VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMK #1329/01 2031447
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 221447Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5272
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT  PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001329 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2016 
TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC PTER BA POL REGION
SUBJECT: TFLE01: BAHRAIN TEMPERATURE RISES ON LEBANON AND 
PALESTINE 
 
Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
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Summary 
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¶1.  (C) Activity on the streets has increased with several 
protests over the Bahraini weekend July 19-21, including the 
first directed at the U.S. Embassy.  Approximately 300 
individuals attempted to march towards the Embassy July 21, 
but were stopped by security personnel several blocks away. 
While moving away, twenty some members of the group set fire 
to tires and trash bins and threw rocks at security 
personnel.  King Hamad, meeting with Egyptian President 
Mubarak in Cairo July 20, called for a halt to Israeli 
military actions and a negotiated resolution.  The rhetoric 
in Friday sermons was increasingly supportive of Hizballah 
and critical of Israel, the international community, Arab 
governments, and the U.S.  Even columnists who have 
traditionally been supportive of U.S. democracy policy and 
programs point to the hypocrisy in the U.S. support of 
Israel, characterized as the number one enemy to democracy. 
One columnist anticipates that the BMENA Initiative will also 
be a casualty of the conflict as it is now tainted with U.S. 
acceptance of the destruction of Lebanon and the denial of a 
Palestinian state.  End summary. 
 
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The Protests 
------------ 
 
¶2.  (U) Approximately 300 people demonstrated July 21 in the 
Zinj area, showing intent to proceed toward the Embassy.  The 
Ministry of Interior stationed some 1,000 police personnel, 
as well as concertina wire, to prevent the demonstration from 
approaching the Embassy.  Carrying Hizballah, Lebanese, and 
Bahraini flags, protesters burned an Israeli flag and 
chanted, "Death to America" and "Death to Israel."  After 
being turned away, a group of about 20 youths set fire to 
tires and trash cans and threw rocks at security vehicles.  A 
special task force used tear gas to break up this group and 
arrested several individuals.  Additional protests occurred 
in the village of Diraz, home to the mosque where Shaikh Isa 
Qassim preaches, and outside the Al Fateh Grand Mosque 
(Sunni) following Friday prayers. 
 
¶3.  (U) Over one thousand residents staged a protest in Sitra 
(Shia) July 20, chanting slogans in support of Hizballah 
leader Hasan Nasrallah and the Islamic resistance.  Al Wifaq 
member, and potential candidate in the fall parliamentary 
elections in Sitra, Sayed Haider Al Sitri read a statement 
saying that Arabs are facing an expansion of imperialism. 
The statement questioned whether Arab armies could face a 
surrender and still hold their heads up honorably as servants 
under American-Israeli dominance.  Two prior rallies took 
place July 19 in the Shia villages of Karanah and Barbar, 
echoing previous criticism of the silence of the 
international community and urging the UNSC to put pressure 
on Israel to stop its attacks in Lebanon and Palestine. 
 
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King Meets Mubarak 
------------------ 
 
¶4.  (U)  In a meeting in Cairo July 20, King Hamad Bin Isa Al 
Khalifa and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak both called for 
a stop in the Israeli military actions against Lebanon and 
the Palestinians.  They called for the parties to negotiate a 
resolution to the conflict.  King Hamad called for a unified 
Arab stance that will restore confidence in and push forward 
the peace process. 
 
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The Preachers 
------------- 
 
¶5.  (C) Friday sermons July 21 focused exclusively on the 
situation in Lebanon.  Leading Shia cleric Shaikh Isa Qassim 
urged both Sunnis and Shia to stand together to support Hamas 
and Hizballah.  He said that Hizballah's beliefs dictate that 
jihad is a duty in support of its Palestinian brothers. 
Hizballah laments the blood that is flowing in Iraq, saying 
that it should be saved to face the "Zionist hounds."  Arab 
regimes should not be preoccupied with internal affairs while 
turning away from the battle against the enemies of God and 
humanity.  Arab governments should not impose unfair laws 
against terrorism that will hinder the fight against the 
enemy, who steals land and plays with the dignity and lives 
of the Palestinians.  (Note:  Bahrain's Council of 
Representatives passed a terrorism bill July 16 with stiff 
 
opposition from some members who say that it gives the state 
too much authority to detain individuals.  The Shura 
(Consultative) Council is scheduled to begin discussion on 
the bill July 22.  End note.) 
 
