MEDIA REACTION REPORT - Middle East - Palestine - Hamas -

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PARIS 003722 SIPDIS DEPT FOR INR/R/MR; IIP/RW; IIP/RNY; BBG/VOA; IIP/WEU; AF/PA; EUR/WE /P/SP; D/C (MCCOO); EUR/PA; INR/P; INR/EUC; PM; OSC ISA FOR ILN; NEA; WHITE HOUSE FOR NSC/WEUROPE; DOC FOR ITA/EUR/FR AND PASS USTR/PA; USINCEUR FOR PAO; NATO/PA; MOSCOW/PA; ROME/PA. E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR FR SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION REPORT - Middle East - Palestine - Hamas - Olmert Iran Nuclear Stalemate Iraq - Allegations On Haditha PARIS - Monday, June 05, 2006 (A) SUBJECTS COVERED IN TODAY'S REPORT: Middle East - Palestine - Hamas - Olmert Iran Nuclear Stalemate Iraq - Allegations On Haditha B) SUMMARY OF COVERAGE: Liberation devotes its lead to the "Specter of a Civil War" in the Palestinian territories and the ultimatum (expiring today) that Mahmoud Abbas gave Hamas, just as Prime Minister Olmert presented Egypt's Mubarak his West Bank pull out plan. The editorial emphasizes the growing chaos which has followed on the heels of Hamas's election, "fueled by an economic blockade orchestrated by the West... Last evening Olmert took the measure of the worsening situation. It would be good if others did as well." An op-ed by two noted French intellectuals entitled "No to Boycotting Hamas" in Liberation suggests that "a humanitarian approach alone is not sufficient" to help the Palestinians... In order to "invite Hamas to abandon terrorism in favor of negotiations, there has to be more than just denying it its legitimacy." Le Figaro reports that "Olmert Is Ready to Negotiate With Abbas" and that "between Egypt and Israel, the honeymoon is on." (See Part C) Today's Le Figaro reports on its front page "Khamenei's response" to the West's offer: "Iran Will Not Give In," and adds in its page-three article: "The Ayatollah Supports Tehran's Hard Line Approach." (See Part C) Several outlets over the weekend continued to report on the "Haditha blunder." Le Figaro reports on "Baghdad's Concerns over U.S. Blunders." Both Le Journal du Dimanche and Le Figaro quote U.S. General Peter Chiarelli who has asked his staff "to teach ethics to U.S. soldiers." (See Part C) The weekly Le Figaro Magazine devotes its "Profile of the Week" to the U.S. Ambassador to NATO Victoria Nuland. "Victoria Nuland is precise and skillful... she hails from the entourage of the hawks at the White House and from them she has retained a penchant for pragmatism and idealism... Victoria Nuland is in line with Irving Kristol's... conception of neo-conservatism: progressive, not nostalgic, optimistic not defeatist. She is of those who know what they want and intend to get there." Saturday's Le Figaro edition led with: "How Islamists Recruit in France." Jean Chichizola's report is based on a recent document edited by France's intelligence services (RG): "The recruiting is to a large extent done in the 'banlieus' (suburbs) among youth from the Maghreb and black Africa who suffer from the worsening economy." The RG notes that "radicalization happens at an increasingly early age" and that "prisons offer a fertile ground for recruitment." On the domestic front, Le Journal du Dimanche carries an opinion poll on a "potential replacement for PM Villepin." While 39% of those polled still say they "trust in the Prime Minister's abilities to lead France until the next presidential election," Nicolas Sarkozy comes out in the lead as a possible replacement with 39% of the votes. Second comes Jean Louis Borloo, the Labor Minister, with 25% of the votes; Defense Minister Alliot-Marie is third with 13%. (C) SUPPORTING TEXT/BLOCK QUOTES: Middle East - Palestine - Hamas - Olmert "Irresponsible" Antoine de Gaudemar in left-of-center Liberation (06/05): "Since Hamas's election, chaos has become even worse in Palestine's autonomous territories. Between the economic blockade - albeit called by another name - orchestrated by Israel and the West, and internal violence born out of the Hamas-Fatah rivalry, Palestine is slowly sinking into a crisis that looks very much like a civil war. Those who oppose an independent Palestinian state would be wrong to rejoice over a situation that will only lead to radicalization and terrorism... By pursuing its blockade... the western world, and particularly the European Union, is playing with fire. Whatever one may think, Hamas was legitimately elected... If one still believes in peace for this region, letting its civilian population sink deeper into despair