Cablegate: Damascus Media Reaction: Palestinian Territories, Peace
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OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHDM #5288/01 3131137
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 091137Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2426
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 6365
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 4164
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 2753
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 7347
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 1375
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4728
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 0945
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA//
INFO RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 7080
UNCLAS DAMASCUS 005288
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: Palestinian Territories, Peace
Process, Lebanon, Iraq, US Midterm Elections (11/8)
1. Summary: The Syrian press today focused on the deteriorating
situation in the Palestinian territories in light of the recent
Israeli escalation, especially in Beit Hanoun. Papers reported
Foreign Minister Mouallem's meeting with Khalid Mish'al, Chief of
HAMAS' Political Bureau, and Dr. Ahmad Bahar, Deputy Speaker of the
Palestinian Legislative Council, which focused on developments in
the occupied territories. FM Mouallem confirmed Syria's support of
the Palestinian people and their national options, especially the
formation of a national unity government to strengthen Palestinian
cohesion.
Papers also reported that Abdullah al-Ahmar, Assistant Secretary
General of the Ba'th Party, received Hanna Afif Omera, Member of the
Politburo of the Palestinian People's Party, and Bassam Zaki Ahmed
Mosleh, Director General of the Party. Talks dealt with the tough
circumstances in which the Palestinian people are living under the
Israeli occupation and its continuous aggressions and practices
against the unarmed Palestinian people. Al-Ahmar underlined Syria's
support for the Palestinians' resistance and struggle to restore
their occupied lands, freedom and legitimate rights by establishing
a sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as capital and
realizing the Palestinian refugees' right of return. He also
confirmed Syria's keenness for Palestinian national unity within the
framework of the PLO as the only legitimate representative of the
Palestinian people.
Headlines featured a sit-in tent at the Yarmouk Camp for Palestinian
Refugees near Damascus, showing solidarity with the Palestinian
people of Beit Hanoun in Gaza strip. Participants held Palestinian
flags and placards condemning Israeli genocide against Palestinian
civilians. They called for continuing resistance until usurped
rights are restored, appealing to Arab governments to play their
role in supporting the Palestinian cause.
End of summary.
2. Selected Headlines:
"Foreign Minister al-Mouallem stresses Syria's support for formation
of a Palestinian national unity government, in a meeting with Khalid
Mish'al chief of the HAMAS Political Bureau" (Government-owned
Al-Thawra, 11/8)
"Al-Ahmar discusses with the Palestinian People's Party party
relations and Palestinians' suffering under occupation, reiterating
Syria's concern about Palestinian national unity on the basis of the
Palestinian Reconciliation Charter" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th,
11/8)
"Abbas and Hanieh continue talks on a national unity government.
The Israeli massacre reaps 360 martyrs and casualties in Beit
Hanoun" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 11/8)
"Participants at the sit-in tent in al-Yarmouk camp for Palestinian
refugees: Stop Israeli massacres against the Palestinian people"
(Government-owned Tishreen, 11/8)
"The 1st International Media Forum on the Golan emphasizes the
Syrian people's right to resist occupation. Information Minister
Mohsen Bilal: The occupation of Golan is a crime against humanity
and the ugliest kind of terrorism.... No option for Israel but
withdrawal to the June 4, 1967 line" (Government-owned Al-Thawra,
11/8)
"The Lebanese democratic gathering breaks off for consultations.
Berri: We are still discussing a national unity government.
Lebanese MP Hassan Fadlallah: America fears for its project in
Lebanon" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 11/8)
"Iraqi factions denounce assaults against mosques, holding the Iraqi
government responsible. Killing of two US and British soldiers in
Baghdad and Basra" (Government-owned Tishreen, 11/8)
"US Democratic candidates head towards winning the majority in the
US Congress" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 11/8)
"Americans elect a new Congress and 36 governors. The death verdict
against Saddam is Bush's sole weapon" (Government-owned Tishreen,
11/8)
3. Editorial Block Quotes:
--------------------------------
"A Cause that Cannot Be Ignored"
--------------------------------
Omar Jaftali, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen, wrote
(11/8): "International statements about the need for peace in the
Middle East appear to be wishful thinking more than a serious effort
to achieve peace....
