Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BEIRUT95
2009-01-23 09:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:
Lebanon: Media Reaction - January 23, 2009
how-toO 230952Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4049 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 000095
STATE FOR NEA/ELA - LAWSON, NEA/ELA - IRWIN, NEA/PPD, R,
INR/R/MR, INR-PARENT,
NSC - MCDERMOTT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PREL KMDR OPRC KPAO KISL KPAL LE
SUBJECT: Lebanon: Media Reaction - January 23, 2009
Atmospherics:
--------------
President Obama's decisions and activities continue to be given top
billing in the Lebanese press. Several media outlets tried to
interpret President Obama's intentions for the Middle East,
Afghanistan, and Iraq by trying to understand the background of his
diplomatic appointees to the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Editorialists seemed to believe that President Obama will give
priority to the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians,
and will move war from Iraq to Afghanistan. Some newspapers sounded
disappointed with his position on Hamas, but also noted with
satisfaction that he already signed an Executive Order to close
Guantanamo, "the prison of shame," and observed that he tried to
create a balance between Israel's right to security and the
Palestinians' right to hope for a bright future.
Selected Headlines
--------------
"Farewell Guantanamo" pro-opposition Al-Akhbar
"Obama Continues the Israeli War against the Palestinian People"
Arab nationalist As-Safir
"Obama Appoints the Diplomatic Envoys for the Middle East and
Afghanistan; He Calls for Hamas to Recognize Israel and Expresses
his Sympathy with the Palestinians; Mitchell to the Region Soon and
Guantanamo to be Closed within a Year" Mainstream Sunni Al-Liwa'
"Do Not Enter: The Prison of Shame Has Been Closed" Independent
Al-Balad
Block Quotes:
--------------
"Phone Diplomacy," an editorial by Sateh Noureddine in Arab
nationalist As-Safir (1/23):
"...The new American President Barak Obama did his first four
telephone calls from the White House to four Middle Eastern leaders:
Israeli Prime Minister Olmert, Egyptian President Mubarak; Jordanian
King Abdallah, and the Palestinian President Abbas. The White House
did not announce a lot of details about these calls. ...Many
speculated about these phone calls: Were they the first thing Obama
did on the first day of his presidency? Was he trying to fulfill his
promises during the Israeli aggression on Gaza when he said that he
will give the Gaza issue the attention it deserves when he assumes
his responsibilities as president? ...In any case, his choosing
these four leaders specifically...was certainly intentional. ...It
is an indication that the United States will give priority to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. ...Furthermore, President Obama's
call to President Abbas gave him additional international legitimacy
particularly since he will be given the funds to rebuild Gaza
instead of Hamas..."
Sison
STATE FOR NEA/ELA - LAWSON, NEA/ELA - IRWIN, NEA/PPD, R,
INR/R/MR, INR-PARENT,
NSC - MCDERMOTT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PREL KMDR OPRC KPAO KISL KPAL LE
SUBJECT: Lebanon: Media Reaction - January 23, 2009
Atmospherics:
--------------
President Obama's decisions and activities continue to be given top
billing in the Lebanese press. Several media outlets tried to
interpret President Obama's intentions for the Middle East,
Afghanistan, and Iraq by trying to understand the background of his
diplomatic appointees to the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Editorialists seemed to believe that President Obama will give
priority to the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians,
and will move war from Iraq to Afghanistan. Some newspapers sounded
disappointed with his position on Hamas, but also noted with
satisfaction that he already signed an Executive Order to close
Guantanamo, "the prison of shame," and observed that he tried to
create a balance between Israel's right to security and the
Palestinians' right to hope for a bright future.
Selected Headlines
--------------
"Farewell Guantanamo" pro-opposition Al-Akhbar
"Obama Continues the Israeli War against the Palestinian People"
Arab nationalist As-Safir
"Obama Appoints the Diplomatic Envoys for the Middle East and
Afghanistan; He Calls for Hamas to Recognize Israel and Expresses
his Sympathy with the Palestinians; Mitchell to the Region Soon and
Guantanamo to be Closed within a Year" Mainstream Sunni Al-Liwa'
"Do Not Enter: The Prison of Shame Has Been Closed" Independent
Al-Balad
Block Quotes:
--------------
"Phone Diplomacy," an editorial by Sateh Noureddine in Arab
nationalist As-Safir (1/23):
"...The new American President Barak Obama did his first four
telephone calls from the White House to four Middle Eastern leaders:
Israeli Prime Minister Olmert, Egyptian President Mubarak; Jordanian
King Abdallah, and the Palestinian President Abbas. The White House
did not announce a lot of details about these calls. ...Many
speculated about these phone calls: Were they the first thing Obama
did on the first day of his presidency? Was he trying to fulfill his
promises during the Israeli aggression on Gaza when he said that he
will give the Gaza issue the attention it deserves when he assumes
his responsibilities as president? ...In any case, his choosing
these four leaders specifically...was certainly intentional. ...It
is an indication that the United States will give priority to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. ...Furthermore, President Obama's
call to President Abbas gave him additional international legitimacy
particularly since he will be given the funds to rebuild Gaza
instead of Hamas..."
Sison