OMAN SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION:

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 000120 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD, NEA/P, INR/R/MR LONDON FOR GOLDRICH PARIS FOR ZEYA USCENTCOM FOR PLUSH FOREIGN PRESS CENTER FOR ASILAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO KMDR OIIP MU SUBJECT: OMAN SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: HAMAS VICTORY IN PALESTINIAN ELECTIONS -------------- Palestinians' Commitment to Democracy -------------- ¶1. The government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" carried a January 25 editorial under the headline "Palestinian Elections Consolidate Democracy": "Today the Palestinian legislative elections start in the midst of extensive Israeli efforts to block those elections. Palestinian efforts to organize elections, despite the difficult security situation, confirm the Palestinian commitment to reform, development and democracy." -------------- Palestinians Capable of Democracy -------------- ¶2. The privately owned Arabic daily "Al-Watan" published an editorial on January 26 entitled "Palestinians' Marriage with Democracy": "The Israelis must benefit from the experience [of democratic Palestinian elections] that will produce a strong, democratically chosen Palestinian partner for peace negotiations. The elections involved all Palestinian parties not excluding anyone except Islamic Jihad. They were run smoothly and fairly, leaving Israel with no pretext to claim that the Palestinians are incapable of holding democratic elections." -------------- International Community Can Help Hamas -------------- ¶3. "Al-Watan" carried a January 27 editorial entitled "Let the World Respect the Palestinian Will": "American and European visions for the Palestinians' future should be independent of the Israelis...It is true that Hamas might not have an agenda that encompasses peace resolutions but the international community can help it form an agenda that includes true peace negotiations with Israel." -------------- America Encouraging Israeli Violence -------------- ¶4. On January 28, "Al-Watan" also reported an editorial under the headline "Hamas's Victory": "Israel's policy of imposing its will and violating negotiations, with American support, is unprecedented. Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan used to say `kill them [the Palestinians] if you cannot negotiate with them.' If the Americans are not willing stop encouraging the Israelis' violence, they will have to face the coming `Palestinian Tsunami.' The victory of Hamas is also a win for SIPDIS Palestinian Authority President Abbas, who did not prevent Hamas from participating in the elections...He placed everyone before their own responsibilities to prove that they will be able to handle them." -------------- World Must Deal with Hamas -------------- ¶5. "Oman" on January 28 published an editorial under the headline "Hamas's Great Victory": "Hamas is going to form the new government with or without Fatah's cooperation. This victory shocked America, which accepted the results unhappily but at the same time must deal with the new democratic power. The Palestinians have made their choice through the ballot and trusted Hamas. Hence the whole world must accept this and deal with it from now on." -------------- Palestinians' Political Lessons -------------- ¶6. "Al-Watan" carried a January 29 article entitled "The World Must Respect Palestinians' Will Fulfilled through Ballot Boxes." "Palestinians want to participate in an active political life, to change painful reality and maintain their goals. But they have sacrificed a lot in the name of peace, continuously falling under Israel's manipulation of negotiations, assassinations of leaders and politicians, and various other kinds of oppression. The Palestinian people have learned deep lessons on a daily basis, and these lessons decided who they chose in the elections." BALTIMORE