Via Friday-Lunch-Club
SUBJECT: Egypt Media trends for July 27, 2006
Sensitive but unclassified. Not for internet distribution.
2. .... Pro-government dailies, such as Al-Ahram, Al-Akhbar, Al- Gomhouriya and Rose Al-Youssef declared, ""American insistence is behind the failure of Rome Conference""; ""Rice Challenged the World... So Talks Collapsed." .... Opposition daily, Al-Wafd, continued to use inflammatory headlines and photos, such as its quote of the very popular Sheikh Qardawi, ""Jihad is a Religious Obligation on all and Assisting Hezbollah is a Must.""
3....A columnist in pro-government daily, Al-Ahram, worried that the new Middle East will mean ""allowing Israel to use its power to redraw the region"" and advised that ""trying to remove Arab nationalism will create another Iran."" Another columnist in Al-Ahram emphasized that Hezbollah ""is awakening the resistance of the whole nation against submission and injustice.""
4. ... During a meeting with Mohamed Hassan el Alfi, the editor-in-chief of the ruling party new newspaper, Al-Watani Al-Yom, opening pleasantries were quickly transformed into a barrage of questions about why the US ""treats us like dogs and pigs."" He accused the US of ""selectively enforcing UN resolutions"" and allowing the occupation to continue. He also said, ""I don blame Israel for the conflict, I blame our friend in Washington. I am happy that you love and protect Israel, we will love Israel, but love us too."" Another Embassy contact, Egypt's leading actor Adel Emam, was quoted on the front page of opposition daily Al-Wafd, asking Secretary Rice why she ""treats us as sheep.""
5. More Public Opinion. Calls made to the Egyptian Television and Arab network talk-shows echoed many of the week newspaper commentaries in praising the ""power"" of Hezbollah in contrast to the ""impotence"" of the Arab leaders. ""Even if Hezbollah fails, it is enough that it showed the whole world that there is somebody defending us, the Arabs."" Parties who might normally criticize Hezbollah tactics, have shown an admiration of Hezbollah ability to ""stand up"" to Israel, while ""the Arab nation continues to be a coward."
Posted by G, Z, or B at 11:55 AM
Uprooted Palestinian
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