VZCZCXRO5405
OO RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHAD #0509/01 0851242
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 261242Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8642
RUENAAA/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1166
RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT
RHWSMRC/MCF01 SACCS USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000509 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD; NEA/RA; INR/R/MR; PA; INR/NESA; INR/B; 
RRU-NEA 
IIP/G/NEA-SA 
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE; NSC 
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA 
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD 
LONDON FOR ERELI 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: IIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT:  SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: ARAB SUMMIT IN RIYADH 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY: A UAE columnist in "Al-Ittihad" expects the Arab summit 
to end up being a waste of time because he believed Arabs are 
impotent and unable to confront existing challenges and threats. 
The editorial in "Al-Khaleej" wonders why the U.S. and Israel 
ignored the Arabs' peace initiative five years ago, but now suddenly 
started talking about it, provided that Arabs eliminate the right of 
return.  The editorial in "Al-Bayan" views Rice's statement 
stressing that the 'Arabs' need to help form a Palestinian state as 
incorrect because she should have stressed the Israelis and not the 
Arabs.  A columnist in "Al-Bayan" urged Arab officials to put the 
Palestinian refugees of 1948 as its top priority during the Arab 
Summit.  End Summary. 
 
 
¶2.  Under the headline "The Summit and the cloud", a UAE columnist, 
Dr. Tareq Saif, wrote 03/25 in Abu Dhabi-based Arabic semi-official 
daily "Al-Ittihad" (circulation 65,000): 
 
"Arabs should admit they are impotent against the existing 
challenges and threats.  They rely on postponements to escape from 
confrontations...  It is an attribute in the Arab countries not to 
agree among themselves...  If the Arab countries are ravaged with 
clouds of disagreement, and have lost direction amid cloudy regional 
and global changes, then how do they expect to have the will, the 
ability and the means to resolve other issues when they can't even 
reach effective solutions to their own problems and issues?" 
 
¶3.  Under the headline "US efforts lacking credibility", 
Sharjah-based Arabic daily "Al-Khaleej" (circulation 90,000) 
editorialized on 03/26: 
 
"Five years ago, when the Arabs in Beirut agreed to have a 
Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, the U.S. and Israel 
ignored it...  Suddenly Washington has started getting enthusiastic 
about it, urging the Arabs to reactivate it.  Israel has also 
started to consider the initiative, provided that Arabs eliminate 
the right of return.  Why this sudden wake-up?  The truth is that 
the current American Administration cannot be trusted, particularly 
on the Arab -Israeli issues, as it never implements any of its 
promises...  If the United States is serious about reaching an 
Arab-Israeli settlement... the U.S. should commit "Israel" to abide 
by this initiative. Otherwise, American efforts will be a waste of 
time whose main objective is to ensure the normalization and 
elimination of the Palestinian issue." 
 
 
¶4.  The 03/26 editorial titled "Valid claims from an invalid party" 
in Dubai-based Arabic daily "Al-Bayan," (circulation 85,000) read: 
 
"When Rice left Washington to start her tour in the region, she made 
a statement in which she said: "Attempts must be made to determine 
what the initial stages of the reconciliation can present.  Those 
attempts should be made on the side of Arabs in order to establish a 
Palestinian state.  The content of Rice's claims is valid.  However, 
the addressee is wrong.  It seems that the Secretary missed it, 
because it is Israel that should be pressured to make attempts and 
not the Arabs.  Leaks or rumors which have accompanied Rice's visit 
say that Washington carries a plan to market its plans and put them 
into practice...  If that is what the Bush administration is 
seeking, then the Arab summit will start tomorrow; and the 
initiative is likely to be one of the major items on the agenda. 
This will be the moment of response on the part of Israel.  This is 
the addressee whom Washington should makes demands of." 
 
 
¶5.  Under the headline "Refugees first", a columnist, Basil Abu 
Hamda, wrote a 03/26 op-ed in Dubai-based Arabic daily "Al-Bayan," 
(circulation 85,000): 
 
"It seems that the largest player in the upcoming Arab summit is the 
Hebrew state.  That is clear from the preparations and diplomatic 
rounds undertaken by the American administration on behalf of Israel 
as a prelude to convening this summit.  The summit's cause is the 
right of return for Palestinian refugees...  It is an issue of 
priorities that must be handled in a quiet and scientific atmosphere 
away from the effects of the Western influence and its media machine 
which... keep focusing on amending the Beirut Arab initiative... 
 
ABU DHABI 00000509  002 OF 002 
 
 
For those who are still deluding themselves that they are playing 
outside the circle of danger, we say that waiving the right of 
return will not be the only in a series of concessions as long as 
Arabs continue to deal with their issues in this shameful manner." 
 
SISON