OMAN MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000311 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: Commentaries in this week's Omani dailies hammered the new Israeli government. Private Arabic-language "Al Watan" said that Israel's new administration will undercut the peace message in President Obama's Turkey speech. Later in the week, "Al Watan" denounced Israel for disregarding agreements from Annapolis, and the lack of any mention of a Palestinian state. On April 8, government daily "Oman" commended President Obama's cooperative economic approach at the G20 meeting. END SUMMARY. -------------- "PEACE IS NOT ITS GOAL" -------------- ¶2. In a reaction on April 7 to President Obama's speech in Turkey, private Arabic daily "Al Watan" (circulation 42,000) commented that Israel's right-wing government will prevent any negotiations towards a two-state solution, proving that Israel is not working for peace. According to "Seeking Real Peace on Earth, Not on Paper": "President Obama's speech at the Turkish parliament declared that the road map and the Annapolis conference lead to peace in the region. He stressed that his country firmly supports the establishment of two states, Israel and Palestine. These statements are not new in Washington's political arena. The Israeli extreme right-wing government has made it clear that it does not recognize any resolution from Annapolis launching bilateral negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis. Israel yet again proves that peace is not its goal." -------------- "AVOIDING ITS COMMITMENTS TO PEACE" -------------- ¶3. "Al Watan" on April 13 attacked Israel's new government for abandoning agreements at Annapolis, questioning its intentions towards peace. According to "A New Round of Israeli Maneuvers": "Israel is again avoiding its commitments to peace. Netanyahu made no mentioning of a Palestinian state in his call to the Palestinian leader. Two of his ministers stressed that the Annapolis agreements were not binding on Israel, and that their ministries are not concerned with the establishment of a Palestinian state. What does the peace process mean to the new Israel government? And what does Washington mean by its repeated commitments to the peace process if Israel acts as it does?" -------------- "HEADING TOWARD A BETTER ERA" -------------- ¶4. On April 8, government Arabic daily "Oman" (circulation 38,000) praised President Obama's message at the G20 meeting, reiterating an appreciation for cooperation from Washington. According to "Toward More Cooperation to Confront Crisis": "The whole world is joining forces to solve the challenges of the economic crisis and terrorism. The remarks of the U.S. President at the recent G20 meeting showed a clear desire to cooperate with other countries to fix the global financial situation. This new approach of the U.S. President is different from that of his predecessor, and gives hope that the world is heading towards a better era. The U.S. administration is more lenient and geared towards working with others rather than dominating or pressuring them." GRAPPO