Cablegate: "Siniora Cries." Egypt Media Trends:

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SIPDIS

NEA/PPD FOR ALBERTO FERNANDEZ, ROBIN SMITH AND
DAVID BENZE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO PREL PREL IS LE EG
SUBJECT: "SINIORA CRIES." EGYPT MEDIA TRENDS:
AUGUST 8, 2006

1. Summary. Lebanese Prime Minister Siniora's
emotional speech in Beirut yesterday, and the
debate over whether Hezbollah or Israel is the
victor of the war continued in television and
print commentaries. All papers led with similar
stories and headlines, including, "Siniora's
Tears"; the "public and official delegation" sent
to Beirut to show solidarity with the Lebanese
people; and President Mubarak's most recent
statements about the crisis in Lebanon. Of
interest, opposition press reported on an
upcoming new play entitled, "Either Us or Them."
End Summary.

2. In the headlines and front pages. In unusual
harmony, government-owned, opposition and
independent papers led with some identical
headlines and stories. "Siniora Cries," appeared
on many front pages, with accompanying photos, as
did lead stories about the dispatching of a
"Seventy-member delegation, representing
official, political, and popular figures in
Egypt," to Beirut today "to show solidarity for
the Lebanese government and people." Government-
owned papers all quoted President Mubarak's
latest statement on the crisis, in particular,
his characterization of Israel's actions in Qana
as a "massacre by all standards" and the UN's
"sluggishness" as "the reason for the
deterioration in Lebanon." In keeping with the
active public discourse on the "new Middle East",
the papers quoted President Mubarak as "rejecting
any attempt to impose 'new maps' on the region."

3. In the commentaries. The debate over who
reigns victorious in the conflict continued on
evening television programs and in opposition and
independent press. One guest on satellite-
broadcast, government-owned, Nile TV's evening
program claimed the UN resolution "granted a
political victory to Israel... as the Arab
countries have no cards to play" while another
guest praised Hezbollah for its so-called victory
in persuading Arab people that "they can die with
honor." A regular columnist in opposition daily,
Al-Wafd, asserted that "Jews run the world,"
indicating a victory over President Bush "who
cannot stand against them." A columnist in
independent daily, Al-Masry Al-Yom, claimed
Israel the "clear loser" as "victory is not
measured by the size of destruction... but the
political gains." Similarly, a columnist in
Nahdet Misr called Israel the "loser" due to its
"inability to achieve any military targets." Of
note, a regular columnist in leading government-
owned daily, Al-Ahram, alluded to a losing
position for the Arab countries given "the grave
need for reform in the Arab World... (due to) the
connection between freedom and democracy and the
ability to stop the aggression on the Arab nation
only after gaining international respect."

4. Public sentiment. Prime Minister Siniora's
tearful speech was replayed many times yesterday
and today, with evening talk-shows reflecting the
public emotion this image evoked. In just one
example, the hosts of popular (and competing)
satellite and terrestrial evening television
programs, Dream TV's "10 pm" and Egyptian
Television's, "Your Home" both aired the footage,
and called for "positive and decisive Arab
reactions to help Lebanon in this time of
crisis." In another reflection of the public
mood, political events find their way to the art
world. According to opposition daily, Al-Wafd,
today marked the beginning of rehearsals
for,"Either Us or Them," a new musical play
tackling "the Arab-Israeli conflict and
the American imperialistic vision of the Middle
East." The famous Egyptian belly-dancer, Lucy,
and well-known actor, Ahmed Rateb, reportedly
will star in the play.
RICCIARDONE

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