OMAN MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 000626

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: While the state daily "Oman" praised U.S. efforts
toward Israeli-Palestinian peace, private daily "Al-Watan" accused
the American administration of a week stand on the issue, decrying a
lack of firmness toward Israel. "Al-Watan" also suggested that the
Israeli Prime Minister's proposals came at the wrong time at the end
of his presidency, rendering any talk or meeting with him useless.
END SUMMARY

-------------- --
SECRETARY "DEDICATED" TO THE TWO-STATE SOLUTION
-------------- --


2. On August 26, "Oman" (government-owned Arabic daily, circulation
38,000) hailed positive U.S. efforts, as represented by the
Secretary of State's visits to the region, in resolving the
Palestinian-Israeli issue, "Trials to Solve Real Obstacles":

"The visit by American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the
region - the seventh to the Middle East since the Annapolis
Conference for Peace in Washington - makes her the American foreign
minister that has most visited the area, as well as the one most
dedicated in time and effort to trying to reach a
Palestinian-Israeli agreement, one that maintains what U.S.
President Bush has promised: the establishment of a viable
Palestinian state that continues to live side by side with Israel.
Taking into consideration Rice's statements about the
Palestinian-Israeli negotiations and the possibility of reaching an
agreement before end of Bush presidency, it seems the situation is
moving towards greater relaxation in one way or another. The
deliberately high tone used by Secretary Rice in her statements
against Israeli abuses in the occupied Palestinian territories,
which included criticizing Israeli programs to expand settlements,
is merely a mechanism to shake and move forward negotiations that
are scheduled to result in an agreement to establish a Palestinian
state by next January. However, it appears that Israel intends to
swim in the opposite direction - one that does not match the goals
set by Washington."

--------------
A "WEAK" AMERICAN ROLE
--------------


3. Private Arabic daily "Al Watan" (circulation 42,000) On August 28
accused America of a weak and disappointing role regarding the
Palestinian-Israeli issue, suggesting that the U.S. has not put
enough pressure on Israel, saying "The Issue is Easy, but the Will
is Absent":

"The description given by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
regarding the establishment of a Palestinian state - that it is "not
easy" does not indicate a real solution to the issue. This comes
despite ongoing Palestinian-Israeli negotiations to reach genuine
peace between the two sides, eventually leading to the establishment
of a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel (as U.S.
officials have repeated constantly) and putting an end to all the
complications arising from the Arab-Israeli conflict. Her words
raise frustration rather than optimism, because the American
administration knows that the Israeli side is the problem, one that
often places obstacles and invents arguments to break all their
commitments. This description also reveals a weak American role, not
an active and influential one. Their role is limited to encouraging
the Palestinian and Israeli sides to conduct negotiations only and
to exclude any neutral third party from attending the negotiations,
which could contribute to building confidence and pushing the
parties to engage in discussing core issues: borders, refugees, and
Jerusalem. If there was a real desire and solid will by the U.S.
administration to move forward to achieve its proposed initiatives,
conferences, and road map, given the ability to pressure its ally
Israel, it would have been different today, and the atmosphere of
optimism and confidence in the skies of the Palestinian territories
would have prevailed".

--------------
OLMERT'S PEACE "A GIFT HE DOES NOT HAVE"
--------------


4. "Al-Watan" on September 1, expressed hopelessness regarding any
Israeli effort carried out while the Israeli Prime Minister is
leaving office, "Olmert's Proposals Logic in Wrong Time":

"Israeli leaders are fond of talking about peace, negotiations, and
plans of permanent solutions when they near the end of their
political careers. Everyone knows that Olmert does not have any
authority to talk on behalf of Israel; hence his meeting with the
Palestinian president has no meaning - nor do his proposals,
regardless of their logic. Olmert's talk about plans of permanent

MUSCAT 00000626 002 OF 002


solutions and his readiness to provide a time frame to end
negotiations is like presenting a gift that he does not have. He
should prepare to leave his office calmly, without turning his
political opponents against him, because they will not approve any
such proposals on their own behalf. The only thing that Israel can
do even during political crisis is to continue its violence against
the Palestinians."

GRAPPO