TFLE01: BAHRAIN TEMPERATURE RISES ON LEBANON AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001329

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC PTER BA POL REGION
SUBJECT: TFLE01: BAHRAIN TEMPERATURE RISES ON LEBANON AND
PALESTINE

Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

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Summary
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1. (C) Activity on the streets has increased with several
protests over the Bahraini weekend July 19-21, including the
first directed at the U.S. Embassy. Approximately 300
individuals attempted to march towards the Embassy July 21,
but were stopped by security personnel several blocks away.
While moving away, twenty some members of the group set fire
to tires and trash bins and threw rocks at security
personnel. King Hamad, meeting with Egyptian President
Mubarak in Cairo July 20, called for a halt to Israeli
military actions and a negotiated resolution. The rhetoric
in Friday sermons was increasingly supportive of Hizballah
and critical of Israel, the international community, Arab
governments, and the U.S. Even columnists who have
traditionally been supportive of U.S. democracy policy and
programs point to the hypocrisy in the U.S. support of
Israel, characterized as the number one enemy to democracy.
One columnist anticipates that the BMENA Initiative will also
be a casualty of the conflict as it is now tainted with U.S.
acceptance of the destruction of Lebanon and the denial of a
Palestinian state. End summary.

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The Protests
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2. (U) Approximately 300 people demonstrated July 21 in the
Zinj area, showing intent to proceed toward the Embassy. The
Ministry of Interior stationed some 1,000 police personnel,
as well as concertina wire, to prevent the demonstration from
approaching the Embassy. Carrying Hizballah, Lebanese, and
Bahraini flags, protesters burned an Israeli flag and
chanted, "Death to America" and "Death to Israel." After
being turned away, a group of about 20 youths set fire to
tires and trash cans and threw rocks at security vehicles. A
special task force used tear gas to break up this group and
arrested several individuals. Additional protests occurred
in the village of Diraz, home to the mosque where Shaikh Isa
Qassim preaches, and outside the Al Fateh Grand Mosque
(Sunni) following Friday prayers.


3. (U) Over one thousand residents staged a protest in Sitra
(Shia) July 20, chanting slogans in support of Hizballah
leader Hasan Nasrallah and the Islamic resistance. Al Wifaq
member, and potential candidate in the fall parliamentary
elections in Sitra, Sayed Haider Al Sitri read a statement
saying that Arabs are facing an expansion of imperialism.
The statement questioned whether Arab armies could face a
surrender and still hold their heads up honorably as servants
under American-Israeli dominance. Two prior rallies took
place July 19 in the Shia villages of Karanah and Barbar,
echoing previous criticism of the silence of the
international community and urging the UNSC to put pressure
on Israel to stop its attacks in Lebanon and Palestine.

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King Meets Mubarak
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4. (U) In a meeting in Cairo July 20, King Hamad Bin Isa Al
Khalifa and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak both called for
a stop in the Israeli military actions against Lebanon and
the Palestinians. They called for the parties to negotiate a
resolution to the conflict. King Hamad called for a unified
Arab stance that will restore confidence in and push forward
the peace process.

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The Preachers
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5. (C) Friday sermons July 21 focused exclusively on the
situation in Lebanon. Leading Shia cleric Shaikh Isa Qassim
urged both Sunnis and Shia to stand together to support Hamas
and Hizballah. He said that Hizballah's beliefs dictate that
jihad is a duty in support of its Palestinian brothers.
Hizballah laments the blood that is flowing in Iraq, saying
that it should be saved to face the "Zionist hounds." Arab
regimes should not be preoccupied with internal affairs while
turning away from the battle against the enemies of God and
humanity. Arab governments should not impose unfair laws
against terrorism that will hinder the fight against the
enemy, who steals land and plays with the dignity and lives
of the Palestinians. (Note: Bahrain's Council of
Representatives passed a terrorism bill July 16 with stiff

opposition from some members who say that it gives the state
too much authority to detain individuals. The Shura
(Consultative) Council is scheduled to begin discussion on
the bill July 22. End note.)


6. (U) Sunni Shaikh Salah Al Jowder stated that the Islamic
nation was under siege by Israel, while Palestine and Lebanon
are met with a "strange Arab silence. Although Islam is a
religion of moderation, love and peace, God orders Muslims to
adhere to their religion, land and dignity and to defend them
by any means." Israel's actions have shown the world that it
acts against all international conventions and that its
agreements with the Arabs, from Camp David to the Roadmap,
"are merely ink on paper." He concluded that only unity and
adherence to religion can impede Israeli and American plans.

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Critical Columns from an Unexpected Direction
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7. (U) Even columnists who are normally supportive of U.S.
democracy and capacity-building programs have turned critical
of U.S. policy. Al Wasat editor-in-chief Mansour Al Jamri
states that Israel, supported by the U.S., is the number one
enemy of democracy in the region. Al Jamri asks, "How can
the weak and oppressed be blamed for taking an extremist
approach against the official terrorism practiced by Israel
under the sponsorship of the super powers? How can our
region calm down when its people see Lebanon's infrastructure
completely destroyed, while the U.S. President hints at
allowing more time for Israel to wipe out Lebanon?"


8. (U) Another regular supporter of U.S. programs in
Bahrain, Al Wasat columnist Reem Khalifa echoed the words of
Palestinian writer Ibrahim Hamami who wrote about the death
of the Arab League from heart failure following its recent
meeting in Cairo. Khalifa asserts that the Broader Middle
East North Africa Initiative should also be mourned since the
U.S. administration accepts the destruction of Lebanon and
the denial of a legitimate country to the Palestinians. She
agrees with Hamami's assertion that the reality is that
"(Israeli PM) Olmert and his gangsters", with U.S. and
European support, kill innocents while Arabs are silent.

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Political Cartoons - Gruesome and Grim
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9. (U) A notably graphic political cartoon July 22 depicts a
woman representing Lebanon whose bloodied body has been
carved up in pieces in the shape of a Star of David by a
hand, also having a Star of David, holding a hatchet on which
is written "Made in USA." In the background are three
figures, one representing the international community with
its fingers in its ears (hear no evil),the second wearing
traditional Arab dress with its hands over it eyes (see no
evil),and the third a caricature of President Bush not
covering his mouth, but saying, "Complete your mission." A
second cartoon, printed July 20, shows a man in traditional
Arab dress fleeing in horror from something not shown, with
the inscription of an Arabic proverb meaning that what is
happening next door will find its way into one's own home.

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Comment
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10. (C) In one sense, the July 21 demonstration at the
Embassy was a minor affair, attracting just 300 demonstrators
and easily deterred. At the same time, however, this first
demonstration at the Embassy in more than three years
reflects the increase we have seen in the level of activity
and rhetoric in Bahrain over the past several days. At the
official level, Bahraini officials now advocate an immediate
cease fire and resolution by diplomatic means, reflective of
local sentiment, and in contrast to the King's July 14
statement in which he urged parties not to continue pursuing
a "miscalculated adventure, that would affect Lebanon's
sovereignty." The public (mostly from the Shia community)
has been emboldened in showing their support for Hizballah
and its leader Nasrallah. The longer the conflict proceeds
and the more civilians are killed, the heat here can be
expected to rise palpably along with the rising summer Gulf
humidity.


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MONROE