"The narrow window of opportunity for peace, which Syria has talked
about, can be widened if there is a serious international effort to
end the Israeli occupation of Arab lands and force Israel to comply
with UN resolutions.... It is inconceivable to ask Syria to play a
constructive role as long as its territory is occupied.... The
Golan is one of the most important issues in Syrian policy.... It is
a top priority in Syrian policy.
"Returning the Golan is a clear Syrian message proceeding from solid
patriotic and national bases and relying on the logic of justice,
law and UN resolutions and the terms of reference of the 1991 Madrid
conference, which was launched on the basis of the exchange of land
for peace....
"Syria has explained its position and desire for peace to all
visiting European delegations.... The ball is now in the court of
the concerned parties, whether in the United States, which has
backtracked from the peace process and helped Israel foil it, or in
the European countries, which are adopting a timid position toward
the Israeli occupation and frequently taking the side of the
American position, on the agenda of which there is no such thing as
peace....
"Syria has conveyed facts and requirements of the region objectively
and transparently to others. Now it wants clear answers to its call
to achieve peace and end the aggression and occupation."
-----------------
"A Test for Bush"
-----------------
Isam Dari, a commentator in government-owned Tishreen, commented
(11/18): "Results of the midterm election will be decisive for
President Bush, the Republican Party, and the neoconservative team,
which is leading the president, the party, the country, and the rest
of the world to disaster and destruction....
"Many Americans have shifted support from the Republican Party to
the Democratic Party.... The futile terrorist wars that seek to
impose the American will on the world have burdened the American
economy. The taxpayer has found that he is paying taxes not for
domestic reform or for the development of the economy and the
improvement of the standard of living. A large part of the
taxpayer's money goes to feed preemptive wars promoted and planned
by the neoconservatives. Moreover, the coffins returning from Iraq
and Afghanistan, and the feelings of hatred toward the United States
in the world, have made the American taxpayer realize, although
late, that the Bush administration is not only leading the world to
destruction but also leading Americans to a multifaceted disaster,
part of which is internal, social and economic and part of which is
external, represented by growing hatred toward everything American
-- not only American policies -- by the nations of the world....
"It appears that Americans today want to correct this situation, not
out of love for the Democratic Party or out of a desire to serve the
world and ask forgiveness from peoples, but in order to make
domestic accomplishments reflecting on the life of Americans...."
------------------------------
"Awaiting Results of Election"
------------------------------
Ali Qasem, an editorialist in government-owned Al-Thawra, wrote
(11/8): "Foreign policy dominates the US midterm Congressional
elections for the first time in decades.... The world is awaiting
the results of the elections because they will determine the
performance of President Bush's administration in the next two
years....
"The big mistakes that the US Administration has made, especially as
seen in Iraq, have given the Democrats the necessary ammunition to
launch a fierce attack on the Republican Party.... The world will
soon see if the US voter has realized the deception that the US
Administration has practiced in international issues, a deception
that has reflected negatively on Americans...."
----------------------------------------
"Iraq in the US Congressional Elections"
----------------------------------------
Bassam Radwan, a commentator in government-owned Tishreen, wrote
(11/8): "The war on Iraq and the policy of President Bush's
administration in that country will probably be the decisive factor
in the midterm elections.... The death sentence against former Iraqi
President Saddam Hussein came only two days before the
elections....
"Irrespective of the details and circumstances of Saddam's trial and
the extent of justice in it, the way it ended undoubtedly indicates
that it is being used to serve Republicans in the midterm
Congressional elections after the Bush administration tried hard to
evade the price of its military defeats...."
Corbin