MEDIA REACTION: PALESTINIAN UNITY GOVERNMENT/IRAQ

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000475 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: IIP KMDR TC SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: PALESTINIAN UNITY GOVERNMENT/IRAQ ¶1. SUMMARY: The editorial in "Al-Khaleej" considers American-Israeli refusal to recognize or deal with the Palestinian national unit government as a confirmation of their joint resentment of peace for the Palestinians. It urges Arabs to demand the lifting of sanctions imposed on Palestinians. The editorial in "Al-Bayan" wondered why the entire world, except for the U.S. and Israel, welcomed the birth of the new Palestinian government. It concluded that the ball remains in America's court and that it is time for the U.S. to show its seriousness in dealing with the Palestinians. A UAE female columnist in "Al-Bayan" notes that with demonstrations commemorating the 4th anniversary of the war in Iraq, only the Arabs seem unconcerned with the American plot that has devastated their countries and communities. ¶2. Under the headline "For once only", Sharjah-based Arabic daily "Al-Khaleej" (circulation 90,000) editorialized on 03/19: "The reaction of Israel and the U.S. to the Palestinian national unity government and their refusal to recognize or deal with it and the continuation their siege of the Palestinian people confirms the extent of their resentment to peace and to free and democratic options for the Palestinian people. Perhaps Israel and the United States want the Palestinian government to declare its full recognition of the occupation, abandon the right of resistance, self-destiny and the right of return and the establishment of an independent state. In other words, they want the Palestinians to first fully surrender and raise the white flag, and only then can they discuss what should be sent as humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people... While the Arab countries are preparing for their next summit in Riyadh, they need to decide to lift the siege on the Palestinian people, for once confirming their will against Israel and the United States." ¶3. The 03/19 editorial in Dubai-based Arabic daily "Al-Bayan," (circulation 85,000) read: "The general worldwide reaction was to welcome the birth of the new Palestinian government and have confidence in the Legislative Council. However, the usual joint American-Israeli reaction remained in the gutter. The entire world expressed its satisfaction, albeit with some variance. For example, Norway's reaction was excellent; it immediately rushed to announce the return of full normalized relations with the national unity government. It did not set any conditions, nor did it show any ambiguity or obscurity. Surprisingly, the American position always replicates the Israeli position... The ball remains in America's court. It is time now for America to show how serious it is in dealing with the Palestinian issue in order to move the political process towards the desired end." ¶4. A UAE female columnist, Aisha Ibrahim Sultan, wrote a 03/19 op-ed in Dubai-based Arabic daily "Al-Bayan," (circulation 85,000): "Amid all the demonstrations that took place against the American occupation of Iraq, commemorating its 4th year, no one in the Arab World objected to the killers. Among all these demonstrations, only the Arabs stood unconcerned with the misery which the American plot has afflicted upon their countries and communities leading them to an unknown future." SISON