VZCZCXRO2018
OO RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHAD #1248/01 2061300
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 251300Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9432
RHMFIUU/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1205
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 001248 
 
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: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT:  MEDIA REACTION: BLAIR ROUND TRIP TO THE MIDDLE EAST; 
BUSH'S CALL FOR AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 
 
 
¶1.   SUMMARY: A UK-based Lebanese writer in "Al Ittihad" states 
"Bush's conference exploits the current weakness of the 
Palestinians" while an Egyptian writer describes the peace 
initiative as a "Feast of the Wicked."  A UAE columnist in "Al 
Ittihad" states Iran is politically blind in pursuing a policy of 
interfering in the internal affairs of the Gulf countries. The 
editorial in "Al-Bayan" does not expect Blair to make any progress 
in his Quartet meeting.  A second "Al-Bayan" editorial by an 
Egyptian writer views Israel as manipulating the US and the US as 
manipulating Arabs.  A UAE columnist for "Al-Bayan" opines that 
while oil divides Palestine and Israel, gas creates a balance 
between these two countries in light of the USD 4 billion gas 
extracting agreement with a British company under the license of the 
Palestinian government.  END SUMMARY. 
 
 
¶2.  Under the headline "Bush's conference exploits the weakness of 
the Palestinians," UK-based Lebanese writer Abdul Wahab Badar Khan 
wrote a 07/24 op-ed in Abu Dhabi-based Arabic semi-official daily 
"Al-Ittihad" (circulation 65,000): 
 
"The situation in the Middle East does not help to make anybody 
believe in this (peace conference) initiative.  . . .   Bush Junior 
is weak and lacks credibility because his Iraq mission failed and he 
resorted to the peace process hoping to prevent the morass in Iraq. 
. . . Bush's conference exploits the current weakness of the 
Palestinians who have no option other than to accept any initiative 
to have a Palestinian state." 
 
¶3.  Under the headline "Feast of the Wicked", Director of the 
Institute for Arab Research and Studies, Dr. 
Ahmed Youssef Ahmed, wrote a 07/24 op-ed in Abu Dhabi-based Arabic 
semi-official daily "Al-Ittihad" (circulation 65,000): 
 
"The timing of Bush's peace conference initiative is the worst . . . 
.  Bush's speech . . . did not address vital issues such as the 
status of the Palestinian refugees. . .  The only positive element 
was when Bush stressed the importance of Israel not to continue its 
occupation of the West Bank. . . . Bush wants to win his war in Iraq 
by showing an accomplishment in Palestine." 
 
¶4. Under the headline "Iran and Making Enemies", UAE columnist 
Mohammed Khalfan Sowafi wrote a 07/25 op-ed in Abu Dhabi-based 
Arabic semi-official daily "Al-Ittihad" (circulation 65,000): 
 
"Iran is politically blind in pursuing a policy of interfering in 
the internal affairs of the Gulf countries. . . . Iran is living in 
what some call a 'state of political blindness' because while the 
Gulf countries aim at improving relations with Iran and give the 
current Iranian leadership the opportunity to portrait itself to the 
world in a better light than its familiar image of extremism and 
interference in the internal affairs of other countries, Tehran does 
not seem to want to change this image." 
 
¶5.  Under the headline "Blair's First Round," a 07/24 editorial in 
Dubai-based Arabic daily "Al-Bayan" (circulation 85,000) reads: 
 
"Former envoy James Wolfenson thinks Blair is wasting his time, does 
not expect him to make any progress in the Quartet meeting and will 
likely face the same fate of failure. . . . We hope Blair benefits 
from Wolfenson's failure and will have a roadmap rather than just 
words on paper." 
 
¶6.  Under the headline "Manipulating Arabs and the US," Egyptian 
columnist Magdi Shendi wrote a 07/24 op-ed in Dubai-based Arabic 
daily "Al-Bayan" (circulation 85,000): 
 
"The peace conference is initiated by Israel with the goal of 
normalizing relations with more Arab countries publicly, to open 
more channels of communication. . . . Israel manipulates the U.S. 
and the U.S. manipulates Arabs." 
 
¶7.  Under the headline "Between Oil and Gas," UAE columnist Mohammed 
Mutawa wrote a 07/25 op-ed in Dubai-based Arabic daily "Al-Bayan" 
(circulation 85,000): 
 
 
ABU DHABI 00001248  002 OF 002 
 
 
"We worry that the tragedy of the Oslo Accords will be repeated in 
the current experiment of the international peace conference. . . . 
It is expected that the Palestinian authority and Israel will sign a 
political agreement worth four billion dollars.  This deal is about 
purchasing natural gas from a British company that will extract gas 
from Gaza beaches under the license of the Palestinian government, 
which will in turn provide an income to the Palestinian government 
of Abu Mazen amounting to one billion dollars annually. . . . The 
gas could create a balance between Israel and the project of 
legitimizing a country in order to strike the deal." 
 
 
SISON