US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT1703

UNCLAS MUSCAT 001703 
 
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 SILAS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO, KMDR, OIIP, MU, Public Affairs, International Relations, Terrorism 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: AMMAN BOMBINGS, ARAB LEAGUE EFFORTS, AND 
ORGAN DONATIONS 
 
REF: MUSCAT 1681 
 
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Terror In Jordan 
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1. The government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" featured an editorial 
on November 11 under the headline "Terrorism Strikes Again" 
[Note: as reported reftel, the Omani government issued a strong 
condemnation of the terrorist bombings on November 9.  End 
note.]: 
 
"Terrorism has struck again - this time in three Amman hotels. 
These tragic bombings do not have any relation whatsoever to the 
teachings of Islam, or to human principles in general.  They are 
simply random criminal acts that have no meaning.  Such phenomena 
are unfortunate realities that threaten peace and stability in 
the world...  The existence of clashes in the region has created 
a good environment for terrorist groups, along with a confusion 
of ideologies...  The Amman bombings are shameful acts, and the 
whole world should take harsh measures to prevent such 
occurrences in the future." 
 
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A League Of Their Own 
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2. "Oman" also ran an editorial on November 10 entitled "Iraq And 
The Arab League": 
 
"Despite the current environment in Iraq, where violence 
prevails, the Arab League has been exerting a great deal of 
effort to find a compromise between the various Iraqi factions. 
Through summits organized in Cairo and Baghdad, the Arab League 
continues to look for peace.  Now, strong international support 
is needed to rebuild Iraq after the illegal invasion by the 
United States.  Arabs will persist in their determination to 
encourage the Iraqi powerbrokers to participate in a compromise, 
and to save what can be saved." 
 
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Seeds Of Peace 
-------------- 
 
3. "Al-Watan," a privately owned Arabic daily, published an 
editorial on November 8 entitled "Messages of Peace In Return For 
Messages of War": 
 
"Even when faced with the painful situation of losing a child, 
the Palestinians continue to send messages of peace to Israel in 
response to Tel Aviv's messages of war.  The noble act of a 
Palestinian father who donated the organs of his son - shot by an 
Israeli soldier simply because he was playing with a toy gun - to 
Israeli children illustrates the incredible levels of sacrifice 
and forgiveness on the part of the Palestinians, while 
highlighting Israeli violence and hatred.  In this way, a violent 
initiative was met with a human response.  We hope that 
implanting the organs of the young Palestinian victim will also 
implant the seeds of peace into the bodies of the Israeli 
beneficiaries." 
 
BALTIMORE