Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ABUDHABI1944
2007-11-29 08:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: ANNAPOLIS (1)

Tags:  OIIP KMDR TC 
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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0125
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 001944 

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 SREEBNY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: ANNAPOLIS (1)


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 001944

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 SREEBNY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: ANNAPOLIS (1)



1. SUMMARY: A Lebanese columnist in "Al-Khaleej" writes that wars
have historically been waged under the umbrella of peace slogans and
that Annapolis' real objective is to pave the way for wars in Iran,
Syria, Lebanon and Gaza. A Jordanian columnist in "Al-Khaleej"
opines that Arab participation in Annapolis is risky as the outcome
is most likely futile. A Palestinian columnist in "Al-Bayan"
wonders why Arab ministers rushed to participate in Annapolis,
rather than wait for the U.S. to respond to Syria's call to put the
Golan Heights on the agenda. The editorial in "Al-Bayan" believes
that Israel expects Annapolis to be an opportunity to normalize
relations with the Arab world. A columnist in "Al-Khaleej" wonders
what the follow-up to Annapolis will be (and whether the conference
has worth without same),and suggests that the conference may be
only a forum for the West to press Arabs for concessions at a
sensitive moment. The editorial in "Al-Khaleej" describes the
Annapolis conference as a political carnival where all participants
know that the President will not keep his promises, because he
canont pressure Israel and neither he nor Israel seriously wants
results or peace. End Summary.



2. Under the headline "Jordanian fears", a Lebanese columnist, Saad
Mehio, wrote 11/26 in his op-ed in "Al-Khaleej" (circulation
90,000):

"The Jordanian King fears the ignition of a new Palestinian civil
war that could lead to an intensive migration of Palestinians to
Jordan, and thus revive the idea of an alternative Palestinian
state. Are these Jordanian fears legitimate? Definitely yes.
Annapolis will certainly fail to achieve Palestinian-Israeli peace,
but who said this was the real objective anyway? Khaled Mashaal was
right when he recently said that the real purpose of Annapolis is to
prepare for wars of domination in Iran, Syria, Lebanon and Gaza.
After all, most wars in history have been waged under the umbrella
of peace slogans!"



3. Under the headline "Annapolis opportunities and caveats?" a
Jordanian columnist, Mahmood Al-Remawi, wrote 11/26 op-ed in
"Al-Khaleej" (circulation 90,000):


"Nobody will be surprised if Annapolis produces a futile outcome; in
fact, it will be surprising if it produces a significant one. If
the outcome is useless, the participating Palestinian and Arab
parties should blame themselves; they had the choice from the start
not to respond to a vague occasion..."

"Nevertheless, Arab participation happened and can be described only
as risky. It was not associated with successful performance...
[i.e. conditions that would establish two options:] on the one hand,
failure, the blame for which would belong to Israel and America; on
the other hand, the possibility of having the conference produce a
meaningful outcome and guarantee continuing the political process
within a short timeframe, through clear mechanisms that would be
abided by.



4. Under the headline "Arabs and Annapolis?" a Palestinian
columnist, Ahmed Omarabi, wrote 11/26 in his op-ed in Dubai-based
Arabic daily "Al-Bayan" (circulation 85,000):

"The Arab ministers sent a request from Syria to Washington to
include the Golan Heights issue on the Annapolis agenda. The Syrian
Foreign Minister said that if Washington's response was positive,
Syria would participate in the conference. But the question that
needs to be raised is: Wouldn't it have been wiser for the Arab
ministers to wait for the American response before deciding to
participate in the conference?"



5. Under the headline "Far from a message of reassurance and a
follow-up committee", the 11/26 editorial in Dubai-based Arabic
daily "Al-Bayan" (circulation 85,000) read:

"The number of conferences has become countless yet their outcomes
on the ground grow worse and worse: the settlement expansion; the
wall extension; the intensification of the blockade. We are
witnessing more incursions, more assassinations and more of these

ABU DHABI 00001944 002 OF 002


suffocating policies of "barriers". This is why Arab and
Palestinian doubts are in place. Israel wants Annapolis only as an
opportunity to normalize [relations with Arabs]. Israeli media and
officials spoke openly about that; [in fact] what solidified [Arab]
doubts was that Israel was too manipulative and strong-headed at the
outset of Annapolis."



6. Under the headline "What comes after Annapolis?" a columnist,
Jaafar Mohammed Ahmed, wrote 11/27 in his op-ed in "Al-Khaleej":

"Peace is an Arab option. Arab solidarity in going to Annapolis
requires a more important unanimity: unifying visions and positions
for achieving peace and security in the region, and rejecting any
further concessions regardless of pressure applied by Western powers
seeking to gain more concessions at this very sensitive and critical
stage. Annapolis comes at a time where Bush is looking desperately
abroad for any victory to cover his failures in Afghanistan and
Iraq, to incur gains to the Republican Party, and to accomplish his
goals before the end of his term. At last, the fuss about convening
this conference has ended today as it marks its start; regardless of
how futile the outcome will be, the important question that jumps to
mind is this: What comes after Annapolis?"



7. Under the headline "Annapolis carnival?" the editorial in
Sharjah-based Arabic daily "Al-Khaleej" 11/27 read:

"The greatest obstacle to the establishment of a Palestinian state
is that Israel refuses to return to the borders of 1967, still
clings to its settlements in the West Bank, works to Judaize the
city of Jerusalem, continues building the wall that divides
Palestinian territories, and does not recognize the right of return
of the Palestinian refugees nor the UN sponsored resolutions. Bush
knows all these factors will not allow him to fulfill his promise,
as he is no longer now in a position to compel Israel to submit to
what he wants. Annapolis looks more like a political carnival where
the Palestinian cause and its participants are presented in
caricature; [they are convinced] that the American President will
not seriously abide by his obligations because he cannot and because
he does not want them converted into reality. Israel, at the same
time, does not seriously want to achieve peace because it believes
that balance of power is the only way to impose [its will on
others]. What we are afraid of, is that the United States along
with Israel will try to exploit the [weak] Arab situation and
squander [ignore/brush aside] the Palestinians."

SISON