VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAM #5895/01 2181210
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 061210Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2889
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0404
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 1326
RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUMICEA/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS AMMAN 005895 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARN, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA, B/BXN, 
B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN 
USAID/ANE/MEA 
LONDON FOR TSOU 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
 
TAGS: KMDR JO
 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON ISRAEL-HIZBOLLAH COMBAT 
 
Editorial Commentary 
 
-- "The united Arab stand" 
 
Columnist Sameeh Maitah writes on the back-page of independent, 
centrist Arabic daily Al-Ghad (08/06):  "Whenever there is talk of 
the Zionist aggression against Lebanon, a question is raised: where 
is the united Arab stand?  But the question the needs to be asked 
is: did we expect a united Arab stand and would the Arab reality 
produce such a stand?  Another important question is: what is the 
united Arab stand that we all seem to talk about?  Is it 
condemnation of the aggression and a declaration of rejection of the 
Zionist killing and criminality, or is it providing assistance, aid 
and solidarity with the Lebanese people, or is it a declaration of 
war against Israel and bombing Tel Aviv with Arab rockets and jets? 
Surely no one expect that, because the idea of war has long been 
eliminated from the agenda of the Arab countries.  Even Syria that 
is closely connected with Hezbollah will not consider war and will 
not fire a single shot even if all of Lebanon is destroyed.  This 
then is the united Arab stand that rules out the option of war.... 
No one wants the war.  No one wants to sacrifice their relations 
with the U.S. administration.  Even the levels of interest in issues 
are different among the Arab countries.  Some believe that it is 
Iran's war and do not want to become a tool in this war.  The oil is 
no longer a weapon, but a commodity under the sovereignty of the 
friends whose armies have gathered around to protect it.  What is 
then the united Arab stand?" 
 
-- "Nations' decision does not stop the war" 
 
Chief Editor Ayman Safadi writes on the back-page of independent, 
centrist Arabic daily Al-Ghad (08/06):  "The French-American 
agreement now is on a 'complete' halt of aggressive actions to be 
started by Hizbollah's ceasefire before Israel stops its aggression. 
 The decision does not ask Israel to withdraw its forces from the 
Lebanese territories.  This means that the war will not stop because 
Hizbollah already confirmed that it will not stop its resistance so 
long as there is one Israeli soldier on Lebanese soil.  There are 
legitimate concerns that the draft decision came about in line with 
Israel's conditions and not in line with requirements for achieving 
a climate that actually leads to halting the war and preparing for a 
viable political agreement....  The war has now entered a stage of 
political battle, which will be complex and which will decided 
according to Israel's considerations and the interests of 
influential international and regional forces.  America will 
maneuver to do Israel's bidding.  Iran and Syria will try to abort 
anything that would diminish their influence in Lebanon.  As for the 
Arabs ... they will try to regain a role they have already lost due 
to their failure to assume their responsibilities.  Their influence 
will remain weak in this struggle that is led by America and Iran at 
the expense of Lebanon and its people and all the Arabs." 
 
-- "King's remarks: a clear Jordanian political statement for those 
who want to understand in Washington, Tel Aviv and the Arab 
countries" 
 
Columnist Bater Wardam writes on the inside page of center-left, 
influential Arabic daily Ad-Dustour (08/06):  "These remarks 
represent a clear vision from an Arab leader to gets the real 
information for the source; information that causes concern and that 
requires an Arab response that is equal to the challenges and that 
goes beyond the usual Arab conflicts and rhetorical political 
bravado to organizing joint action that protects the Arab world from 
the worst plan being prepared in Washington and Tel Aviv.  The 
remarks constitute the foundation for an official Arab political 
statement that deals with the United States on the basis of 
equality, political resistance and rejection of plans drawn by a 
group of ignorant and bigot people who were put in the 
decision-making position by the Zionist lobby and who aim only to 
destroy this region." 
 
-- "First things first" 
 
Centrist, elite English daily Jordan Times (08/06) editorializes: 
"The problem with the draft resolution ... is that it does not set a 
time frame for ending the bloodshed....  All this death and 
destruction could have been avoided had the United States been more 
understanding of the plight of innocent people on both sides of the 
fence and accepted the formula of France and like-minded power on 
ending the war in Lebanon 'immediately'....  As long as the United 
States remains adamant in its stance, more innocent people will lose 
their lives and more destruction will occur.  Surely this is not 
what the international community wants.  In addition to France and 
the United States, 13 other members of the Security Council are to 
debate the draft.  They have to have their say.  First, they have to 
bring an end to bloodshed and destruction.  Afterwards they should 
work out a formula to bring about a lasting peace not only to the 
Lebanese Israeli front, but to the whole region." 
HALE