Cablegate: Egypt Media Trends: August 18-21, 2006

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INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE

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NEA/PPD FOR ALBERTO FERNANDEZ, ROBIN SMITH AND DAVID BENZE
R/PPR FOR GRETCHEN WELCH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO PREL PREL IS LE EG SY
SUBJECT: EGYPT MEDIA TRENDS: AUGUST 18-21, 2006

1. Summary. Reactions to Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad's August
17 speech has figured prominently in Egyptian news and commentaries,
with the majority of monitored columns devoted to the subject since
August 18. Commentaries and editorials have been largely
disapproving of his "insults" toward Arab leaders and his perceived
posturing of "victory" in Lebanon. Weekend television news
highlighted President Mubarak's critical remarks in reaction to
Al-Assad's statements, most notably President Mubarak's caution
against "interference in Lebanese internal affairs," and "cheap
one-upmanship". Today's headlines quoted the Syrian information
minister refuting claims of insulting Egypt, with a focus on
President Mubarak's comments over the weekend. In breaking news of
the day, two trains collided in northern Egypt. End summary.

2. Today's headlines and lead stories. Today's television coverage
focused largely on the fatal morning train collision in northern
Egypt. News of the death toll continued throughout the day and
government officials, such as Prime Minister Nazif, traveled to the
scene. Many of the day's headlines continued the weekend focus on
reactions to Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad's speech of August 17.
Government-controlled dailies, such as Al-Ahram, Al-Akhbar and
Al-Gomhouriya carried headlines from Damascus, such as, "Syrian
Information Minister Says Bashar's Words Were Not Directed at
Mubarak or Egypt", "Damascus Says it Does Not Deserve Egyptian Media
Attack", "Cairo-Damascus Ties Strategic, Brotherly", and "Insulting
Egypt Absolutely Impossible."

3. Weekend headlines and lead stories. Weekend news coverage
provided airtime and bylines to President Mubarak's reactions to
President Al-Assad's comments. Government-controlled weekly paper,
Al-Akhbar Al-Yom, carried an exclusive interview with Egyptian
President Mubarak on Saturday, August 19 in which he said, "the
current stage does not tolerate any type of cheap one-upmanship" and
warned against "any attempt to interfere with internal Lebanese
affairs." He called Hizballah "part of the Lebanese fabric,"
cautioned against "any actions that threaten the unity of Lebanon,"
and commented on Iran, calling it "an important country in the
region," recommending that "the conflict between the US and Iran be
solved diplomatically through direct dialogue, as a strike on Iran
would mean the end of stability in the region and world." Evening
news programs on August 19 repeated Mubarak's statements about
interference in Lebanon and "cheap one-upmanship" but did not focus
on his comments about Iran.

4. In the commentaries and editorials. Since the August 17 speech,
many columnists expressed strongly negative sentiments against
President Al-Assad's attacks on other Arab leaders, and his alleged
claims of victory in the recent war between Hizballah and Israel.
The substance and tenor of the commentaries were largely represented
in editorials by the influential editors-in-chief of well-known
dailies. Osama Saraya, chief editor of leading pro-government
daily, Al-Ahram, took issue with Syria's "celebrating a victory that
is not theirs" (August 18). Editor-in-chief of independent daily,
Nahdet Misr, criticized Al-Assad's failure to "take any action
during the Lebanon war or during the past thirty-three years since
the occupation of the Golan Heights," and "undermining Lebanese
unity and scheming to return to Lebanon through Hezbollah" (August
19). Similary, Momtaz Al-Qot, editor-in-chief of large
circulation, government-controlled daily, Al-Akhbar, criticized
Al-Assad for "keeping his mouth shut throughout the Lebanon war and
doing nothing to support Lebanon" and for "impolite accusations
against Arab and Lebanese leaders" (August 19). His editorial,
entitled, "The Cub", went on to accuse Al-Assad of "bringing about
'creative chaos' in the Arab world, and stoking sectarian strife in
Lebanon... just like his comrade, Ahmadinejad."

5. Public sentiment. According to a recent poll in popular
Egyptian web portal, masrawy.com, when asked their opinion on "the
next target in the greater Middle East project," 65 percent (1100)
voted that Syria would be next, while 30 percent (501) voted for
Iran. Total number of voters was 1,692. As reported by Reuters on
Sunday, according to preliminary figures from a separate poll
conducted by the Ibn Khaldoun Center for Development Studies run by
Saad Eddin Ibrahim, Hassan Narallah was voted the most popular
figure in the Middle East, followed by Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal
and Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Voters totaled 1,200
from 15 separate governorates in Egypt. RICCIARDONE

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