by cutting its food supplies is doubly dangerous. First, because civilians should not pay for the errors of their governments. Second, because Abbas may be about to succeed where the international community has failed. The threat of a referendum is putting his rival in a difficult situation. When Olmert said yesterday that he 'would keep Palestine from falling into a humanitarian crisis,' he appeared to have measured the seriousness of the situation. Others should do likewise." "Olmert Ready to Negotiate with Abbas" Marc Henry in right-of-center Le Figaro (06/05): "Olmert is well aware of the difficulties he is facing and has given up on sending an ultimatum to Abbas. The negative reactions in Europe and in Arab countries, allied to the U.S., which followed his initial remarks after taking office have made him much more cautious. For him, the important thing is to give tokens of goodwill even if its means taking action at a later date." "No to a Boycott of Hamas" Esther Benbassa of the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes and Francois Burgat of the Center for Strategic Research in left-of-center Liberation (06/05): "Where does the border between Islam and terrorism, between Muslims who can be trusted and Bin Laden's agents, between the 'good citizen' and the 'bad extremist' lie? Upon reading dominant speeches in Europe and in France, it has become increasingly difficult to answer the question... The humanitarian approach to Palestine is not enough. In time it will even become counter-productive. It demands impossible diplomatic and legal contortions... Denying Hamas its legitimacy is a setback for peace: there are other ways to invite Hamas to divest itself of its terrorist guise. How is it possible to justify such a boycott of a legitimate vote and thereby deny what international law dictates? How is it possible for this unilateral western stance to triumph so easily? ... The lack of protest may stem from old and instinctive fears of the 'other,' who 'speaks Muslim' and is by definition a believer in theocracy... In order to invite Hamas to abandon terrorism in favor of negotiations, there has to be more than just denying it its legitimacy." Iran Nuclear Stalemate "Khamenei Supports Tehran's Hardliners" Le Figaro (06/05): "Iran will not give in. Iran's religious leader reiterated that Iran would 'give in neither to the enemy's threats nor to its bribes...' His position is not really a surprise... Meanwhile, Tehran seems to be wagering on differences of interests between the U.S. on one hand and the Europeans and the Russians on the other. But yesterday Secretary Rice minimized the threats posed by Tehran, especially those concerning energy: 'after all, Tehran is also dependent on its oil revenues,' she said." "Time to Reward Iran?" Gilles Delafon in right-of-center Le Journal du Dimanche (06/05): "This latest effort to resolve the Iranian nuclear crisis has probably more of a chance of succeeding. When Javier Solana travels to Iran tomorrow... he will be facing a difficult task because Iran has already rejected the initial condition: suspending its nuclear enrichment. But the text agreed to in Vienna on Thursday leaves an opening: at no time does it mention either threats or sanctions... But the main advance lies elsewhere: in the fact that the UNSC has concentrated on what rewards to grant Iran if it accepts the deal. After 27 seven years of no dialogue, the time has come for an open relationship with potential benefits such as the lifting of many economic sanctions... This is a good response to Iran's recent letter to President Bush. If there is no agreement this time, Iran's intransigence could lead Russia and China to be less accommodating and open the door to possible sanctions. The ball is in Ahmedinejad's hands. It is up to him to say whether he prefers to remain the leader of an anti-American crusade or ensure his people's well-being." Iraq - Allegations On Haditha "Baghdad Concerned Over America Blunders" Thierry Oberle in right-of-center Le Figaro (06/05): "After Haditha, Ishaki... The latest revelations and videos are fanning the fires of uneasiness which have gripped the Iraqi authorities... Prime Minister Maliki has called for an investigation and the Council of Ministers has accused the U.S. of 'human rights violations...' The Haditha incident looks like it may be the darkest episode of the Iraqi occupation by U.S. forces... The investigation could well finger high-level U.S. military officials for having tried to cover up the incident." STAPLETON