US embassy cable - 04AMMAN2982

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 AMMAN 002982 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARN, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, INR/NESA, R/MR, 
I/GNEA, B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN 
USAID/ANE/MEA 
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH 
PARIS FOR O'FRIEL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
 
TAGS: KMDR JO 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON ISRAEL'S ASSASSINATION OF 
HAMAS' RANTISI 
 
                        Summary 
 
-- Front pages and editorial commentary in papers 
published today and yesterday were almost entirely 
dedicated to reports on Israel's assassination of 
Hamas leader Dr. Abdul Aziz Rantisi in Gaza. 
Yesterday's papers highlighted the assassination under 
banner headlines and graphic photos depicting the 
assassination as an "Israeli terrorist raid", an 
"Israeli criminal operation" as well as stating 
"Israel assassinates Rantisi with an American green 
light" (Al-Arab Al-Yawm).  Reports featured various 
reactions to the assassination operation, most 
significantly the Jordanian condemnation as expressed 
by King Abdullah's exclusive remarks to the Jordan 
News Agency, describing it as "an ugly crime that 
personifies the policy of arrogance adopted by Israel" 
and arguing that this "crime will lead to more 
violence and will thwart the peace process".  Some 
reports highlighted remarks by an unnamed State 
Department official urging Israel to consider the 
consequences of its actions and denying the US prior 
knowledge of the assassination operation.  Many inside 
pages in all papers were dedicated to various details 
and photos of the assassination as well as reports 
highlighting Rantisi' life. 
 
-- Papers published today focus on Dr. Rantisi's 
funeral in Gaza yesterday and the massive 
demonstrations that took place in various Palestinian 
cities to protest the assassination.  Papers also 
highlight the demonstrations that took place in Jordan 
reporting thousands of participants.  Front pages 
today highlight a report about Prime Minister Al-Fayez 
cutting short his visit to the United States in view 
of the situation in the Middle East and reiterating 
his condemnation of the assassination.  A number of 
inside pages are dedicated to further details and 
photos related to the assassination and the 
demonstrations. 
 
                 Editorial Commentary 
 
-- "Not just a condemnation, but a strong message" 
 
Center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour 
(04/19) editorializes:  "The King's statement that was 
issued during his current visit to the United States 
reflects a stand that he wanted to state from the 
place where the policies of Israeli Prime Minister 
Sharon receive support from the U.S. administration, 
and from the place where the King is seeking to draw 
the attention of this administration and the American 
public opinion to the fact that one of the reasons for 
the terrorism that is now threatening all the 
countries stems of these policies that are in 
violation of all agreements and international 
treaties.  At the same time, the King wants to 
underscore the need for an international stand that 
condemns Israel's measures against the unarmed 
Palestinian people..  We must point out here to the 
issue that was highlighted in the government's 
statement, namely the Israeli plan to export the 
crisis to countries of the region.  The fact that 
Prime Minister Faisal Al-Fayez cut short his visit to 
the United States falls within this realm and reflect 
a decision taken as a result of feeling that viscous 
plan.  Finally, all political and popular forces in 
our country must realize that they required to be 
cautious and alert, to learn the lessons of the past, 
and to express their emotions and their stances in a 
way that complements the Jordanian stand and supports 
the brethren Palestinian people, as well as safeguards 
Jordan's security, which is also being targeted by 
Israel's begrudging actions." 
 
-- "We the killers!" 
 
Columnist Mohammad Al-Tal writes on the op-ed page of 
center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour 
(04/19):  "The responsibility for what happened to Dr. 
Abdul Aziz Rantisi lies first and foremost on us, his 
people, because we left him and his brethren of 
Palestine disarmed of all financial and moral support 
and totally exposed before a murderer who wreaked 
murder and slaughter.  The failing and the weakness of 
the Arab nation have provided additional support for 
Sharon in his battle against the Mujahideen.  The 
White House's unprecedented support for the Israeli 
policy was a determining factor in this open battle, 
that White House whose master considers every Arab 
Muslim a target to be eliminated.  Rantisi's martyrdom 
and declaring Khaled Mish'al and other leaders new 
Zionist targets indicate clearly and explicitly 
Sharon's disregard for the Arab official regime..  Let 
Sharon and Bush celebrate their victory.  The table 
will be turned without a doubt.  This is the logic of 
history and the Arab nation will not be pinning its 
destiny on an official regime that declares its demise 
every day." 
 
-- "Thank you President!" 
 
Columnist Hussein Rawashdeh writes on the op-ed page 
of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour 
(04/19):  "Thank you Mr. President.  You have set our 
nation free from the prison of its illusions.  You 
have restored to us our self-worth and you have 
confirmed the correctness of its choices.  No one now 
can depend on your promises and your initiatives.  You 
have settled the relationship and the dialogue.  It is 
now up to us to depend on our own sweat and blood to 
face the test of destiny that you had hoped would put 
us in the graveyard." 
 
-- "No peace and no reform in the Greater Middle East" 
 
Columnist Abu Yazan writes on the op-ed page of center- 
left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour (04/19): 
"By assassinating Dr. Abdul Aziz Rantisi and Sheikh 
Ahmad Yassin three weeks before, Israel has released a 
riding wave of anger, has entrenched the increasing 
power of fundamental and extremist powers in the 
Palestinian community, and has weakened, to the 
largest extent possible, the peace camp and those who 
call for negotiating a solution to the conflict.. 
When the United States has dropped off the Arab- 
Israeli conflict and settled for proposing agendas for 
political reform and democratic change, Israel, in its 
continuous search to break down the Palestinian 
resistance and steadfastness, has reminded the region, 
in its entirety, that this conflict will continue so 
long as there is an occupation.  The situation being 
as such, the result becomes the fact that the United 
States, with its absolute and blind bias in favor of 
Israel, is impeding the solution of the Palestinian 
issue and is weakening any chance of settling the Arab- 
Israeli conflict, and that Israel, by continuing its 
war against and extermination of the Palestinian 
people and its national and Islamic leaders, is 
wasting any opportunity for reform and change in the 
region." 
 
-- "What is Sharon doing?" 
 
Chief Editor Taher Udwan writes on the back page of 
independent, mass-appeal Arabic daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm 
(04/19):  "Simply, he is making talk about peace with 
Israel a futile thing..  What the Palestinian people 
and their leaderships are suffering from today would 
not have continued without the protection and 
political and military cover of the United States that 
has stood by Sharon's state terrorism morally and 
politically.  In fact the U.S. worked diligently to 
exclude the Security Council and the international 
community from the struggle and from peace through a 
series of vetoes as well as the Bush's recent letter 
of guarantees to Sharon..  Only a miracle can prevent 
these developments from turning a comprehensive 
confrontation between American and Israel on one hand 
and Arab and Muslim people on the other." 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
HALE