US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT1291

UNCLAS MUSCAT 001291 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD, NEA/P, INR/R/MR 
 
LONDON FOR TSOU 
PARIS FOR ZEYA 
USCENTCOM FOR PLUSH 
FOREIGN PRESS CENTER FOR ASILAS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO, KMDR, OIIP, MU, Public Affairs, International Relations 
SUBJECT: SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: ISRAELI WITHDRAWAL FROM GAZA 
 
 
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Substitutions 
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1. Essa bin Mohammed al-Zedjali, owner of the Arabic daily "al- 
Shabibah," penned an op-ed piece in the August 21 issue (which 
was translated and reprinted in its sister English-language daily 
"Times of Oman") entitled "Sharon Replaces Gaza With West Bank": 
 
"The dismantling of the settlements in the Gaza Strip after an 
occupation that lasted more than thirty years is the biggest blow 
to the Zionist entity's government and an end to its dream of 
establishing a grand state... This is, no doubt, a moment to 
rejoice for the Palestinians, but they should not throw caution 
to the wind.  Sharon has already made it clear that he is 
planning to replace the Gaza Strip with the West Bank, and his 
government has received the green light from the U.S. for 
establishing new settlements in the West Bank.  He is hell-bent 
on prolonging the occupation, and his decision to withdraw from 
the Gaza Strip is no more than an attempt to buy time, and not a 
genuine step towards solving the conflict." 
 
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Calculations 
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2. "Al-Shabibah" also published an op-ed piece by Nasser al- 
Yahmady on August 20 under the headline "What Comes After The 
Evacuation?": 
 
"The long-awaited withdrawal from Gaza finally took place; 
however, tears of joy should not stop us from being cautious 
about the consequences of this event.  There are four scenarios 
that might take place in the aftermath: a civil war, the renewal 
of the intifadah, the continuation of resistance, or the 
activation of settlements in Jerusalem.  The withdrawal from Gaza 
was a calculated political move, intended to show the world that 
Israel is willing to compromise with the Palestinians.  This 
ostensible desire for peace on the part of the Israelis, however, 
simply masks Sharon's interest in increasing control over the 
West Bank." 
 
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Predictions 
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3. The government-owned Arabic-language daily "Oman" featured an 
editorial on August 21 entitled "The Settlement Strategy": 
 
"To make this withdrawal work, the Palestinians need to control 
the Gaza Strip and other areas under their authority in the West 
Bank.  They must administer these territories properly in order 
to prevent Sharon from re-invading Gaza if he feels threatened. 
There have been many changes inside both Israel and Palestine, 
and the withdrawal may unleash other forces that could cause 
additional conflicts...  Will Sharon succeed in placing himself 
next to Ben-Gurion and Begin?  The answer is very much connected 
to the consequences of this withdrawal and the establishment of 
the Palestinian state." 
 
BALTIMORE