Damascus Media Reaction: Syria/Iran, Israel/Lebanon,

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 003848 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: Syria/Iran, Israel/Lebanon, Israel/Syria, Palestinian Territories, Iraq (8/3-6) Summary: Syrian papers reported that President Asad had a telephone conversation with Iranian President Ahmadi Najad focusing on developments of the Israeli aggression against Lebanon and means to support Lebanon's steadfastness. Papers also reported the Israeli massacre in the town of al-Qaa in northern Bekaa that resulted in the killing of 33 Syrian and Lebanese farm workers and their families while loading trucks with fruit. Headlines featured two Syrian Foreign Ministry messages addressed to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and the President of the UN Secretary Council condemning the Israeli massacres in Qana and al-Qaa. The identical messages called for a fact-finding commission to investigate the Qana and al-Qaa massacres. Syria demanded full Israeli compensation for the Syrian victims who fell at al-Qaa. Syria also supported Lebanon's demand to require Israel to pay compensation for the Israeli massacres in Qana and al-Qaa and the destruction of Lebanese infrastructure. Papers also reported that Syrian Foreign Minister al-Mouallem received a phone call from his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul on the deteriorating situation in Lebanon. The conversation also dealt with the necessity of coordinating the international community's efforts to reach an immediate ceasefire and pull-out of Israeli troops to the Israeli side of the blue line. "It has become unacceptable to keep silent regarding the Israeli crimes," al-Mouallem told Gul, stressing the need to pressure Israel to halt its aggression immediately. In another telephone conversation, al-Mouallem and Italian Foreign Minister Masimo D'Alema stressed that the "priority is for a ceasefire in Lebanon and withdrawal of the Israeli troops to beyond the blue line, as well as for rejection of any political solution that does not have the consensus of all Lebanese." Papers also reported that Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Miqdad warned of the danger of sending new international troops to Lebanon outside the framework of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Miqdad, speaking at an extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC),expressed Syria's support of the Lebanese stance that rejects conceding any political advantage to Israel as a result of its aggression. Miqdad underlined the importance of Israeli withdrawal from the positions it has occupied in its latest aggression, calling for an international investigation committee on the Qana and al-Qaa massacres. "The only way to solve problems in the region is by exerting pressure on Israel and the US to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the region based on resolutions 242 and 338 and the Land-for- Peace formula, to end the Israeli occupation of the Syrian Golan and the other occupied Arab territories," Miqdad concluded. End of summary. ¶2. Selected Headlines: "President Asad discusses developments of the Israeli aggression and means to support Lebanon's steadfastness, in a telephone call with Iranian President Ahmadi Najad" (Government- owned Tishreen, 8/6) "President Asad reviews with Moratinos efforts to realize ceasefire in Lebanon" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 8/4) "Two messages from the Syrian Foreign Ministry to Kofi Annan and the UN Security Council on the Israeli massacres in al-Qaa and Qana, demanding a fact-finding commission and an investigation of both massacres" (Government-owned Tishreen, 8/6) "Ottri receives a phone call from Lebanese Prime Minister al- Saniora extending condolences for the Syrian victims of al-Qaa massacre, and reviews developments in Lebanon with Kamal Shatila, Chairman of the Lebanese Popular Conference" (Government-owned Tishreen 8/6) "Syrian Foreign Minister al-Mouallem talks on the phone with Turkish counterpart Gul and Italian counterpart D'Alema: It has become unacceptable to keep silent on Israeli crimes; no alternative to an immediate halt of the attacks against Lebanon" (Government-owned Tishreen, 8/5) "The Putrajaya Summit in Malaysia condemns the Israeli aggression against Lebanon and calls for an immediate ceasefire" (Government- owned Al-Thawra, 8/4) "US envoys carry Israeli conditions. During his meeting with David Welch, Berri reiterates the importance of curbing Israeli aggression and returning the displaced without any conditions. Scores of fatalities and casualties in Hizbollah's shelling of Haifa and Israeli settlements" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 