Syrian President Bashar Assad\'s official speech of welcome to Pope John Paul II yesterday contained clearly anti-Semitic clauses. The speech shows that anti-Semitism in the official Syrian press is not of an incidental nature, but is rather part of a consistent government policy. Excerpts from Assad\'s welcome:
\"[You, the Pope, embody] the summit of responsibility for maintaining those values [love, tolerance and equality among human beings], especially [since] there are those who invariably attempt to subject all people once and again to the journey of ailments and agony. Therefore, our brethren in Palestine are being murdered and tortured, justice is being violated, and as a result territories in Lebanon, the Golan and Palestine have been occupied by those who even killed the principle of equality when they claimed that God created a people distinguished above all other peoples. We notice them aggressing against Moslem and Christian Holy Sites in Palestine... They try to kill all the principles of divine faiths with the same mentality of betraying Jesus and torturing him, and in the same way that they tried to commit treachery against Prophet Mohammad...
Assad also noted some eternal truths, but apparently had in mind irregular applications for them:
\"The application of heavenly tenets requires taking a stand against those who oppose them. Equality means that dealing with other peoples should not be governed by psychological complexes or claims of distinction above other peoples. Justice means restoration of rights to those who deserve them. Land and houses in Lebanon, Syria and Palestine belong to their owners. It also means return of the refugees to their homeland. Love means refraining from killing Arabs out of hatred, and to teach children not to bear malice against others. Truth is realized by refraining from distorting current and historical facts and from claiming rights and history which have no basis.\"
The Syrian President further noted that Islam makes no distinction among people - except if they are not \"G-d-fearing:\"
\"Islam spread throughout the world advocating justice, love and equality among human beings with no distinction between one and another except by God fearing.\"
\"[You, the Pope, embody] the summit of responsibility for maintaining those values [love, tolerance and equality among human beings], especially [since] there are those who invariably attempt to subject all people once and again to the journey of ailments and agony. Therefore, our brethren in Palestine are being murdered and tortured, justice is being violated, and as a result territories in Lebanon, the Golan and Palestine have been occupied by those who even killed the principle of equality when they claimed that God created a people distinguished above all other peoples. We notice them aggressing against Moslem and Christian Holy Sites in Palestine... They try to kill all the principles of divine faiths with the same mentality of betraying Jesus and torturing him, and in the same way that they tried to commit treachery against Prophet Mohammad...
Assad also noted some eternal truths, but apparently had in mind irregular applications for them:
\"The application of heavenly tenets requires taking a stand against those who oppose them. Equality means that dealing with other peoples should not be governed by psychological complexes or claims of distinction above other peoples. Justice means restoration of rights to those who deserve them. Land and houses in Lebanon, Syria and Palestine belong to their owners. It also means return of the refugees to their homeland. Love means refraining from killing Arabs out of hatred, and to teach children not to bear malice against others. Truth is realized by refraining from distorting current and historical facts and from claiming rights and history which have no basis.\"
The Syrian President further noted that Islam makes no distinction among people - except if they are not \"G-d-fearing:\"
\"Islam spread throughout the world advocating justice, love and equality among human beings with no distinction between one and another except by God fearing.\"