¶6.  (U) Sunni Shaikh Salah Al Jowder stated that the Islamic 
nation was under siege by Israel, while Palestine and Lebanon 
are met with a "strange Arab silence.  Although Islam is a 
religion of moderation, love and peace, God orders Muslims to 
adhere to their religion, land and dignity and to defend them 
by any means."  Israel's actions have shown the world that it 
acts against all international conventions and that its 
agreements with the Arabs, from Camp David to the Roadmap, 
"are merely ink on paper."  He concluded that only unity and 
adherence to religion can impede Israeli and American plans. 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
Critical Columns from an Unexpected Direction 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (U) Even columnists who are normally supportive of U.S. 
democracy and capacity-building programs have turned critical 
of U.S. policy.  Al Wasat editor-in-chief Mansour Al Jamri 
states that Israel, supported by the U.S., is the number one 
enemy of democracy in the region.  Al Jamri asks, "How can 
the weak and oppressed be blamed for taking an extremist 
approach against the official terrorism practiced by Israel 
under the sponsorship of the super powers?  How can our 
region calm down when its people see Lebanon's infrastructure 
completely destroyed, while the U.S. President hints at 
allowing more time for Israel to wipe out Lebanon?" 
 
¶8.  (U) Another regular supporter of U.S. programs in 
Bahrain, Al Wasat columnist Reem Khalifa echoed the words of 
Palestinian writer Ibrahim Hamami who wrote about the death 
of the Arab League from heart failure following its recent 
meeting in Cairo.  Khalifa asserts that the Broader Middle 
East North Africa Initiative should also be mourned since the 
U.S. administration accepts the destruction of Lebanon and 
the denial of a legitimate country to the Palestinians.  She 
agrees with Hamami's assertion that the reality is that 
"(Israeli PM) Olmert and his gangsters", with U.S. and 
European support, kill innocents while Arabs are silent. 
 
-------------------------------------- 
Political Cartoons - Gruesome and Grim 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶9.  (U) A notably graphic political cartoon July 22 depicts a 
woman representing Lebanon whose bloodied body has been 
carved up in pieces in the shape of a Star of David by a 
hand, also having a Star of David, holding a hatchet on which 
is written "Made in USA."  In the background are three 
figures, one representing the international community with 
its fingers in its ears (hear no evil), the second wearing 
traditional Arab dress with its hands over it eyes (see no 
evil), and the third a caricature of President Bush not 
covering his mouth, but saying, "Complete your mission."  A 
second cartoon, printed July 20, shows a man in traditional 
Arab dress fleeing in horror from something not shown, with 
the inscription of an Arabic proverb meaning that what is 
happening next door will find its way into one's own home. 
 
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Comment 
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¶10.  (C) In one sense, the July 21 demonstration at the 
Embassy was a minor affair, attracting just 300 demonstrators 
and easily deterred.  At the same time, however, this first 
demonstration at the Embassy in more than three years 
reflects the increase we have seen in the level of activity 
and rhetoric in Bahrain over the past several days.  At the 
official level, Bahraini officials now advocate an immediate 
cease fire and resolution by diplomatic means, reflective of 
local sentiment, and in contrast to the King's July 14 
statement in which he urged parties not to continue pursuing 
a "miscalculated adventure, that would affect Lebanon's 
sovereignty."  The public (mostly from the Shia community) 
has been emboldened in showing their support for Hizballah 
and its leader Nasrallah.  The longer the conflict proceeds 
and the more civilians are killed, the heat here can be 
expected to rise palpably along with the rising summer Gulf 
humidity. 
 
 
********************************************* ******** 
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ 
********************************************* ******** 
 
MONROE