Lebanon: Media Reaction - April 16, 2009

UNCLAS BEIRUT 000441 STATE FOR NEA/ELA - LAWSON, NEA/ELA - IRWIN, NEA/PPD, R, INR/R/MR, INR,NSC - SHAPIRO, MCDERMOTT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF PREL KMDR OPRC KPAO KISL KPAL SUBJECT: Lebanon: Media Reaction - April 16, 2009 Atmospherics: -------------- The press continued to give top billing to the Army's efforts to arrest the criminals who attacked the Army Patrol killing four soldiers. The press also continued to highlight the "growing" conflict between Egypt and Hizballah. Imprisoned General Jamil El-Sayyed wrote about this conflict, noting that a similar incident took place between Hizballah and Jordan a few years ago, but it was resolved by the late Rafiq Hariri and was kept out of the media. Several editorialists seemed to have met with a senior French diplomatic source who said that France will not change its policy towards Lebanon if the opposition wins the parliamentary majority, and will continue to provide the Lebanese Army with training and weapons. Selected Headlines -------------- "The Largest Army Campaign in Baalbeck and Minister El-Murr Confirms that the Army Will Not Step Back" Moderate, anti-Syrian An-Nahar (4/16) "Lebanese Army Rounds Up 69 Suspects in Bekaa Raids" English-language The Daily Star (4/16) Block Quotes: -------------- "Diplomatic Circles Confirm that Obama is Bothered By The Israeli Adamant Position on the Arabs" an editorial by Khalil Flayhan in moderate, anti-Syrian An-Nahar (4/16): "Information by several sources noted that the United States and the European Union are inclined to deal in a tough manner with Israel if its government continues to refuse to settle its conflict with the Arabs on the basis of the two-states solution. ...Western Diplomatic sources reported that President Obama is 'bothered' by the adamant position which is taken by the Israeli Government which is rejecting negotiations with Arab governments. ...It is believed that President Obama will not allow the Netanyahu Government to get away with its positions, particularly if he finds out after meeting Netanyahu at the White House next month that he is sticking to the positions that were announced by his Foreign Minister. ...Sources believe that Obama's friends from the Jewish Lobby advised him not to be hasty and to give some time to Netanyahu to review Israeli policy towards the Arabs..." "A Senior French Diplomat: Paris' Assistance to Lebanon Will Not Be Affected by the Results of the Elections," an editorial by Marlene Khalifeh in Arab nationalist As-Safir (4/16): "Lebanon will be receiving in the coming few weeks several French Ministers. ...Paris is watching closely the ongoing preparations for the election process. It has already participated with 6 million Euros which will be spent on several activities that have to do with elections. ...A senior French diplomat answered a question about the French position if the opposition wins in the upcoming elections. He said that 'Hizballah is part of the opposition and not the whole opposition. The relationship between France and Lebanon is a relationship between two countries and will continue to be that way. It will not change. ...Paris will implement the commitments it took upon itself during the Paris III Confernce.' ...On providing the Lebanese Army with weaons he noted that France will continue its training for the Army ...and will continue to provide it with weapons..." Sison