Special Media Reaction Report: Events in Gaza January 7,

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 000025

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR PA, NEA/ELA, INR/IC/CD, INR/R/MR VOA NEWS CA,
NEA/PPD, IIP/G/NEA-SA MRUSSELL
WHITE HOUSE FOR NSC
CENTCOM FOR CCPA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY
SUBJECT: Special Media Reaction Report: Events in Gaza January 7,
2009


1. Sarkozy's Visit: All Syrian papers dedicated banner headlines to
French President Sarkozy's meeting with President Asad and drew
extensively from the SANA press release for the substance of their
reporting.
While the Syrian press focused on President Assad's call for an
immediate end to Israel's "barbaric aggression," and Syria's vision
for a solution, the regional media and international wires focused
on Sarkozy urging Assad to exert pressure on Hamas in order to
listen to "the voice of reason and opt for reconciliation and
peace."
"Pressure should be exerted on all parties involved, including
Hamas, in order for the guns to fall silent and peace to return,"
Sarkozy said. "President Bashar Asad can play a major role in this.
Syria must help us to convince Hamas to choose the voice of reason
and peace." The regional media noted that Asad did not respond to
Sarkozy's request, instead Asad said that the Israeli offensive in
Gaza "must halt."
After the talks, President Asad and President Sarkozy held a joint
press conference, where President Asad condemned continuing Israeli
incursion citing the heaving casualties among Palestinian civilians.
President Sarkozy sought to push Syria into playing a more
constructive role:
"Syria can offer full contribution. Syria had already indicated that
when it started indirect negotiations with Israel through the
Turkish mediation. France, Turkey and Syria work on the same point
and determination. We know you want peace, and Syria indicated that
it works for peace as shown in Doha Agreement."
UN Security Council Resolution:
All Syrian papers reported that the UN Security Council Ministerial
convened yesterday to debate an Arab resolution on Gaza. Coverage
featured U.S. Ambassador to the UN Zalamai Khalilzad's statement in
which he described a UN resolution imposing an immediate ceasefire
in Gaza as "mere illusions." There was no additional coverage of
the U.S. role or that of other Arab countries.
Israel's shelling of UNRWA Schools:
Papers condemned Israeli forces' shelling of Palestinian civilians
in three UNRWA schools in the Gaza Strip that resulted in the
killing of 50 Palestinians. Independent al-Watan quoted UNSYG Ban
Ki Moon who described it "as unacceptable to all," saying that he
warned Israeli authorities that these schools were used as shelters
for homeless Palestinians." Al-Watan claimed that this massacre
prompted a change in the U.S. position, mis-quoting State Department
Spokesman as saying that "Washington seeks an immediate and
sustainable ceasefire in Gaza...rather than a temporary and limited
ceasefire."
HAMAS:
While Syrian papers completely ignored the visit to Cairo by a high
ranking Hamas delegation to discuss a new ceasefire initiative in
Gaza, regional papers focused on this story. Al Hayat reported that
the Head of the Egyptian Intelligence Omar Suleiman told the Hamas
delegation to recalibrate its demands to end the violence in Gaza.
Syrian papers did, however, report on Khaled Mashaal's meeting in
Damascus with a Jordanian "popular" delegation who came to express
solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Al-Watan also reported that while Venezuela expelled the Israeli
Ambassador to Caracas, Egypt continued to prohibit Arab and European
medical teams from using the Rafah crossing to deliver food and
medicine to Gaza.

Obama's Reaction:

All papers reported carried U.S. President-elect Obama's statement
in which he expressed concern over the mounting civilian casualties
and that he would adhere to his campaign promise of engaging on the
Middle East Peace Process.
Selected Editorial:
"Choices between Death and Resistance"
Samira Masalmeh, Chief Editor of government-owned Tishreen,
commented (1/7): "What is required from the Palestinian resistance
fighters after this bloodshed? Are they required to stop defending
their land and people and surrender their arms to Israelis? What
options are left to them?
"Do they have to choose between slow death from starvation and
siege, and quick death from the Israeli holocaust?
"It seems that they have opted to die with dignity amid the silence
of those who have no dignity..."
CONNELLY