US embassy cable - 04ABUDHABI1238

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001238 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD; NEA/RA; INR/R/MR; PA; 
INR/NESA; INR/B; IIP/G/NEA-SA 
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE; NSC 
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA 
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD 
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH; PARIS FOR O'FRIEL 
LONDON ALSO PASS TO MOC 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, KMDR, TC 
SUBJECT:  MEDIA REACTION:  AL RANTISSI'S ASSASSINATION 
 
 
1.  SUMMARY:  THE ASSASSINATION OF DR. ABDULAZIZ AL RANTISSI 
DOMINATED COVERAGE IN ALL LOCAL ELECTRONIC AND PRINT MEDIA.  AN 
EDITORIAL IN "AL BAYAN" NOTED THAT SHARON WOULD KEEP ON KILLING 
BECAUSE THE U.S SUPPORTS HIM.  ANOTHER EDITORIAL IN "AL ITTIHAD" 
COMMENTS ON U.S. SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL IN ALL ITS CRIMES.  THE "AL 
KHALEEJ" EDITORIAL NOTED THAT ISRAEL AND THE U.S. ARE NOW "EVIL 
ALLIES."  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES CONDEMNED THE 
ASSASSINATION OF DR. ABDULAZIZ AL RANTISSI IN AN OFFICIAL 
STATEMENT THAT WAS ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY, APRIL 19 BY THE UAE 
CABINET. 
 
3.  NOTING THAT THE BUTCHER SHARON WILL KEEP ON KILLING CALMLY 
RELAXED BECAUSE OF U.S. SUPPORT, DUBAI-BASED BUSINESS-ORIENTED 
"AL BAYAN" EDITORIALIZED 04/19: 
 
". SHARON WILL BE OUT OF THE CIRCLE OF PUNISHMENT FOR MANY 
REASONS.  FIRSTLY, HE AND HIS CRIMINAL GANG ARE SUPPORTED BY THE 
U.S. AS THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN SUPPORTED BEFORE. THE ASSASSINATION 
OF AL RANTISSI IS A DIRECT RESULT OF AMERICAN FAVORITISM OF 
ISRAEL. SECONDLY, THESE BRUTAL CRIMINAL ACTS OF SHARON'S 
GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY 
TOOK RESPONSIBILITY AND STOOD FIRM IN THE FACE OF ISRAELI 
ARROGANCE. IN ADDITION TO ALL THIS, THE ZIONIST ENTITY IS SURE 
THAT THE ARABS ARE IN VERY BAD SHAPE AND THE MOST THEY CAN DO IS 
TO CONDEMN, AND THIS IS THE ONLY ARAB WEAPON AFTER THEY MADE 
THEIR HISTORY AND HUMAN CIVILIZATION WRETCHED." 
 
4.  COMMENTING ON THE CRIMES COMMITTED AGAINST PALESTINIAN 
LEADERS BY ISRAEL AND U.S. SUPPORT OF ISRAEL, ABU DHABI-BASED 
SEMI-GOVERNMENT "AL ITTIHAD" EDITORIALIZED 04/19: 
 
". THE AMERICAN ADMINISTRATION IS REQUESTED TO OPEN THE DOORS AND 
WINDOWS TO ALLOW THE BREEZE OF JUSTICE TO COME IN AND IT SHOULD 
THROW OUT ALL THE INJUSTICE THAT HAS BEEN SPREADING IN THE WHITE 
HOUSE SINCE SHARON WENT THERE. HE THREATENED ALL THE U.S. 
INTERESTS IN THE REGION AND THE WORLD WITH DANGERS BECAUSE OF THE 
U.S.'S SILENCE AND SUPPORT." 
 
5.  NOTING THAT THE U.S. IS NOW ALLYING ITSELF WITH ISRAEL TO 
HUMILIATE THE ARABS AND THAT THE ASSASSINATION OF AL RANTISSI IS 
THE PROOF, SHARJAH-BASED PAN-ARAB DAILY "AL-KHALEEJ" 
EDITORIALIZED 04/19: 
 
". THE CORE OF THE PROBLEM THAT THE ARABS IN PALESTINE, IRAQ, AND 
ALL ARAB COUNTRIES ARE FACING IS THAT BUSH AND SHARON HAVE 
ABANDONED ANY SETTLEMENT FOR THE ONGOING PROBLEMS, WHEREAS ARABS 
ARE STILL BELIEVING THE LIES THEY ARE SPREADING REGARDING THE 
PEACE PROCESS, WHILE ISRAEL AND THE U.S. ARE SHEDDING ARAB BLOOD 
AND ARE LOOKING FOR MORE BODIES IN ADDITION TO IRAQ AND PALESTINE 
TO TORTURE. WILL THE ARABS BELIEVE THAT ALL THEIR BLOOD IS SOUGHT 
BY THESE EVIL ALLIES, OR WILL THEY REMAIN AS IS, BELIEVING THAT 
SHARON IS KILLING TO ACHIEVE PEACE AND THAT BUSH IS AN OCCUPIER 
TO ACHIEVE PEACE ALSO??" 
 
6.  UNDER THE HEADLINE "BUSH'S PROMISE ASSASSINATES AL RANTISSI," 
"AL KHALEEJ EDITORIALIZED 04/18: 
 
". THE ASSASSINATION OF AL RANTISSI AND BEFORE THAT, THE 
ASSASSINATION OF SHEIKH AHMAD YASSIN, ARE RESULTS OF COOPERATION 
BETWEEN SHARON AND BUSH; THEY BOTH ARE RESPONSIBLE AND SHOULD 
FACE THE RESULTS. WHAT IS REQUESTED IS ARAB ANGER THAT SHOULD BE 
TRANSLATED INTO PRACTICAL STANDS THAT WILL MAKE TEL AVIV AND 
WASHINGTON UNDERSTAND THAT ARABS ARE NO LONGER SILENT. THIS IS A 
CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY.  WILL THE WORLD STOP THOSE NAZIS AND PUT 
AN END TO THE AMERICAN LAW OF THE JUNGLE?" 
 
WAHBA