JERICHO PRISON ATTACK DRAWS IRE AT U.S., UK

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000388

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA, NEA/ARPI, AND NEA/PPD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAL SOCI OIIP KMDR KPAO IS MU
SUBJECT: JERICHO PRISON ATTACK DRAWS IRE AT U.S., UK


1. (U) The March 14 Israeli raid on Jericho Prison and
seizure of Palestinian suspects drew strong condemnation in
Omani newspaper editorials the following day. The
independently owned Arabic daily "Al-Watan" placed its
editorial on the front page, asserting that Israel's actions
were clearly illegal and have only served to make a hero of
Ahmed Saadat. Local media carried a statement by GCC
Secretary General Attiyah also criticizing the Israeli

SIPDIS
action. Popular reactions in the local Internet message
board "al-Sablah" overwhelmingly heaped blame upon the U.S.
and UK governments for withdrawing their monitors from the
prison prior to the Israeli attack, taken as proof of
collusion in the operation. The volume of postings on the
topic exceeded 47 pages by the morning of March 15.


2. (SBU) The Omani government has made no statement in
reaction to the Israeli strike. In a March 15 discussion on
other topics, Pol/Econ Chief explained to the MFA
Undersecretary's main Embassy interlocutor the reasons for
the USG decision to pull its monitors from the prison,
denying there was active collusion with Israel on its
subsequent operation. The MFA official took positive note.
BALTIMORE