OMAN MEDIA REACTION: ISRAELI CHALLENGE TO PEACE IN THE

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000404

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, NEA/PI, AND INR/R/MR
LONDON FOR TSOU
PARIS FOR ZEYA
FOREIGN PRESS CENTER FOR SILAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KPAO KMDR MU
SUBJECT: OMAN MEDIA REACTION: ISRAELI CHALLENGE TO PEACE IN THE
MIDDLE MEAST


1. SUMMARY: Commentaries this week focused on the scandal
surrounding Israeli Prime Minister Olmert, presenting it as a
diversion, likely intentionally created, to stall peace talks and
progress on a Golan deal. State Arabic daily "Oman" called on
Israel to initiate a prisoner exchange with Hamas and Hezbollah as a
hopeful overture to normalize their relations. END SUMMARY.

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New Mechanisms to Equivocate
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2. On June 2, private Arabic daily "Al-Watan" (circulation 42,000)
claimed the Olmert bribery scandal is a wag-the-dog strategy to end
negotiations for leaving the Golan Heights. But, the article notes,
not even a scandal of this nature can derail Israel's settlement
expansion. According to "Israel between the Stage of Negotiation
and Continuation of Judaization":

"Israeli polices become clear every time they enter a new phase of
negotiations for peace in the Middle East. When pressured to sit at
the negotiating table, they invent new mechanisms to equivocate.
With the onset of negotiations with Syria on the Israeli withdrawal
from Golan, we see political tension erupt in Israel over Prime
Minister Olmert. He has the authority to negotiate the final
solution, but can no longer do so because of his bribery scandal.
It is so obvious that his partners are trying to replace him because
he started to negotiate for sacrifices in Golan."

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The "Olmert Spiral"
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3. Government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" (circulation 38,000)
commented on May 31 that the scandals surrounding Olmert will
prevent any substantial peace progress. "Olmert Spiral ... Does it
Defer all Dues?" said:

"After President George Bush's visit for the 60th anniversary of
Israel and his unprecedented pledges of support, the question now
is:: what would make Olmert and his government work towards peace to
make way for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state?
If this were to happen, there will be a vital strategic shift in the
region, and it would open the way for great opportunities for its
people. However, there are forces in Israel that do not want peace
and do not want to recognize Palestinian rights. In this light, we
find ourselves facing a new downward spiral in Israeli policy,
possibly termed the "Olmert spiral", in which peace talks are
suspended because Israel is busy with Olmert issues. This spiral
will stop any Israeli movement towards peace or negotiations with
the Palestinians."

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Prisoner Exchange to Ease Tension
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4. On May 28, "Oman" called on Israel to use the opportunity of
prisoner exchanges to possibly normalize relations with Hamas and
Hezbollah, asking "Will Israel Respond to the Pacification Efforts
in Gaza?":

"Hopefully, the potential exchange of prisoners of war between
Israel and Hezbollah and Hamas will open the way for opportunities
to calm the situation in the region. This exchange would be a step
in the right direction for releasing large numbers of Palestinian
and Lebanese prisoners in return for the release of the Israeli
soldiers who were kidnapped in mid-2006. But, if Israel continues
its aggressive practices, it will miss this opportunity to ease the
tension with Hamas, leading to further confrontations."
GRAPPO