Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MUSCAT1032
2006-06-28 13:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Muscat
Cable title:  

SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: ISRAEL'S GAZA INCURSION

Tags:  OIIP KPAO KMDR MU 
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Cable 
Text: 
 
 
UNCLAS MUSCAT 01032

SIPDIS
MUSCATCX:
 ACTION: PAO
 INFO: AMB DCM POLE

DISSEMINATION: PAO
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: PAO:RHARBUCKLE
DRAFTED: PAO:MMASKARY
CLEARED: PAO:DHOFFMANN

VZCZCATI839
PP RUEHC RUEHEE RUEHLO RUEHFR RHMFISS
DE RUEHMS #1032 1791359
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 281359Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6801
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0412
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0307
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
UNCLAS MUSCAT 001032 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD, NEA/P, AND INR/R/MR

LONDON FOR TSOU
PARIS FOR ZEYA
USCENTCOM FOR PLUSH
FOREIGN PRESS CENTER FOR SILAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KPAO KMDR MU
SUBJECT: SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: ISRAEL'S GAZA INCURSION

--------
COVERAGE
--------

UNCLAS MUSCAT 001032

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD, NEA/P, AND INR/R/MR

LONDON FOR TSOU
PARIS FOR ZEYA
USCENTCOM FOR PLUSH
FOREIGN PRESS CENTER FOR SILAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KPAO KMDR MU
SUBJECT: SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: ISRAEL'S GAZA INCURSION

--------------
COVERAGE
--------------


1. Israel's incursion into Gaza was front-paged in Oman's Arabic-
language newspapers. Privately-owned "Al-Watan" (circulation
42,000) covered the story most emotionally, with a headline
proclaiming, "Israel Begins the Burning of Gaza." An editorial
in "Al-Watan" described the Palestinian strike against an Israeli
military outpost earlier this week as a "heroic operation."
Government-owned daily "Oman" (circulation 38,000) featured
Israeli military operations prominently, but in less dramatic
terms. Both papers carried photographs of women and children
leaving Gaza, giving the impression that they were fleeing
hostilities. Oman's English-language papers (frequently up to
one full news cycle behind on international reporting) featured
news of the impending pact between Hamas and Fatah, but did not
highlight the Israeli incursion as their Arabic counterparts did.



-------------- --
BLOCK QUOTES: ISRAEL "INFLAMING THE SITUATION"
-------------- --


2. On June 28, the privately owned Arabic daily "al-Watan"
(circulation 42,000) carried an editorial on the kidnapping of
Israelis under the headline, "The Political Solution is the Best
One:"

"The kidnapping of the Israeli soldier and settler yesterday by
the resistance has shed light on the double standards that the
international community practices against the Arab world. A
military attack on Gaza will only inflame the situation. Israel
will always resort to the military option because that serves its
political objectives, and because Israel cares neither about the
lives of those kidnapped nor human values. It is easy to see
that the Israeli statements reflect the depression and chaos
prevailing among Israel's politicians and military, which finds
expression in the storming of Gaza and assassination and capture
of more civilians. Politicians will make the situation worse.
The advice of European representative Javier Solana, who calls
for political solutions, should be heeded. The Israelis know
that the military operation will not save lives...yet Israel is
still depending on the military option because it best serves its
political goals, regardless of whether the life of their
kidnapped soldier, or any other human being, is wasted."

--------------
A "HEROIC OPERATION"
--------------


3. "Al-Watan" continues its coverage on the same story by
publishing a commentary by regular columnist Zuhair Majid, "The
Exchange":

"The matter of the kidnapped Israeli soldier cannot be taken
lightly when Palestinian factions raided the Israeli military
complex in a heroic operation that represents the core of the
Palestinian resistance. Let the battle about this soldier
begin, so that it will open the door to a final exchange with
Palestinian prisoners. The Palestinians should consider how to
take advantage of this situation in a way that will lead to open
negotiation between the two parties. This operation will not
pass by easily for the Israelis... A lot of logical thinking is
needed."

GRAPPO