Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ABUDHABI1125
2007-07-05 11:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION: INTER-PALESTINIAN DIFFERENCES BLAIR

Tags:  OIIP KMDR TC 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3590
OO RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHAD #1125 1861154
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 051154Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9285
RUENAAA/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1200
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001125 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD; NEA/RA; INR/R/MR; PA; INR/NESA; INR/B;
RRU-NEA
IIP/G/NEA-SA
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE; NSC
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD
LONDON FOR ERELI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: INTER-PALESTINIAN DIFFERENCES BLAIR
ISLAMISTS

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001125

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD; NEA/RA; INR/R/MR; PA; INR/NESA; INR/B;
RRU-NEA
IIP/G/NEA-SA
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE; NSC
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD
LONDON FOR ERELI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: INTER-PALESTINIAN DIFFERENCES BLAIR
ISLAMISTS


1. SUMMARY: A KUWAITI INTELLECTUAL STRONGLY ATTACKS FUNDAMENTALIST
ISLAMISTS AND URGES THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL TO PUT THEM ON TRIAL AS
WAR CRIMINALS. ANOTHER COLUMNIST CRITICIZES THE QUARTET DECISION TO
APPOINT TONY BLAIR AS MIDDLE EAST ENVOY, DESCRIBING HIM AS THE WRONG
MAN IN THE WRONG PLACE. "AL-KHALEEJ" EDITORIAL DESCRIBES A DECISION
BY THE GOVERNMENT OF SALAM FAYYAD TO STOP THE SALARIES OF ABOUT 23
THOUSAND PALESTINIANS IN THE WEST BANK AND GAZA, AS IT AMOUNTS TO
INDIRECT COMPLICITY WITH ISRAEL AND AMERICA TO STARVE THE
PALESTINIANS. INNOCENT PALESTINIANS THEN PAY THE PRICE. END.


2. UNDER THE HEADLINE "IS IT EMBARRASSMENT OR FEAR?" A KUWAITI
INTELLECTUAL WRITING IN "AL-ITTIHAD" (CIRCULATION 65,000),DR. AHMAD
BAGHDADI, WROTE IN HIS WEEKLY COLUMN:
"THEY DEMAND AN ISLAMIC STATE FOR WHICH THEY WOULD KILL INNOCENT
PEOPLE AND WHEN THEY HAVE IT, THEY END UP HAVING A FRAGILE STATE
WITHOUT ANY FOUNDATIONS. THE REASON THESE CRIMINALS PUT ON MASKS,
WHEN THEY SHAMELESSLY TALK ABOUT JIHAD, IS SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY DO
NOT RESPECT ANY RELIGION. THIS IS EVIDENT WHEN THEY KIDNAP PEOPLE
AND KILL THEM WITH BOOBY-TRAPPED CARS. HIDING BEHIND THESE MASKS,
MASS KILLINGS AND ROBBERY HAVE WIDELY EXISTED ONLY BY THESE
FACTIONS. IT IS A MISTAKE TO LET SUCH CRIMINALS DECIDE THE DESTINY
OF PEOPLE ACCORDING TO THEIR SATANIC DESIRES. IT IS THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER LEADERS OF
GROUPS SUCH AS MUSLIM BRETHREN, SALAFIS AND OTHERS AS WAR CRIMINALS
AND PUT THEM ON TRIAL.

3. UNDER THE HEADLINE "MAKING THEM STRIVE TWICE", SHARJAH-BASED
ARABIC DAILY "AL-KHALEEJ" (CIRCULATION 95,000):
"IF THE EMERGENCY GOVERNMENT OF SALAM FAYYAD WILL NOT PAY SALARIES
TO 23 THOUSAND PALESTINIAN STATE SERVANTS IN THE WEST BANK AND GAZA
BECAUSE THEY BELONG TO HAMAS AND THAT THEIR APPOINTMENT WAS ILLEGAL,
THE GOVERNMENT IS ENGAGING IN A CAMPAIGN TO BLOCKADE AND STARVE THE
STRIP.... IF THIS IS TRUE, IT MEANS THE PALESTINIAN OFFICIAL
GOVERNMENT DOES NOT CONSIDER GAZAI AS PART OF ITS RESPONSIBILITY,
BUILDING HIGH WALLS OF HATRED WITH ITS PEOPLE INSTEAD OF
ESTABLISHING BRIDGES OF LOVE AND BROTHERHOOD. IN MAKING THE GAZA
STRIP STARVE IN COMPLICITY WITH THE AMERICANS AND ISRAELIS, THE POOR
PALESTINIANS WILL PAY THE PRICE.

4. UNDER THE HEADLINE "THE OPTION OF THE QUARTET", JAFAR MOHAMMAD
AHMAD WROTE IN "AL-KHALEEJ":
"THE APPOINTMENT OF TONY BLAIR AS THE QUARTET ENVOY IS CONTROVERSIAL
JUST LIKE THE PERSONALITY OF BLAIR HIMSELF. HIS MISSION WILL ALSO
BE CONTROVERSIAL AND SUBJECT TO DOUBTS AND CRITICISM. THE WAR IN
IRAQ WAS AND WILL REMAIN A BAD SPOT ON HIS RECORDS AND MAY LEAD HIM
ONE DAY TO STAND BEFORE THE CRIMINAL TRIBUNAL COURT, IF THE EFFORTS
OF THE LEGAL LOBBY GROUPS THAT OPPOSED THE WAR IN IRAQ SUCCEED.
BLAIR IS NOW FACING A DIFFICULT MISSION FOLLOWING THE WRONG DECISION
BY THE QUARTET, WHO PLACED HIM IN THE WRONG PLACE."
SISON