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Daniele A Schoenauer  08/09/2006 11:16:17 AM  From  DB/Inbox:  Search 
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UNCLAS        MUSCAT 01032

SIPDIS
MUSCATCX:
    ACTION: PAO
    INFO:   AMB DCM POLE

DISSEMINATION: PAO
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: PAO:RHARBUCKLE
DRAFTED: PAO:MMASKARY
CLEARED: PAO:DHOFFMANN

VZCZCATI839
PP RUEHC RUEHEE RUEHLO RUEHFR RHMFISS
DE RUEHMS #1032 1791359
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 281359Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6801
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0412
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0307
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS MUSCAT 001032 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD, NEA/P, AND INR/R/MR 
 
LONDON FOR TSOU 
PARIS FOR ZEYA 
USCENTCOM FOR PLUSH 
FOREIGN PRESS CENTER FOR SILAS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KPAO KMDR MU
SUBJECT: SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: ISRAEL'S GAZA INCURSION 
 
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COVERAGE 
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¶1.  Israel's incursion into Gaza was front-paged in Oman's Arabic- 
language newspapers.  Privately-owned "Al-Watan" (circulation 
42,000) covered the story most emotionally, with a headline 
proclaiming, "Israel Begins the Burning of Gaza."  An editorial 
in "Al-Watan" described the Palestinian strike against an Israeli 
military outpost earlier this week as a "heroic operation." 
Government-owned daily "Oman" (circulation 38,000) featured 
Israeli military operations prominently, but in less dramatic 
terms.  Both papers carried photographs of women and children 
leaving Gaza, giving the impression that they were fleeing 
hostilities.  Oman's English-language papers (frequently up to 
one full news cycle behind on international reporting) featured 
news of the impending pact between Hamas and Fatah, but did not 
highlight the Israeli incursion as their Arabic counterparts did. 
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
BLOCK QUOTES:  ISRAEL "INFLAMING THE SITUATION" 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶2. On June 28, the privately owned Arabic daily "al-Watan" 
(circulation 42,000) carried an editorial on the kidnapping of 
Israelis under the headline, "The Political Solution is the Best 
One:" 
 
"The kidnapping of the Israeli soldier and settler yesterday by 
the resistance has shed light on the double standards that the 
international community practices against the Arab world.  A 
military attack on Gaza will only inflame the situation.  Israel 
will always resort to the military option because that serves its 
political objectives, and because Israel cares neither about the 
lives of those kidnapped nor human values.  It is easy to see 
that the Israeli statements reflect the depression and chaos 
prevailing among Israel's politicians and military, which finds 
expression in the storming of Gaza and assassination and capture 
of more civilians.  Politicians will make the situation worse. 
The advice of European representative Javier Solana, who calls 
for political solutions, should be heeded.  The Israelis know 
that the military operation will not save lives...yet Israel is 
still depending on the military option because it best serves its 
political goals, regardless of whether the life of their 
kidnapped soldier, or any other human being, is wasted." 
 
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A "HEROIC OPERATION" 
-------------------- 
 
¶3. "Al-Watan" continues its coverage on the same story by 
publishing a commentary by regular columnist Zuhair Majid, "The 
Exchange": 
 
"The matter of the kidnapped Israeli soldier cannot be taken 
lightly when Palestinian factions raided the Israeli military 
complex in a heroic operation that represents the core of the 
Palestinian resistance.   Let the battle about this soldier 
begin, so that it will open the door to a final exchange with 
Palestinian prisoners. The Palestinians should consider how to 
take advantage of this situation in a way that will lead to open 
negotiation between the two parties.  This operation will not 
pass by easily for the Israelis... A lot of logical thinking is 
needed." 
 
GRAPPO