Cablegate: Egypt Media Trends: August 3, 2006

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DE RUEHEG #4796 2151443
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R 031443Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0348
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS CAIRO 004796

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SIPDIS

NEA/PPD FOR ROBIN SMITH AND DAVID BENZE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO PREL PREL IS LE EG
SUBJECT: EGYPT MEDIA TRENDS: AUGUST 3, 2006

1. Summary. Headlines in opposition, pro-government and independent
papers today focused on the escalation of the conflict, and Egypt's
role in supporting Lebanon. Front-page photos in many papers
included injured Lebanese women, parents carrying injured or
deceased children, and world leaders, although two papers showed
exceptionally biased photos of Bush and Blair and Israelis. One of
the day's commentaries provided a new, balanced perspective of the
cause of the conflict. End summary.

2. In the headlines. Papers focused on the escalation of the
conflict and Egypt's role in supporting Lebanon. Pro-government
daily, Al-Gomhouriya, used photos to create the image of Israelis
celebrating in Lebanese deaths. The captions on its front page
photos of two Jewish men playing instruments and a Lebanese family
huddled over a corpse read, "Extremist Jews play music for the
Israeli soldiers so they can enjoy the killing," and "A Lebanese
family sitting on the ground, reciting the Koran over the corpse of
a martyred family member." Opposition Al-Wafd's photos included one
of Bush and Blair from the back, overlaid with the words "arrogance"
on Bush's back and "follower" on Blair's.

Banner headlines, in red, decried, "The World is Turning its Back as
Blair Announces War on Us, and We Weep and Recite the Koran over the
Martyrs" (Al-Wafd); "Baalbak is in the line of fire. Special Israeli
Forces Fire Randomly at Civilians" (Independent daily, Al Masry Al
Yom); and "War Enters the Decisive Stage" (opposition daily,
Al-Ahrar). The pro-government papers included headlines promoting
Egypt's support to the people of Lebanon, such as, "Suzanne Mubarak
Calls for an International Consciousness: Save Lebanon and its
People" (pro-government, Rose al Youssef); "Egypt Works Toward a
Close Ceasefire" (pro-government daily, Al-Akhbar); "Lahoud
Expresses Gratitude to Egypt" and "Mubarak Dispatches Abul-Gheit on
an Urgent Mission to Beirut to Confirm Egypt's Support to Lebanon in
its Crisis" (pro-government daily, Al-Ahram).

3. In the commentaries. The majority of the commentaries expressed
the same anger toward the US and Arab leaders that we have seen
since the conflict began. However, one commentary expressed
different, balanced sentiment. A senior writer in independent daily,
Nahdet Misr, criticized as false those who think "that Arabs were
deceived and tricked and that the peace process is dead." He argued
that "it is difficult to consider the entire international community
a bunch of evil deceivers" and wrote that the war on Lebanon, "while
savage, will force the region to realize further the inevitability
of peace." He blamed the war "not on the kidnapping of soldiers or
Israel being an aggressor, but because peace was lacking between
Lebanon and Israel and Lebanon failed to fight a diplomatic battle
with Israel to regain its occupied land."

4. Public sentiment. During the past week, embassy personnel have
experienced tough criticism from some close contacts based on the
contacts' perceptions of the US position in the conflict. For
example, one journalist, who is very friendly during normal times,
called and pleaded that we tell Secretary Rice "not to come to
Cairo," and asked, "Don't those people have TVs in their homes to
watch chldren being killed?" Another columnist and TV presnter,
said, "Can't you tell your Americans to be marter? Why do they
insist on killing children ith their own weapons and then proudly
announcin it?" Many close contacts, also, do not wish to met in
public and others have cancelled meetings.
RICCIARDONE

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