MEDIA REACTION REPORT - Middle East - Surge of Violence in

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PARIS 004482 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 - Surge of Violence in Gaza U.S.- EU: Complaints Over CIA Bank Spying G8 - Putin- Iran - Geo-Strategy PARIS - Thursday, June 29, 2006 (A) SUBJECTS COVERED IN TODAY'S REPORT: Middle East - Surge of Violence in Gaza U.S.- EU: Complaints Over CIA Bank Spying G8 - Putin- Iran - Geo-Strategy B) SUMMARY OF COVERAGE: Today's major international story is the worsening situation in Gaza, with Le Figaro headlining: "A Logic of War in Gaza" while Liberation headlines: "A Mighty Return to Gaza." A report by Jean-Luc Allouche in Liberation contends that Olmert is "facing his first trial by fire and that he cannot afford to make the slightest mistake" while Jean-Pierre Perrin explains that "kidnappings are a weapon without effect on Israel. For the past twenty years, Israel has never negotiated with kidnappers." The editorial contends that Israel's 'Summer Rain' operation is a "short-term response to an ancient dilemma..." In Le Figaro, one article contends that for Israel, "the operation to free Shalit is meant to erase the affront made to the army." (See Part C) Secretary Rice's visit to Kabul is reported in Le Figaro: "The U.S. SIPDIS is not forgetting Afghanistan. Secretary Rice, after a visit to Pakistan, made a short stop in Kabul to reaffirm America's support to President Karzai and Washington's commitment to the region." Adrien Jaulmes describes the worsening situation in Afghanistan: "Compared to the mired situation in Iraq, Afghanistan was presented as a 'success story...' But lately, the picture has become much less attractive..." Le Figaro carries an op-ed by Iranian opposition leader Maryam Radjavi entitled "No, All Iranians Do Not Want the Bomb" in which she says that the Iranian regime "is taking advantage of the situation in Iraq to spread its influence in its plan to dominate the region..." She also states that "the alleged popular support" for the nation's nuclear program is "a lie" because the people know that "the program is not in the best interest of the nation." But she also faults the "world for its lack of strategy." The international community must choose "between war and a democratic change in Iran," which can only happen "through the resistance of the people." Alexandre Adler's weekly column in Le Figaro analyzes the "World's Hidden Equations." "We must not rejoice too quickly, because certain crises have not yet come to full maturity..." such as the crisis with Iran, which is analyzed in Le Monde, while Le Monde's editorial describes Putin and "Russia's Arrogance" prior to the G8. (See Part C) Several reports are devoted to today's elections in Kuwait where women candidates are allowed to run for the first time. For Le Figaro it is "a historic vote in the Arab peninsula where Kuwait, the pro-American Emirate, plays the role of pioneer." Liberation reports on Europe's complaint against U.S. banking "spying practices" and the Belgian decision to file a complaint against SWIFT, "for informing the CIA." (See Part C) In Les Echos, Europe's high representative for defense and security, Javier Solana, pens an op-ed celebrating Europe's common defense market, which in his view is "a natural evolution dictated by the need to modernize armies despite budget cuts." "If we want to maintain, in Europe, a technological and industrial base of defense that is competitive at the international level, we must combine our efforts and pool our resources." The agreement is a pathway toward Europe's assuming responsibility in a world prone to conflict, Solana further argues. (C) SUPPORTING TEXT/BLOCK QUOTES: Middle East - Surge of Violence in Gaza "Camouflage" Pierre Haski in left-of-center Liberation (06/29): "The spectacular Israeli operation, 'Summer Rain,' to free the kidnapped Israeli soldier raises the same old questions and reveals well-identified fracture lines... For the Israelis, who see themselves as victims, operation 'Summer Rain' is legitimate... Olmert, who lacks a glorious military past, would not have survived an absence of response... The Palestinians also see themselves as victims... Operation 'Summer Rain' is a short-term response to an ancient dilemma, which it cannot resolve. Olmert adopted his predecessor's view that a unilateral pullout from Gaza was the only solution. Now Tsahal is back in Gaza, as if attracted by an implacable magnet. SIPDIS This is enough to prove the relative impact of the security fence, which serves only to camouflage the accumulated resentment between the two people, without appeasing it. After the sounds of 'Summer Rain' have quieted down, everyone will feel a little more victimized and peace will be even more elusive." U.S.