8/6) "Italian calls to withdraw the Italian ambassador to Israel. Italian MP Marco Rezzi: We cannot stand silent about the Israeli invasion of Lebanon" (Government-owned Tishreen, 8/6) "Italian Foreign Minister D'Alema underlines Syria's right to restoration of the Golan" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 8/4) "Another day of Israeli hysteria.... Zionist criminals perpetrate brutal massacres to compensate for their defeat in ground battles. Lebanese national resistance fighters bravely confront occupiers and bombard settlements in northern Israel and the Central Israeli Air Force Base" (Government-owned Tishreen, 8/5) "Resistance rockets reach the Israeli settlement of Khdeira" (Government-owned Tishreen, 8/5) "The aggression against Lebanon is title of Damascus Mosques' Friday sermons. Imams express the anger of Arab Street and call for solidarity with the Lebanese national resistance" (Government- owned Tishreen, 8/5) "The Turkish-Israeli Friendship Association is about to collapse. A Turkish lawsuit to sue Israel for its inhumane crimes" (Government-owned Tishreen, 8/5) "Nasrallah delivers a confident speech and sends clear messages to Israel: If Beirut is bombarded, we will pound Tel Aviv... Olmert is dull and Peres a dotard... The US administration is a criminal and a slaughterer. To Arab leaders: No place for your chairs in the New Middle East" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 8/4) "UN organizations appeal for tackling the tragic situation in Palestine. Four Palestinians martyred, including an infant, in the Israeli aggression against Rafah" (Government-owned Tishreen, 8/5) "A US Marine convoy is attacked in Baghdad. Fierce confrontations in Mosul" (Government-owned Tishreen, 8/5) ¶3. Editorial Block Quotes: -------------- "The Resistance Option Will Continue" -------------- Isam Dari, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen, commented (8/5): "The American and British governments have hindered the efforts of international legitimacy and the EU and have stood as a strong obstacle to every call for a cease-fire in Lebanon.... "This is part of the plan to create a new Middle East at the expense of Arabs.... Iraq is being destroyed through sectarian wars ignited by American-British occupiers. Occupied Palestine is being destroyed in parallel to the destruction of Lebanon.... The international community, which is hobbled by American- British shackles, is unable to do anything to prove that it is not heading toward the same fate as that of The League of Nations.... But the option of resistance, the policy of steadfastness, and the will of nations will prevail in the end." -------------- "Isn't a Minimum Reaction Required?" -------------- Izz-al-Din al-Darwish, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen, said (8/3): "Israel has been preparing to launch this aggression against Lebanon since the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1559.... "Israel wanted to implement the resolution by the force of Israeli-American weapons and on the rubble of Lebanon and the bodies of its sons.... "Israel is launching a war of genocide and destruction in Lebanon, and the US Administration is supporting this war with everything in its power, seeing it as the labor for a new Middle East, as Secretary Rice announced from the first hours of the Israeli aggression.... "The Bush administration apparently would not mind destroying the entire Arab region as long as this is what Israel wants.... "After all this, how can Arabs count on a US role to bring about peace in the region or, at least, to stop the Israeli aggression against Lebanon? Arabs must engage in soul-searching and take a position to defend their land, dignity, and honor...." -------------- "The Short-Sighted" -------------- Ahmad Hamadah, an editorialist in government-owned Al-Thawra, wrote (8/3): "The Israeli government, through its plan to expand its ground operations in south Lebanon, is trying to achieve any kind of military victory against Hizbollah after the miserable defeat it has suffered so far.... "The Israeli government also wants to win more time to crystallize the American-Israeli plan against Lebanon before the adoption of any ceasefire resolution by the Security Council.... A third Israeli objective is to destroy what is left of the infrastructure of the Lebanese state.... "In all its positions and policies, the Israeli government focuses on Israel's security and uses this as a pretext.... Security is not maintained through policies of aggression and terrorism. The new ground attack will not help Israel achieve security. If Israel's rulers believe their brutal crimes will enable them to achieve any security, they are wrong and shortsighted." Corbin