Yoram Ettinger, Israel's former liaison to the U.S., explained to Arutz-7's Josh Hasten yesterday why Sari Nusseibeh, the PLO's man in Jerusalem, is not exactly the "moderate" some claim he is: "First of all, Nusseibeh was appointed by Arafat - and that tells us much about who Nusseibeh is. In '91, he was one of the very few Arab allies of Saddam... He was arrested by Israeli security authorities while attempting to improve the accuracy of Scud missiles fired at Israel... In Jan. 2001, he wrote a long letter to Saddam Hussein referring to him in superlatives, expressing Palestinian admiration for his honorable position and steadfastness, etc., and stating that he was 'proud to belong to a nation that considers you a symbol of resistance and greatness'..."
Asked about the decision by Bnei Jeshurun of New York to invite Nusseibeh to speak there today, Ettinger said, "It's unfortunate that any institution of peace would provide a platform to an ally of Saddam, to an appointee of Arafat, to a person who as recently as June 29 of this year applauded 'warriors of jihad.'" A protest against Nusseibeh's speaking engagement at the Bnei Jeshurun synagogue is scheduled for outside the building this afternoon. Hear the interview with Yoram Ettinger here.
Asked about the decision by Bnei Jeshurun of New York to invite Nusseibeh to speak there today, Ettinger said, "It's unfortunate that any institution of peace would provide a platform to an ally of Saddam, to an appointee of Arafat, to a person who as recently as June 29 of this year applauded 'warriors of jihad.'" A protest against Nusseibeh's speaking engagement at the Bnei Jeshurun synagogue is scheduled for outside the building this afternoon. Hear the interview with Yoram Ettinger here.