US embassy cable - 04ABUDHABI1742

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001742 
 
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 ZEYA 
LONDON - PASS TO MOC 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, KMDR, TC 
SUBJECT:  MEDIA REACTION:  ARAB SUMMIT 
 
 
1.  SUMMARY:  THE ARAB SUMMIT IN TUNIS AND THE DETERIORATING 
SITUATION IN IRAQ AND PALESTINE DOMINATE COVERAGE IN LOCAL PRINT 
AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA.  AN "AL KHALEEJ" EDITORIAL NOTED THAT THE 
ARAB SUMMIT SHOULD HAVE COME UP WITH REAL ACTIONS INSTEAD OF 
SHALLOW TALK AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.  AN EDITORIAL IN "AL BAYAN" 
PRAISED THE UAE'S ACTIONS TO HELP REBUILD RAFAH AND NOTED THAT 
THE SUMMIT SHOULD HAVE COME UP WITH SOMETHING SIMILAR.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
2.  COMMENTING ON THE ARAB SUMMIT'S ANNOUNCEMENT AND NOTING THAT 
IT LEAVES THE IRAQIS AND PALESTINIANS ALL ALONE, "AL KHALEEJ" 
EDITORIALIZED 05/25: 
 
".ARABS HAVE DECIDED TO ABANDON THE PROSPECT OF GENUINE ARAB 
ACTION AND TO LEAVE PALESTINIANS AND IRAQIS TO FACE THEIR 
PREDICAMENTS ON THEIR OWN, AND THE SAME GOES FOR ANY ARAB COUNTRY 
THAT IS TARGETED BY BUSH/SHARON ATTACKS." 
 
 
3.  NOTING THAT WHAT WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE ARAB SUMMIT WERE THE 
USUAL ARAB SUMMITS' ANNOUNCEMENTS, SHARJAH-BASED ARABIC DAILY "AL- 
KHALEEJ" 05/24:(CIRCULATION 75,000) 
 
". ONCE AGAIN AT THE TUNIS ARAB SUMMIT, THE ARABS CONFIRM THAT 
THEY ARE PEOPLE OF TALKING AND INITIATIVES AND THAT ACTION IS 
LEFT TO THOSE WHO KILL AND THOSE PLANNING MORE KILLING, 
DESTRUCTION, AND THEFT OF THE ARABS' PRESENT AND FUTURE." 
 
4.  PRAISING THE UAE'S ACTIONS TO HELP REBUILD RAFAH AND NOTING 
THAT OTHER ARABS SHOULD ALSO ACT AND NOT ONLY TALK, DUBAI-BASED 
BUSINESS-ORIENTED "AL BAYAN" EDITORIALIZED 05/24: (CIRCULATION 
30,000) 
 
". THE UAE SHOWED ITS SOLIDARITY WITH THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE 
THROUGH ACTIONS.  THIS IS GENUINE SOLIDARITY RATHER THAN SHALLOW 
RHETORIC ON PAPER. IT IS VERY SHAMEFUL THAT ARABS WERE CONCERNED 
WITH ADDING THE PHRASE `WITH NO DISCRIMINATION' WHEN ANNOUNCING 
THEIR CONDEMNATION OF ALL MILITARY ACTIONS IN THE PALESTINIAN 
LANDS AT THE ARAB SUMMIT--MEANING THAT THEY CONDEMN BOTH WHAT 
PALESTINIANS AND ISRAELIS ARE FACING!. THE PALESTINIANS HAVE GOD 
TO PROTECT THEM" 
 
5.  COMMENTING ON THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE ARAB SUMMIT, "AL BAYAN" 
EDITORIALIZED 05/23: 
 
". THE MAIN GOAL OF THIS ARAB SUMMIT SHOULD BE TO REACH ARAB 
SOLIDARITY TO HELP COORDINATEE ARAB ACTIONS. THIS SUMMIT SHOULD 
REPRESENT THE DREAMS AND HOPES OF THE ARAB PEOPLE--BUT FOR THIS 
SUMMIT TO COME OUT WITH A ROUTINE ANNOUNCEMENT WITH NO ACTIONS 
WILL MEAN THAT WE ALL STAY WITHIN THE EMPTY CIRCLE." 
 
WAHBA