Cablegate: Damascus Media Reaction: Israeli Operations in Lebanon

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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0447
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
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RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 3960
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RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA//
INFO RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 6892

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 003552

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR PA, NEA/ARN, INR/IC/CD, INR/S:STHIBEAULT AND
JMCCARTER, VOA NEWS CA, NEA/PPD:CBOURGEOIS, DBENZE AND
AFERNANDEZ, IIP/G/NEA-SA RWINCHESTER
WHITE HOUSE FOR NSC
CENTCOM FOR CCPA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY
SUBJECT: Damascus Media Reaction: Israeli Operations in Lebanon
(7/19)

1. Summary: Syrian papers today reported a meeting by the Syrian
Cabinet emphasizing readiness in all fields to face all future
scenarios. PM Mohammed Naji Ottri underlined "the importance of
coordination and integration of government performance,
escalating readiness in all sectors, and taking the needed
procedures to face all prospects in the future." The Cabinet
reviewed developments in the Lebanese and Palestinian arenas as
well as all forms of support needed by the Lebanese and
Palestinian peoples, in addition to what Syria is already giving
in the form of medical, food and other basic needs. The PM
confirmed "Syria's support of the Palestinian and Lebanese
peoples in their heroic confrontation of the Israeli enemy
machine that targets with its cold-blooded crimes innocent
people, facilities and services." The Cabinet denounced the "Arab
and international silence" against the brutal Israeli offensive,
stressing the need to adopt decisive and quick stances that deter
Israel and stop its hostilities and attacks on Lebanon and Gaza
Strip."

Papers also featured a statement by a Syrian information source
strongly denying, as totally baseless and unfounded, a statement
by an Israeli army spokesman that Israeli warplanes shelled
trucks traveling from Syria towards Lebanon carrying weapons and
ammunitions. The source pointed out that the missile which was
fired by Israeli warplanes targeted a UAE aid convoy, which was
carrying medicines and ambulances, in Lebanon near the Syrian
border, in addition to a truck coming from Lebanon to Damascus
that happened to be in the same place at the time of attack. The
source stressed that such repeated Israeli statements aim to
create pretexts to justify its brutal crimes perpetrated against
innocent civilians in Lebanon and to prevent humanitarian aid
from reaching the Lebanese people.

All Syrian papers reported that a delegation of Syrian children
handed the Resident Representative of the UN Program a message
addressed to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan expressing deep
concern over the Israeli aggression on the Palestinian and
Lebanese people and their courageous resistance. The message
called upon the UN to bring an end to the barbarian Zionist
killing machine which has targeted the children of the region for
more than half a century. It said that the "Marwahin massacre in
South Lebanon reflects the inhuman situation which our people are
being exposed to under the Israeli aggression and the full
indifference of the UN forces about maintaining security and
peace in the area".
End of summary.
2. Selected Headlines:
"The massacre continues. Israel expands its aggression with
international collaboration. The US rejects cease-fire. Scores of
martyrs reported. The assaults reach everywhere. The resistance
responds by shelling Haifa and Israeli settlements" (Government-
owned Tishreen, 7/19)

"The Prime Ministry listens to a review of political developments
by the Foreign Minister, praises the Lebanese resistance's
steadfastness and denounces Arab and international silence
towards the Israeli aggression" (Government-owned Tishreen, 7/19)

"An official media source: The Israeli shelling targets medical
aid convoy, not weapons" (Government-owned Tishreen, 7/19)

"Syrian children address a message to UN SecGen Kofi Annan: UN
forces have refrained from protecting children in Marwahim"
(Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 7/19)

"Syria intensifies campaigns of aid. Syrian organizations place
their installations at the disposal of Lebanese brothers"
(Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 7/19)

3. Editorial Block Quotes:

--------------------

"Days of Rage"

---------------

Ali Qasim, an editorialist in government-owned Al-Thawra, wrote
(7/19): "It seems that Arab popular anger will not be focused on
the absence of Arab positions, but rather on harmful Arab
positions....

"The international position has colluded to an unprecedented
degree with the Israeli aggression, to the extent that
international positions have turned from dealing with the
executioner and the victim on an equal footing, to political
support for the executioner....

"The UN Security Council has failed to take a position that
compels Israel to stop its aggression.... Maybe Arab popular
anger has not reached a level enabling it to express its
existence and role in the required manner. However, no one can
deny that this anger has reached levels it has not reached
before. This is the truth which has to crystallize in the coming
days."

----------------------

"Lessons and Examples"

----------------------

Omar Jaftali, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen,
commented (7/18): "What is happening in Lebanon is reminiscent of
what happened 60 years ago when the occupation forces abandoned
our Palestinian people following mass slaughter, turning them
into homeless refugees everywhere in the world. Israel is doing
the same now to the residents of southern Lebanon threatening
them with the same fate if they continue to hold on to their
land, villages, national rights, and sovereignty in their
homeland. Why? Because Israel simply wants to turn all of
southern Lebanon into a security zone with guaranteed US approval
supported by the civilized west and, regretfully, some Arabs....

"Only the resistance had the courage to take the decision of
confrontation. It is now offering lessons and examples to the
nation, stating that whoever seeks peace will eventually be
stripped of everything in view of the endless US -Israeli
conditions...."

----------------------

"Imbalanced Statement"

----------------------

Bassam Radwan, a columnist in government-owned Tishreen, wrote
"The statement issued by the G-8 Summit constitutes a letter of
support for the Israeli occupation government to continue its
sinful aggression against Lebanon....

"Leaders of the G-8 summit could have adopted responsible
positions to stop the Israeli aggression, but instead adopted the
conditions of the Israeli murders to a ceasefire....

"It is time to realize that there will be no peace in this region
as long as there is an enemy that recognizes only the language of
killing and destruction, with or without a pretext, and that
there is no way to curb and break this enemy but through
confronting and resisting it through all possible means...."

--------------------------------------------- ---

"A Call to Confront the Terrorism of Occupation"

--------------------------------------------- ---

Ghassan Abdul-Aziz Othman, member of the Central Command of the
National Progressive Front, wrote an op-ed in government-owned Al-
Ba'th on (7/19): "The only description for the recent Israeli
aggression against the Lebanese and Palestinian peoples is

'official terrorism'....

"The same description applies to the US occupation of Iraq and
the military operations there.... There are several examples of
'official terrorism' practiced by Israel against Palestinians and
practiced by the Anglo-American occupation in Iraq. Among these
examples are the Gaza shore massacre, the Hadithah massacre, and
the current barbaric massacres in Lebanon....
Those who claim to fight terrorism and wage war against it are
the very ones who practice official terrorism....

"What is required now is to announce an international campaign,
in which Arabs and the countries that reject the policy of
hegemony take part, with the purpose of resisting the forces of
terrorism in defense of the security of the world and the
people's right to freedom and independence. What is also required
is an angry popular reaction, including all Arab arenas, with
continuing demonstrations, sit-ins and protests until Arab and
international action is taken to contribute to ending the
barbaric aggression against Lebanon, and the siege and massacres
against the Palestinian people...."

Seche

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