Cablegate: Demonstration Near Us Consulate in Dubai

VZCZCXRO5857
PP RUEHDE
DE RUEHDE #4934 2121438
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 311438Z JUL 06
FM AMCONSUL DUBAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2781
INFO RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI PRIORITY 1674
RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 5772

UNCLAS DUBAI 004934

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE PASS TO D,P, M, DS, S/CT, CA, INR AND NEA/ARP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL SOCI AE LE
SUBJECT: DEMONSTRATION NEAR US CONSULATE IN DUBAI

REF: A. DUBAI 04933, B. DUBAI 04511

1.(U) SUMMARY: Demonstrators gathered near the US Consulate
General in Dubai during the evening of July 30 to express their
support of Lebanon and to condemn Israel and the United States.
The demonstrators were vociferous, but there were no reports of
violence. An earlier demonstration in support of Lebanon was
held near the Lebanese consulate in Dubai. End Summary.

2.(SBU) At 2000 hours on July 30, demonstrators began arriving
in cars near the Dubai World Trade Center to stage a protest
against US support for Israel's actions in Lebanon. An estimated
crowd of 120 people had gathered by 2030. Demonstrators were
said to be shouting in Arabic, but there was no violence or
provocative action taken. The Dubai Police sent additional
police to the area (ref A). A consulate employee saw a crowd
beginning to gather a little after 2000 and he could not
distinguish any Emirati national participants. Those he saw wore
western attire.

3.(U) The local Arabic and English language papers reported on a
demonstration that was held earlier in the day near the Lebanese
consulate in Dubai. The crowd, though mostly Lebanese, included
Emiratis and Americans. The press reported that more than 100
people demonstrated. The Lebanese consulate was the scene of
another gathering on July 15. The consulate is located in
Dubai's consulate district near Dubai Creek (ref B).

4.(U) Dr. Mouza Ghobash, a UAE national who is president of the
Ousha bint Hussain Cultural Center and a former professor of
sociology at the UAE University in Al-Ain, was quoted in the
Arabic language newspaper Al-Bayan as calling for Arab countries
to close US and Israeli diplomatic missions and to recall their
ambassadors from Israel. Dr. Ghobash was quoted in the English
language Gulf News as asking journalists "to portray the reality
as it is, so everyone can witness the cruelty of this enemy."

BURNS

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