O 161009Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4690
NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 
USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 
CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA PRIORITY

UNCLAS BEIRUT 000441 
 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ELA - LAWSON, NEA/ELA - IRWIN, NEA/PPD, R, 
INR/R/MR, INR,NSC - SHAPIRO, MCDERMOTT 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF PREL KMDR OPRC KPAO KISL KPAL
SUBJECT:  Lebanon: Media Reaction - April 16, 2009 
 
Atmospherics: 
------------- 
 
The press continued to give top billing to the Army's efforts to 
arrest the criminals who attacked the Army Patrol killing four 
soldiers.  The press also continued to highlight the "growing" 
conflict between Egypt and Hizballah.  Imprisoned General Jamil 
El-Sayyed wrote about this conflict, noting that a similar incident 
took place between Hizballah and Jordan a few years ago, but it was 
resolved by the late Rafiq Hariri and was kept out of the media. 
 
Several editorialists seemed to have met with a senior French 
diplomatic source who said that France will not change its policy 
towards Lebanon if the opposition wins the parliamentary majority, 
and will continue to provide the Lebanese Army with training and 
weapons. 
 
Selected Headlines 
------------------- 
 
"The Largest Army Campaign in Baalbeck and Minister El-Murr Confirms 
that the Army Will Not Step Back" Moderate, anti-Syrian An-Nahar 
(4/16) 
 
"Lebanese Army Rounds Up 69 Suspects in Bekaa Raids" 
English-language The Daily Star (4/16) 
 
Block Quotes: 
------------- 
 
"Diplomatic Circles Confirm that Obama is Bothered By The Israeli 
Adamant Position on the Arabs" an editorial by Khalil Flayhan in 
moderate, anti-Syrian An-Nahar (4/16): 
 
"Information by several sources noted that the United States and the 
European Union are inclined to deal in a tough manner with Israel if 
its government continues to refuse to settle its conflict with the 
Arabs on the basis of the two-states solution.  ...Western 
Diplomatic sources reported that President Obama is 'bothered' by 
the adamant position which is taken by the Israeli Government which 
is rejecting negotiations with Arab governments.  ...It is believed 
that President Obama will not allow the Netanyahu Government to get 
away with its positions, particularly if he finds out after meeting 
Netanyahu at the White House next month that he is sticking to the 
positions that were announced by his Foreign Minister.  ...Sources 
believe that Obama's friends from the Jewish Lobby advised him not 
to be hasty and to give some time to Netanyahu to review Israeli 
policy towards the Arabs..." 
 
"A Senior French Diplomat: Paris' Assistance to Lebanon Will Not Be 
Affected by the Results of the Elections," an editorial by Marlene 
Khalifeh in Arab nationalist As-Safir (4/16): 
 
"Lebanon will be receiving in the coming few weeks several French 
Ministers.  ...Paris is watching closely the ongoing preparations 
for the election process.  It has already participated with 6 
million Euros which will be spent on several activities that have to 
do with elections.  ...A senior French diplomat answered a question 
about the French position if the opposition wins in the upcoming 
elections.  He said that 'Hizballah is part of the opposition and 
not the whole opposition.  The relationship between France and 
Lebanon is a relationship between two countries and will continue to 
be that way.  It will not change.  ...Paris will implement the 
commitments it took upon itself during the Paris III Confernce.' 
...On providing the Lebanese Army with weaons he noted that France 
will continue its training for the Army ...and will continue to 
provide it with weapons..." 
 
Sison