MEDIA REACTION -- HAMAS VICTORY.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SANAA 000259

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA, NEA/ARP, NEA/PD, NEA/RA,
DS/OP/NEA, S/CT, RRU/NEA
CENTCOM FOR POLAD
NEA/PPD FOR AFERNANDEZ

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM KMPI PGOV PHUM PREL YM
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION -- HAMAS VICTORY.



1. SUMMARY. Almost all media outlets reacted
positively to the victory of Hamas in the recent
Palestinian parliamentary elections. They also
hailed the election process as democratic, free,
and fair. In particular, they commended the
Palestinian Authority for immediately accepting
the Hamas victory. Local commentators, citing the
principles of democracy, have criticized the U.S.
and EU for threatening to cut aid to the
Palestinian Authority if Hamas does not change its
governing principles. END SUMMARY.


2. EDITORIAL COMMENTARY:


A. In the Islah-affiliated independent weekly
Annas (circulation: 15,000) (01/30),regular
commentator Dr. Fuad Al-Badani wrote: "The Hamas
victory was a surprise to Israel, U.S., the EU and
most Arab regimes. It is obvious that Islamist
groups are making remarkable progress in those
elections in which they participate."


B. Also in Annas (01/30),regular contributor
Mohammad Al-Ghabri observed that negotiation with
Israel will be the most complicated issue Hamas
will have to deal with and concluded that, if true
democratic elections took place throughout the
Arab world, Islamist movements would be in power
tomorrow.


C. In a third commentary in Annas (01/30) Ahmad
Al-Faqeh commented: "Hamas's victory rang the
danger bell for Israel, EU and the United States,
all of whom began to deal differently with the
Palestinian Authority following the Hamas
victory." He concluded that some believe the
Hamas victory was planned by Israel to set up an
allegedly extremist group as rulers of Palestine
and thereby justify their refusal to permit the
establishment of a Palestinian state.


D. The weekly Islah-affiliated weekly Al-Asimah
(circulation: 25,000) editorialized (01/29):
"With the Hamas victory, the Palestinian people
sent a message to the world that it is capable of
making its own choices and not what others want.
It elected those it believed most capable of
running the country's internal and external
affairs."


E. The Islah-party mouthpiece weekly Al-Sahwa
(circulation: 25,000) editorialized (01/30): "The
Palestinians elected Hamas because they know that
Hamas will clear up the mess in the Palestinian
territories and improve their living conditions as
well as block frequent Israeli atrocities against
the Palestinian people."


F. The weekly mouthpiece of the Popular Forces
Union party Manbar Al-Shura (minor circulation)
editorialized (01/29): "Why all the U.S. and
European contempt regarding the Hamas victory
while Hamas was the choice of the Palestinian
People?"


G. In the independent weekly Al-Wasat, Saeedah
Tayeb wondered (02/01): "How will Hamas deal with
the internal and external changes of Palestine at
a time when its own capability to remain in power
is doubted?...If Hamas's victory is a catastrophe,
it is only a catastrophe for those who fear
democracy and freedom."


H. In the widely-read, Islah-affiliated website
Alsahwa.net (02/03),Naser Yahya noted that "The
peaceful transfer of power between Fatah and Hamas
represents a real commitment to democracy."


I. The official government daily Al-Thawra
(circulation: 40,000) editorialized (01/27):
"The Hamas victory was attributable to the Israeli
atrocities against the Palestinian people..."


J. In a second editorial, Al-Thawra (01/31) wrote
that: "Those who are trying to implement the
democratic project in the region should respect
the will and choice of the Palestinian people even
if the Hamas victory conflicts with their
interests. It is also unfair to demand that Hamas
recognize and peacefully coexist with Israel while
turning a deaf ear to Israeli aggression against
Palestinians."
KHOURY