Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BEIRUT441
2009-04-16 10:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:
Lebanon: Media Reaction - April 16, 2009
how-toO 161009Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4690 NSC WASHDC PRIORITY ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA PRIORITY
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
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