KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - LEBANON

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 002831 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, NEA/PI, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA, B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN LONDON FOR TSOU PARIS FOR ZEYA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO KDEM XF KU MEDIA REACTION SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - LEBANON Block Quotes -------------- Saturday, July 15, 2006 -- Ghassan Suliman Al-Otaibi penned in progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas under the title "Israel" (7/15): "Most of our problems with Israel involve borders and land. As for Israel's problems with us, they involve normalization of relations and its existence as a Jewish entity next to Arab Muslims. The best evidence for this is the Camp David Accords. Israel pressed for normalization of relations in return for giving back land. An objective look at Israel reveals that it is an economically and scientifically advanced country. It wants to become a regional hegemon through its human and natural resources. After that, it would use its commercial and public relations expertise along with its scientific advances to establish a strong economy and state." -- Liberal writer Mr. Abdul Latif Al-Duaij stated in progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas under the title "Take Your Hands off of Lebanon" (7/15): "We salute the Saudi position that has shown a courage missing in most Arabs since the days of Sadat. We call for Arab condemnation not only of Hezbollah but of the dark powers hiding behind it. The Lebanese have suffered greatly and lost everything, not only because they are Israel's neighbors and not because they were chosen to sacrifice their land, youth, and future on behalf of others. They lost everything because they were a model for Arab social and political development and advancement. The things feared most by the bats of darkness and the powers of repression, even more than Israel." -- Al-Qabas staff editorialized on the progressive Arabic daily's front page under the title "Lebanon is Our Collective Responsibility" (7/15): "It is time to regain Lebanon and for independent decision-making to take hold. Arab countries should protect this return with support for the Lebanese government and a refusal of any transgressions against it or any interference, domestic or external. Every time Lebanon alone would pay the price. What is needed is for this not to be repeated and for Lebanon not to be used for others' purposes to fight Israel to the last Lebanese." -- Under the title "Allah, Allah, Hezbollah," Dr. Sami Nasser Khalifa remarked in moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai Al-Aam (7/15): "With the taking of two Zionist soldiers and the killing and injuring of dozens of others, Hezbollah adds another great achievement to its portfolio. It sits high on Arab dignity and Islamic pride. It has tipped the scales in Palestine, causing the Zionists to run out hysterically randomly bombing everywhere in an attempt to restore morale among its soldiers. Hezbollah did not leave the Palestinians alone to suffer and sends a message today that the time for Zionist arrogance is long gone." -- Qassim Hussein Awad argued in moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai Al-Aam under the title "Heroes of the Lebanese South" (7/15): "We all stand today with respect and admiration for Mr. Hassan Nasrallah and the heroes of the Islamic resistance in Southern Lebanon for their steadfastness. The heroes of the south have proven that they have a right to work towards a single goal and that is not to live repressed and disgraced." -- Mohamed Gharib Hatem inquired in moderate Arabic daily Al-Watan under the title "Lebanon is Bleeding, Arabs" (7/15): "Lebanon of all sects and religions screams Arabs, where is the Arab nation, where is the League of Arab States, where is the Islamic Conference, where is the International Islamic Committee, and where is the United Nations from this barbaric invasion of Lebanese soil?" -- Political Science Professor at Kuwait University, Dr. Abdullah Khalifa Al-Shaijy noted in a piece in moderate Arabic daily Al-Watan titled "The Expansion of the Crisis: It is War... The Middle East on Hot Tin" (7/15): "The only consistent aspect in Israel's policy of being on the edge is the transgression against Lebanese sovereignty. This is all taking place before our eyes on the television screens. It is live coverage of the humiliation of all Arabs who stand unable to move KUWAIT 00002831 002 OF 002 and divided. These Arab divisions and weaknesses are met on the other side by international acquiescence of Israeli arrogance." -- Editor-in-chief of pro-government Arabic-language daily Al-Seyassah Ahmed Al-Jarallah penned on the front page of the newspaper, "No to the Adventurers, Tehran and Damascus's Hands" (7/15): "Under the name of resistance against Israel, a slogan that is overstated, Arab peoples have been hijacked, specially the Palestinians and Lebanese. Arab governments have been put in an awkward spot between political reality and popular views, the results of which will only be more political and economic destruction." -- Professor of Political Science at Kuwait University, Dr. Shamlan Yousef Al-Issa commented in pro-government Arabic daily Al-Seyassah in an article titled "Mass Punishment" (7/15): "What is needed today after the Israeli assaults on Beirut and Gaza is a review of the peace process in the Middle East. The two possibilities are either a real peace that guarantees the rights of the Palestinians, the 1967 borders, and the declaration of a Palestinian state, or a return once again to the cycle of violence and terrorism forever. The latter means the return of the entire region to the cycle of violence." ********************************************* * For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ********************************************* * TUELLER