Cablegate: Media Reaction Report - Israeli- Lebanese Crisis -
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Lucia A Keegan 08/04/2006 10:01:28 AM From DB/Inbox: Lucia A Keegan
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SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION REPORT - Israeli- Lebanese Crisis -
Europeans Divided Cuba
PARIS - Thursday, August 03, 2006
(A) SUBJECTS COVERED IN TODAY'S REPORT:
Israeli- Lebanese Crisis - Europeans Divided
Cuba
B) SUMMARY OF COVERAGE:
Israel's military escalation in Lebanon is today's lead
international story for Le Figaro and La Croix which concludes in a
front page editorial: "Israel has always accumulated military
successes, but has not really gained in security." In its editorial,
Le Figaro analyzes France's "responsibilities" in Lebanon: "While
France must assume its commitment to Lebanon's sovereignty, it must
also take into account the refusal of other major military powers,
such as the U.S., in participating in an international force..."
France's position vis-`-vis Syria and Europe's divisions regarding
an international force elicit several articles. In Liberation, one
report contends that Spain's FM's trip to Damascus is "a slap in the
face" for Chirac." (See Part C)
Le Figaro interviews a Syrian Professor on Europe's (Spain and
Germany) overtures towards Syria and France's stance: "Syria
mistrusts France and its diplomatic approach in Lebanon, which is
too close to the U.S. position, even if they differ about
implementing an international force. Damascus believes that France
and the U.S. share the same agenda and the same final objectives: to
diminish Syria's regional influence."
Le Monde interviews Jean-Marie Gueheno, the head of peacekeeping
operations for the UN: "An international force can never impose
peace from without. While we do not want to referee between the U.S.
and French positions, the fact is that first we need for the
fighting to stop..."
For La Croix, "European governments are divided into those loyal to
the American approach and those supporting a 'cleaner approach.' Le
Parisien cites an anonymous diplomat as saying the five permanent
members of the UNSC are warming up to the French three-prong
proposal because no state wants to commit its troops to the
"adventure." While Le Parisien looks favorably upon the U.S.'s
"signs of impatience with its ally, Israel," it sees an end to
hostilities as distant. The article ends with quotations that
attribute responsibility for the conflict to Israel and President
Bush.
Le Figaro carries an op-ed by former President Jimmy Carter
entitled: "Palliative Measures Not Enough for the Middle East."
Le Monde's editorial, entitled "War of Images," does not believe
that Israel can win the image war, although it will probably win the
military one. (See Part C)
The political situation in Cuba is today's second major
international story. In Le Monde, correspondent Eric Lessser
analyzes Washington's "wait and see" attitude while in Le Figaro one
report is devoted to Washington's quandary about pursuing its
embargo. (See Part C)
(C) SUPPORTING TEXT/BLOCK QUOTES:
Israeli-Lebanese Crisis - Europeans Divided
"France's Responsibility in Lebanon"
Luc de Barochez in right-of-center Le Figaro (07/03): "While France
must assume its historic commitment to Lebanon's sovereignty, it
must also take into account the refusal of other major military
powers, such as the U.S., in participating in an international
force... This heavy responsibility demands that France's commitment
be devoid all political calculations... FM Douste-Blazy's remarks
about Iran, which elicited reactions from France's partners, have
fortunately been clarified since... It is clear that Iran, in
exchange for its involvement in resolving the crisis, expects
concessions about its nuclear program. This of course is
unacceptable... But France's conditions must not serve as an excuse
to do nothing: we must find a compromise. Because if we wait for a
distant and improbable peace between Hezbollah and Israel before
sending an international force, the force's reason for being will
already have lost much of its meaning."
"Europe's Conditions to an International Force"
Alexandrine Bouilhet in right-of-center Le Figaro (07/03): "Because
of France's objections, there will be no European soldier on the
ground in Lebanon as long as a ceasefire and a political agreement
have not been implemented."
"A European Slap in the Face for Chirac"
Christophe Boltansky in left-of-center Liberation (07/03): "Spain's
FM's trip to Damascus to talk about the Lebanese crisis is a slap in
the face for Chirac and Paris, which has tried to ostracize Syria as
much as possible... Chirac, who appears as though he wants to get
back to Syria for the assassination of his friend, Raffic Hariri,
finds himself cheated by one of his partners... This latest Middle
East crisis initially boosted Chirac's ratings. But it could turn
into a trap. While Chirac was pushing for the implementation of
resolution 1559..., he appears to be back-tracking. Could it be that
he is afraid to appear to pro-American in the eyes of his
compatriots and the Arab public?"
"Israel's Conditions"
Francois Ernenwein in Catholic La Croix (07/03): "Israel has
launched a new wide-ranging ground operation... This new Middle East
crisis underscores once again the impotence of diplomacy... due to
divisions in the West... And so the fighting continues, exacerbating
extremist reactions. By not acting, or by inadequate action, the
major powers have once again let rancor take over. While
historically Israel has always accumulated military successes, it
has yet to gain in security."
"There Is No Israeli-Lebanese War"
National Assembly member Rudy Salles in Catholic La Croix (07/03):
"Israel and Lebanon share neither a tradition of war, hateful
relations, nor territorial conflict. Instead, Lebanon and Israel
have one common enemy: terrorism... Israel's response was triggered
by Hezbollah's missiles, with Syria and Iran's complicity... There
should be less international blame against Israel: Israel should not
have to do the 'dirty work' while others dance the dance of
hypocrites."
"War of Images"
Left-of-center Le Monde in its unsigned editorial (07/03): "Israel's
avowed goal is to disarm Hezbollah. Another goal acknowledged off
camera by Israeli officials is to see Hezbollah 'come out of the war
as the vanquished.' This last objective, the more modest of the two,
has not been reached. What is also clear is that this war of images
with the enemy, and the political war that will ensue if the
military war remains undecided, will not be won by Israel...
Hezbollah is improving its image in Lebanon and in the Arab-Muslim
world, if only because it is resisting against the Israeli army...
We cannot say whether Israel's military method will be successful.
But it is politically disastrous... Still, Israel has little hopes
of ever improving its image in the Middle East and in a large
majority of the world... After 9/11 ... after America's fiasco in
Iraq... the war in Lebanon has revived resentment against Israel,
its American ally, and the West in general... The situation
indicates the war is apt to continue. The future will tell who is
the military winner; although there may be none. What is certain is
that Lebanon will forgive Hezbollah for triggering the conflict, but
it will not forgive Israel for Qana."
Cuba
"Washington Cautious While Preparing for a Post-Fidel Castro Cuba"
Eric Lesser in left-of-center Le Monde (07/03): "The Bush
administration has never hidden its eagerness to see the end of the
Castro regime. But it is remaining cautious after the announcement
about Fidel Castro's health: a stance which contrasts with Miami's
Cuban refugees... American diplomacy has been preparing for the
post-Castro era, hoping to implement a new regime after Fidel
Castro... Such a regime change would undoubtedly be considered a
victory for the Bush administration, which has hardened its position
against Cuba by reinforcing the economic sanctions." STAPLETON