US embassy cable - 05AMMAN281

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 000281 
 
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 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
 
TAGS: KMDR JO 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON PALESTINIAN ELECTIONS AND 
IRAQI ELECTIONS 
 
                        Summary 
 
-- Lead story in all papers over the past two days, 
January 11-12, focus on the Palestinian presidential 
elections and the victory of Mahmoud Abbas for 
President. 
 
                 Editorial Commentary 
 
-- "Iraqi elections: the opportunity" 
 
Columnist Rana Sabbagh writes on the op-ed page of 
independent Arabic daily Al-Ghad 901/12):  "Hope 
remains that the IOM (International Organization for 
Migration), which  is responsible for organizing the 
elections in places where Iraqis live outside of Iraq 
(14 Arab and foreign countries, including Jordan), 
will succeed in motivating and raising the awareness 
of Iraqis of the importance of exercising their 
constitutional right of voting.  An extensive 
participation may just determine the beginning of the 
way out of the dark Iraqi tunnel, particularly with 
rising talk in the Congress, the Pentagon and the 
White House about the need to start thinking of a 
scenario for when and how to bring about the American 
disengagement from Iraq after the conclusion of the 
elections.  Washington cannot continue to pay the cost 
of President George Bush's adventures for long.  It is 
costing the U.S. treasury 4.5 billion dollars a month, 
plus the rising human cost and the escalation of the 
resistance, not to mention the restlessness of the 
American public vis--vis the gains acquired by the 
war." 
 
-- "And there has become a partner for peace!!" 
 
 
Center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour 
(01/11) editorializes:  "Finally, the Palestinians 
have a new president . and Israel no right to claim 
the presence of an `obstacle' to resuming the 
political process, ending its occupation of the 
Palestinian territories, and establishing the 
Palestinian state..  The Palestinian people proved, 
through these elections, that they are capable of 
exercising democracy and express their will.  They 
proved that they are people who can not only rule 
themselves and preserve their entity, but also 
overcome the biggest of crises and surpass the ordeal 
of losing their leader..  The only thing remaining now 
is to drag Israel to the negotiating table in order to 
start the countdown towards ridding the Palestinian 
brethren of one of the ugliest occupations in modern 
history." 
 
-- "Fateh or Palestine?" 
 
Daily columnist Basem Sakijha writes on the op-ed page 
of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour 
(01/11):  "(Amidst all the celebrating) I thought that 
Mahmoud Abbas had defeated Ariel Sharon in the 
elections, or that the Likud party had lost to the 
Fateh Movement, or even that the Palestinian state was 
declared along with the initial results of the 
elections.  The volume of Fateh's celebrations was 
larger than the event itself.  Fateh men shooting 
their guns in the air was nothing more than childish.. 
The celebrators forgot all about Palestinian democracy 
and magnified out of proportion a frail victory for a 
single organization..  We had hoped that celebrations 
would take place all over Palestine because of the 
victory for Palestinian democracy, as had been the 
case when the late Yaser Arafat was elected 
president..  Moreover, we heard not a word about the 
refugees, as if they have become heavy luggage lost 
along the long way.  We heard not a word of 
condemnation for the Israeli enemy, as we had during 
the election campaign.  In all cases, we witnessed the 
establishment of a single party in the great tradition 
of the third world." 
 
-- "A divider between two stages" 
Daily columnist Urayb Rintawi writes on the op-ed page 
of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour 
(01/11):  "Because the elections occurred in a climate 
of fair competition and transparency unprecedented in 
the Arab world, the pens of those harmed by the 
results of the these elections moved to question their 
legitimacy, emphasize their fabricated nature, and 
exaggerate the effect of the international support for 
Abu Mazen.  Yet, the claims of these people are 
thwarted by the facts on the ground, which they choose 
to ignore by launching ready-made accusations. 
Instead of analyzing and discussing the significance 
of the prominent participation in the voting process 
and the meaning of the large percentage of votes that 
a man, known for his direct and clear stands, got in 
the elections, we see them talking about a terrible 
moment and a cosmic conspiracy, without which Abu 
Mazen would not have won.  These people did not 
realize that the decision to boycott was not a popular 
decision.  The Palestinian people are longing for 
freedom and democracy.  These people did not realize 
that the Palestinian people have concerns and 
priorities, which may not necessarily be served by 
exaggerated slogans.  These people did not realize 
that ballot boxes were the final arbitrator..  What 
was before the elections cannot be after the 
elections.  The Palestinian people have cast their 
vote and they voted for Abu Mazen, the person, the 
movement, the program and the trend.  No one, after 
January 9 has the right to veto..  It is time to speak 
the language of respect for the will and the choice of 
the people.  Using the Palestinians of the Diaspora as 
an excuse to say that the elections reflected the will 
of just part of the Palestinians and not all of them 
lacks credibility, as though the Palestinians of the 
Diaspora are more influential and more popular than 
the Palestinians living in Palestine." 
 
-- "Not an authorization to concede!" 
 
Daily columnist Yaser Za'atreh writes on the op-ed 
page of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al- 
Dustour (01/11):  "What happened [Palestinian 
presidential elections] was a vote for the Fateh 
Movement in the absence of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, 
and has absolutely nothing to do with Mahmoud Abbas or 
any other person running..  The game of forging the 
truth has started despite the fact that people know 
that victory was guaranteed for a man whom everyone on 
the Arab and international levels preferred.  A large 
part of the Palestinian people could not reject him 
when the Authority's party had given him its 
legitimacy, when Hamas had been absent, and when they 
had heard the man talk about Palestinian principles 
and his readiness to hold a referendum on any final 
status solution of the Palestinian issue." 
HALE