VZCZCXRO9706
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHMS #0007 0051223
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 051223Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0255
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0572
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0460

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000007 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, NEA/PI, INR/R/MR, NEA/SA/EX/PMO 
LONDON FOR NEA WATCHER 
PARIS FOR NEA WATCHER 
FOREIGN PRESS CENTER FOR NEA WATCHER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KPAO KMDR MU
SUBJECT: OMAN MEDIA REACTION: GAZA, DISUNITY, AND AGGRESSION 
 
¶1. SUMMARY:  This week, Omani dailies remained fixed on the Gaza 
crisis, condemning Israel and calling for Arab unity.  Columnists 
used the beginning of 2009 to reflect on general factors leading to 
the current violence.  Government daily "Oman" said 2008 saw an 
important decline in Arab unity, affecting Arabs' ability to respond 
to Gaza.  Private daily "Al Watan" summarized factors leading to the 
crisis, noting Israel's love for war, American collusion, 
Palestinian factionalism, and Arab disunity.  END SUMMARY. 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
"2008: Decline in Relations among Arab States" 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶2.  On January 1, government Arabic daily "Oman" (circulation 
38,000) reflected on 2008, claiming that a decline in inter-Arab 
relations weakened their ability to resolve Israeli-Palestinian 
violence.  According to "So the New Year Becomes Better for the 
Arabs": 
 
"It is necessary for all Arabs, and Palestinians in particular, to 
learn from the tragedies of the 2008, which witnessed a significant 
decline in relations and interaction among Arab states.  The 
quickest path to failure is division.  Arabs' efforts to solve their 
differences will benefit the Palestinians.  The effort by Arabs to 
stop the brutal Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and to force 
the international community to carry out its responsibilities will 
be more effective if international parties feel that Arab countries 
are serious about overcoming their differences." 
 
---------------------------------- 
U.S. "Praised Israel's Aggression" 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  On January 1, private Arabic daily "Al Watan" (circulation 
42,000) listed factors leading to the current crisis in Gaza, noting 
Israel's love of "murder", the division of the Palestinians, a 
larger Arab disunity, and the U.S.'s praise for Israeli aggression. 
According to "Israel is to Pay the Price!": 
 
"Israel's insistence on aggression against Palestinians and its 
rejection of calls by the EU and the quartet show Israel's disregard 
for the international community and its pleasure in murdering 
children, women, and elderly people.  But there are many causes of 
the Gaza tragedy.  The split in Palestinians' ranks led to the 
division between Arab supporters of Hamas and Fatah.  This weakened 
their ability to pressure the international community to stop the 
massacre through the UN Security Council.  Also, the White House has 
gone far in supporting Israel.  It encouraged and praised Israel's 
aggression, rather than condemning them." 
 
------------------------------ 
"Humanity is No Longer Valued" 
------------------------------ 
 
¶4. "Al Watan" on January 2 stated that the Gaza crisis is the top 
and only priority of the Arab and Islamic world in the new year. 
"New Year and New Hopes" said: 
 
"Last year was marked by pain and trouble.  Economic and military 
events proved that humanity is no longer valued, despite all the 
calls to improve humanitarian conditions, particularly regarding 
Gaza.  The Palestinian issue is not only the top priority for Arabs, 
but also the only concern for the Arab and Islamic world.  The world 
has witnessed mass marches and demonstrations demanding a halt to 
Israeli attacks, especially after Washington blocked the UN 
resolution.  When the UN failed to issue even one resolution to save 
Palestinian lives, it provided to be fully on the Israelis' side." 
GRAPPO