KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - IRAN, LEBANON, AND PALESTINE

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000942 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, NEA/PI, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA, B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA LONDON FOR TSOU PARIS FOR ZEYA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO XF KU MEDIA REACTION SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - IRAN, LEBANON, AND PALESTINE Block Quotes -------------- Tuesday, June 19, 2007 -- Under the title "The International Tribunal Under Chapter Seven" liberal Yacoub Al-Awadi inquired in moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai (06/19): "After the statements made by the Iranian Foreign Minister that Hezbollah will be disarmed in exchange for cancellation of the international Harari tribunal, one questions the value of Hezbollah's resistance if its biggest supporter makes such remarks. Does the minister's statement mean we will learn fresh secrets about the role of Iran in Lebanon?" -- Under the title "American-Iranian Talks: Who Benefits?" moderate Nawaf Mnaif observed in pro-government Arabic daily Al-Seyassah (06/19): "The talks that the United States entered into with Iran is a public recognition of the Iranian role in Iraq. My fear is that these direct bilateral talks will develop into a public American recognition of a greater regional role for Iran." -- Liberal Dr. Shamlan Al-Issa editorialized in conservative Arabic daily Al-Watan under the title "The Future of the Palestinian Conflict" (06/19): "We see that moderates in the Arab World are beginning to lose their popularity in Iraq and Palestine and perhaps Lebanon. Tomorrow requires strong Arab support for Lebanon before it falls." -- Conservative Khaled Al-Qahs penned in conservative Arabic daily Al-Watan under the title "This Is Hamas's Destiny" (06/19): "Hamas, this is your destiny. Everyone will gather against you. Hamas is the pride and dignity that brightens the Arab skies. It is the factory of men, at a time when men are scarce. Hamas not only injures Israel, but it injures us Arabs as well. For it reminds us of our powerlessness and humiliation. Let America and Israel rid us of this pain by eliminating Hamas, the sole hurdle in finalizing the process of selling Palestine that began in 1948." ********************************************* * For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ********************************************* * LEBARON