VZCZCXRO5975
RR RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHMS #0195 0651322
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 051322Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9350
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000195 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PTER KPAL PBTS KPAO MU
SUBJECT: OMAN MEDIA CALLS FOR ARAB (AND PALESTINIAN) UNITY 
ON GAZA 
 
REF: MUSCAT 145 
 
¶1. In response to the recent escalation of conflict in Gaza, 
Omani media outlets have called for renewed Arab unity in 
support of the Palestinians.  Under the March 2 headline, "So 
that Silence Is Not Consent," private Arabic-language daily 
"al-Watan" urged uniform condemnation not only of Israeli 
"crimes" in Gaza, but also of a statement made by an Israeli 
defense official that the Palestinians would invite 
"disaster" for firing rockets into Israel.  Arabic-language 
state daily "Oman" ran successive editorials entitled, "The 
United Arab Stand and the Necessity of Stopping the 
Massacres," and, "Continuous Israeli Crimes in Gaza."  In 
another show of solidarity, independent Arabic-language daily 
"Shabiba" stated in a February 19 editorial, "We are Arabs 
and Muslims and will always sympathize with the Palestinians 
because they are facing genocide by Israel." 
 
¶2. The calls for Arab unity have been accompanied by 
criticisms that Palestinian infighting has prolonged the woes 
in Gaza.  Recently launched private Arabic-language daily 
"Azzamn" accused the Palestinian Authority of working with 
the Israelis against Hamas in Gaza.  In its late January 
editorial entitled, "The Power Scenario," Azzamn proclaimed 
that, "Gaza is suffering from two sieges, one from Israel and 
the other from Abbas' Fatah movement."  Following similar 
views expressed by Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmud, Omani Deputy Prime 
Minister, during the November 2007 opening of the Majlis 
Oman, Said Baqwair, a senior political editor for "Oman," 
stated in a February 5 editorial that Palestinian Authority 
discord has contributed to weakening international interest 
in the plight of the Palestinian people.  "Al-Watan" added in 
a February 18 editorial that, "Palestinian infighting has 
caused the prolonging of the Gaza siege." 
 
¶3. While devoid of calls for Arab unity, prominent 
English-language dailies "Times of Oman" (private) and "Oman 
Observer" (state-owned) used their front pages to condemn 
recent Israeli actions via front-page headlines such as, 
"Israel Is at It Again, Kills Ten in Gaza" and "Gaza 
Massacres," respectively.  Neither chose to run editorials on 
the conflict, however, choosing to express their views 
through sensational headlines. 
 
¶4. Outside print media, violence in Gaza was a topic of 
discussion in Omani Internet forums.  Forum participants were 
nearly unanimous in condemning Israel for the "massacre" of 
Palestinians.  Many also held the U.S. responsible for 
Palestinian deaths, citing strong American support for 
Israel.  A few participants also praised Palestinian rocket 
attacks against Israel and called for more of them.  The 
situation in Gaza was not, however, the most popular subject 
in Omani cyberspace.  There was more interest, as measured by 
the number of postings, in both the rising cost of living in 
Oman and the republication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohamed 
in Danish newspapers. 
GRAPPO