An article in the daily newspaper described by Arab observers as ?pan-Arab?, al-Quds al-?Arabi, attacked what it sees as the duplicity of Arab leadership in their relations with the West. Arab leaders, writes the columnist, habitually pledge their commitment to ?adhere to national and pan-Arab constants? when speaking to domestic audiences, but, in the author?s view, obsequiously endorse United States? policies in the region.
The al-Quds al-?Arabi article criticizes Jordan?s King ?Abdullah II, for endorsing the US President George W. Bush? assessment of the ?axis of evil.? The Hashemite king, according to the article, failed to emphasize to the Americans his country?s alleged opposition to military action against Iraq. Similarly, the author criticizes the Saudi Arabian leadership in that it complains of a ?Zionist media campaign? and hints that it will threaten America?s ?interests? in the region due to its pro-Israeli policies, but ?this message disappears from the Saudi lexicon whenever there are meetings or phone calls with Bush.? On the contrary, the al-Quds article claims, ?On every occasion, the two sides affirm they are in total agreement and that their policies and objectives are in full accord.? Saudi officials, reports the article, may anonymously hint that they want the US military presence in Saudi Arabia ended, but they ?then hasten to deny that in the presence of any American official.?
Egypt, too, is criticized in the al-Quds article for the warm and public reception offered to Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer. The article sees the reception as inconsistent with Egypt?s apparently aggressive denunciation of Israeli behavior. The same duality exists, the article claims, in relation to Iraq. The ?Egyptian stance opposed to any attack on Iraq, as it appears in the media,? the pan-Arab newspaper states, ?soon gives way to the ?understanding? that is expressed of the American position whenever the two sides meet in Washington??
The al-Quds al-?Arabi article criticizes Jordan?s King ?Abdullah II, for endorsing the US President George W. Bush? assessment of the ?axis of evil.? The Hashemite king, according to the article, failed to emphasize to the Americans his country?s alleged opposition to military action against Iraq. Similarly, the author criticizes the Saudi Arabian leadership in that it complains of a ?Zionist media campaign? and hints that it will threaten America?s ?interests? in the region due to its pro-Israeli policies, but ?this message disappears from the Saudi lexicon whenever there are meetings or phone calls with Bush.? On the contrary, the al-Quds article claims, ?On every occasion, the two sides affirm they are in total agreement and that their policies and objectives are in full accord.? Saudi officials, reports the article, may anonymously hint that they want the US military presence in Saudi Arabia ended, but they ?then hasten to deny that in the presence of any American official.?
Egypt, too, is criticized in the al-Quds article for the warm and public reception offered to Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer. The article sees the reception as inconsistent with Egypt?s apparently aggressive denunciation of Israeli behavior. The same duality exists, the article claims, in relation to Iraq. The ?Egyptian stance opposed to any attack on Iraq, as it appears in the media,? the pan-Arab newspaper states, ?soon gives way to the ?understanding? that is expressed of the American position whenever the two sides meet in Washington??