Damascus Media Reaction: Syria, Hamas, Secretary Rice's

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 000810

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, Hamas, Secretary Rice's
visit, Lebanon, Iraq (2/24-28)


1. Summary:

Syrian papers highlighted the meeting held by F.M. Walid al-
Mo'allem with Hamas leader Khaled Masha'al after the latter
returned from his tour of the countries of the region.
Ezeddin al-Darwish editorialized in Tishreen that he expects
"further escalation" in the region after Secretary Rice's visit,
as the issues she discussed are "escalatory and tailored to fit"
Israel and because "the program of the visit and some of the
meetings constituted a clear provocation." He added that the U.S.
Administration wants to score successes at the expense of the
Palestinians and Lebanese after it failed to do so in Iraq.

Samir Shibani opined in Tishreen that the occupation forces
dissolved the Iraqi army and stripped Iraq of all the components
of a state, leaving the arena open for death squads, bombings,
assassinations, and destruction of mosques and places of worship.

End summary.


2. Selected Headlines:


"Bush expects escalation of tension in Iraq; news of U.S.
intelligence and Mossad role in the bombings." (Government-owned
Tishreen, 2/26)

"Palestinian Premier Designate Hanieh heads toward formation of
a national coalition government; EU released 120 million Euros
for the Palestinians." (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 2/28)

"Washington opposes a draft resolution to establish a council for
human rights." (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 2/28)

"F.M. Al-Mo'allem stressed with Hamas leader Khaled Masha'al
the importance of maintaining Palestinian national unity."
(Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 2/28)

"Lebanese circles call for blocking the path of the American plan
and for preparation for national dialogue." (Government-owned
Tishreen, 2/27)

"Lahhoud: The parliamentary majority is inciting the Lebanese
with the support of powers that are allied with Israel."
(Government-owned Tishreen, 2/28)


3. Editorial Block Quotes:

--------------
"Following Rice's Tour"
--------------

Ezzedin al-Darwish, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen,
wrote (2/26): "Following Rice's quick and highly suspicious tour
to some countries of the region, the situation is likely to
escalate, especially in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories,
as always is the case following such visits by American officials
to the region.

"What confirms these expectations is that the issues brought by
Secretary Rice and leaked by the media are escalatory and

SIPDIS
tailored to Israeli measurements.

"The U.S. Secretary of State wants the countries of the region to
launch a war of famine and siege against the Hamas Movement and
then against all of the Palestinian people, in accordance with an
Israeli program that was adopted as an official policy following
the victory of Hamas in the Palestinian elections.

"In Beirut Rice was clear in manifesting American arrogance,
through statements and meetings whose objective was to escalate
the Lebanese situation.

"All of the above means that the American Administration wants to

achieve victories at the expense of the Palestinians and Lebanese
since it has failed to do so in Iraq."

--------------
"The Serpents of the Occupation and Sects"
--------------

Samir Al-Shibani a columnist in government-owned Tishreen,
commented (2/25): "The American-British occupation forces realize
very well, more than others, that they are unable to assassinate
Iraq. Three years after the invasion and various forms of
violations, the occupation forces have failed to delete Iraq from
the geographic map, the historical memory, and future horizons.
On the other hand, these forces have become more convinced and
aware that sectarian, confessional and ethnic strife is the only
way for them to achieve those objectives and take this revenge --
the historic Zionist dream.

"The occupation forces dissolved the Iraqi army and stripped Iraq
of all the components of a state. The arena was left open for
death squads, bombings, assassinations, and teams of looters.

"The world has seen images of torture and human right violations
that constitute a blot of shame on humanity's record. Programmed
assassination of Iraqi brains has not ceased, and churches,
mosques and places of worship have not been spared shelling and
bombing. All this is happening in the presence of the American
occupation army and its allies. The Iraqis have not tasted
security, stability, peace or the alleged democracy for a single
moment. On the contrary, they have tasted the tragic and horrible
consequences of the occupation.

Seche