OMAN MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000558

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, NEA/PI, INR/R/MR, NEA/SA/EX/PMO
LONDON FOR NEA WATCHER
PARIS FOR NEA WATCHER
FOREIGN PRESS CENTER FOR NEA WATCHER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KPAO KMDR MU
SUBJECT: OMAN MEDIA REACTION


1. SUMMARY: Editorials and commentaries in Oman's dailies focused
on the negative effect of Israeli Prime Minister Olmert's
resignation and the U.S. elections on the peace process, and on
violence between Palestinian groups. Articles in private daily "Al
Watan" called Israel's negotiations with Palestinians a "public
relations stunt" and commented that Hammas and Fatah infighting
allows Israel to not deliver on its obligations. Government daily
"Oman" accused Israel of undermining peace efforts with Iran through
recent statements. END SUMMARY

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"Israel is Trying to Stop Any Dialogue"
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2. On August 3, government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" (circulation
38,000) accused Israel of attempts to undermine progress on the
Iranian nuclear issue. According to "Renouncing Violence to Further
Peaceful Dialogue":

"The U.S. and EU eased their stance on the Iranian nuclear issue by
giving diplomacy another chance. Iran claims it is ready for
further dialogue, if such initiatives can lead to peaceful
engagement on disputes. Whenever parties take the high road,
though, Israel arrives to escalate the confrontation. Before the
deadline for Iran's response (to the P5 + 1 proposal),the Israeli
Prime Minister declared that Iran is in the process of achieving
substantial progress in its nuclear program and that Iran will be
able to produce uranium for military purposes in 2010. It is clear
that Israel is trying to stop any dialogue that will lead to a
peaceful settlement in the region. Israel persistently refuses to
sign agreements that prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. It
rejected cooperation with the IAEA, and it refuses to allow any
party to inspect its nuclear facilities. And, perhaps the world
remembers how Israel instigated AMERICA to invade Iraq by claiming
that Iraq possessed nuclear weapons, accusations proved wrong after
five years."

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The U.S.-Israel "Public Relations Stunt"
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3. On August 1, private Arabic daily "Al Watan" (circulation
42,000) said that Prime Minister Olmert's resignation and the U.S.
elections will sabotage the Middle East peace process. "Israel: a
Well of Never Ending Challenges" said:

"Given the resignation of the Israeli Prime Minister and the coming
changes to the American administration, it is difficult to believe
America's declaration that it will continue work towards a peace
agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians. This is a
repetitive scenario, one in which Israel renounces their obligations
towards the peace process. Israel's propaganda claiming to move on
with the peace process has been exposed as lies by the continued
violence against the Palestinian people. These meetings organized
by the United States give the impression that peace negotiations
between Palestinians and Israelis are just another public relations
stunt."

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"Israel Needs No Additional Excuses"
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4. On August 4, "Al Watan" condemned inter-Palestinian violence,
saying Israel now has justification to not deliver on its
obligations to further peace efforts. According to "Palestinian
Factions and the Self Destruction Dilemma":

"Confrontation erupted in the wake of a mysterious explosion in the
Gaza Strip. Efforts after the blast should have been devoted to
catching the perpetrators instead of igniting armed conflicts, which
have resulted in scores of victims, including women and children.
Israel needs no additional excuses to avoid delivering on its
obligations to the Palestinians. Israel has withdrawn from
commitments to release prisoners of war and they have begun planning
for more settlements. All this means that Palestinians now have to
face internal clashes along with Israeli threats to eat more of
their lands and divide them with walls of isolation and racism."

GRAPPO