- EU: Complaints Over CIA Bank Spying "Europe Complains About Bank Spying" Jean Quatremer in left-of-center Liberation (06/29): "The U.S. has managed to spread its exceptional anti-terrorist laws throughout Europe, with the complicity, passive if not active, of local authorities. Coming on the heels of the CIA's secret rendition flights, it is now public knowledge that for the past five years the U.S. was collecting data from Swift on terrorist financing... The problem is that by giving out such data, Swift has violated Europe's national legislation protecting individual rights. The head of the Belgian Senate Commission is opening an investigation... and says that although 'the U.S. company, Swift, complied with U.S. legislation, in so doing it also came into conflict with Belgian law.' What is true for Belgium is also true for all other European nations, which all have strict laws protecting the transfer of personal data... This is why, Privacy International announced in London on Tuesday that it is filing suits in 32 countries against Swift. But as in the case of the CIA flights, it appears that the U.S. authorities had kept their partners informed, which makes legal suits dubious... Says a European representative, with a dose of irony: 'at least the Americans have succeeded where the Europeans haven't: creating a common judicial Europe... It takes European judges years to get this type of information...'" G8 - Putin- Iran - Geo-Strategy "Arrogant Russia" Left-of-center Le Monde in its editorial (06/29): "The G8 Summit will not address questions of democracy or of human rights. Putin plans to turn the forum into a platform to glorify Russia's newfound power on the international scene. He has turned the weapon of energy into his number one diplomatic instrument, collecting huge financial and geo-strategic benefits. With the growing instability in the Middle East, and because of the world demand on energy, Russia has in the past few years been very much solicited on all fronts. But Putin gives little in return and continues to deny he is playing a game of 'energy blackmail' while making fun of world concerns about Russia's 'neo-imperialism.' When it comes to energy, like human rights, Russia intends to impose its own vision of things." "Iran's Diplomatic Activism" Mouna Naim in left-of-center Le Monde (06/29): "Up until now Iran has succeeded, thanks namely to Russia and China, in driving back the specter of seeing the issue of its nuclear program go before the UNSC as well as dispelling the threat of sanctions... It has even been able to obtain the promise that the U.S. will take part in the negotiations if the West's June 6 proposals are accepted... Up until now Iran has tried and been successful in buying time, but the hour of truth is fast approaching." "The World's Hidden Equations" Alexandre Adler in right-of-center Le Figaro (06/29): "On the world theatre, certain hidden equations need to be clarified if we are to understand the crises we face, with their peaks and valleys. The first of such equations has to do with China..., the impact of oil prices on its economy... and Beijing's decision to turn its back on Iran... A second equation revolves around Russia: While Moscow enjoys a wide margin of maneuver with Washington, there is a longstanding pact between Iran's Islamic moderates and the KGB... The nationalistic and slightly anti-Semitic atmosphere that reigns in Moscow, the idea of transforming a trade relation into a full strategic relationship with Tehran is making inroads... The third equation, of a fully domestic nature, involves Iraq's Shiite leaders who are forced to maintain a certain degree of cooperation with the substantial U.S. contingent, because they are far from being able to insure Iraq's security. But for Iran, it is important to develop a symbiosis between the two Shiite republics. This alliance, which in time will require a compromise with the U.S., is needed now. The nuclear battle with the international community can come much later. We are therefore relatively safe... Nevertheless, we should not rejoice too soon, for certain crises have not come to full maturity." STAPLETON