli aggression expands in Palestine. Over 15 Palestinians martyred in Nablus and Gaza" (Government-owned Al- Ba'th, 9/20) "The Egyptian opposition calls for canceling Camp David Accord. A campaign of a million signatures in Jordan to abrogate the Wadi Araba Agreement" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 7/20) "An American soldier and scores of Iraqis killed in separate attacks in Iraq" (Government-owned Tishreen, 7/20) ¶3. Editorial Block Quotes: -------------- "Messengers of Dictate" -------------- Abd-al-Fattah al-Awad, Chief Editor of government-owned Al- Thawra, said (7/20): "The international community is not playing the role of a fair broker, but rather imposing, adopting, and promoting Israel's conditions. "Turning to the international community is exactly like turning to the enemy, especially since what we now call the international community is controlled by the United States, which is in ideological and behavioral harmony with Israel. Both occupy Arab lands, and both perpetrate massacres against Arabs. "International envoys are coming to the region to present a list of conditions, not to offer proposals for solutions.... The solution lies in stopping Israeli barbarism and then conducting a prisoner swap through which the Lebanese prisoners in Israeli jails are liberated.... Any other proposals would only be an incitement to continue the aggression and kill civilians.... "The US arrogance is obvious in President Bush's remark that he will ask UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to contact Syria over the Lebanese crisis..., as if Annan were an employee of the US Administration...." -------------- "Calm Talk on a Hot Issue" -------------- Isam Dari, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen, said (7/20): "It is definitely untrue that Israel's 'open war' against Lebanon is a reaction to Hizbollah's capture of two Israeli soldiers.... Israel would have invented excuses and justifications to do what it is doing even if the resistance had not captured the two soldiers.... "The aim is not to release the two soldiers in Lebanon and the soldier in Gaza; the target is not only Hizbollah and HAMAS. The aim is to undermine the approach of resistance and steadfastness and to tame all those who stand in the face of the Zionist- American plan...." -------------- "When Will You Break Your Silence?" -------------- Haifa Ali, a commentator in government-owned Al-Ba'th, said (7/20): "Israel took advantage of the international community's silence and collusion to direct its brutality and aggression toward the entire Lebanese people in an attempt to avenge its defeat in Lebanon six years ago.... "Israel also took advantage of some defeatist Arab positions to escalate its brutal aggression.... Arabs have failed to use oil as a weapon to pressure Israel.... Had the Gulf countries stopped, or at least reduced, oil exports to the US, they would have forced Bush to pressure Israel to stop its aggression and brutality. Regrettably, this did not happen, and it will not happen.... Arabs will not use this powerful weapon.... When Arab foreign ministers decided to act, their meeting in Cairo was very disappointing.... Arabs must produce effective Arab action at the Security Council before Lebanon is reduced to a heap of rubble." -------------- --- "International Action and Outstanding Questions" -------------- --- Ahmad Dawwa, an editorialist in government-owned Al-Thawra, wrote (7/20): "If the international parties were really serious in their effort to stop the aggression, they would at least pressure Israel into halting its barbaric aggression and then act to find a political solution. But their acceptance of this role while the Israeli war machine is still pounding Lebanon means that they work on Israel's behalf.... "The international moves came upon US guidance.... They seek to impose Israel's conditions and to save Israel from a new predicament after the Lebanese resistance managed to break the rules of the game and control its course in the field.... "The Resistance is able to expose and foil the conspiracies and achieve victory. All that the defeatist Arabs need to do is not stab the Resistance in the back once again...." -------------- "Neo-Rationalists" -------------- Dr. Adnan Mahmud, a commentator in government-owned Al-Thawra, said (7/20): "The accusations that some Arabs have leveled against the resistance movements and their call on these movements to control their conduct, provide a cover and an excuse for Israel to kill and to practice further terrorism and crimes against the Lebanese and the Palestinians without fear of punishment.... "When some Arabs consider the capture of Israeli soldiers to exchange them for Arab prisoners as an uncalculated adventure, then the Arab peoples must really be worried about their future and prepare to perform their duty towards the Resistance now that their governments have failed to take any initiative, even if nominal, to disobey the US master.... "Hizbollah's capture of the Israeli soldiers is an honorable resistance action.... Any Arab criticism of the operation is naked collusion and submission to Israel..." Seche