In today's Asharq Alawsat, Hassan Tahsin compares Israel's presence in the Mideast to a rejected organ transplant. Note the racist overtones of the author's analogy:

"In December 1967, Christian Barnard, a South African, performed the first human organ transplant operation when he transplanted the heart of a 24 year-old black man, who had died in a car accident, into a 54-year-old white man.

"The operation was a success but the white man who received the new heart lived only for 18 days. The doctors who performed the operation were not able to save him, as the medicine that helps a body to accept a foreign organ was not available in those days.

"I remembered this incident while I was following up a joint press conference of Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres with his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Maher in Cairo recently. Peres was apparently slow and skeptical while answering questions as he did not want to say that his bloodthirsty prime minister has any clear peace plan.

"Those who saw that press conference might have noticed that Peres had a strong feeling that his presence was unwanted and that his colonialist state was an intruder in the region. The Arab body has rejected Israel like the body of the white man that rejected the heart of the African youth.

"While talking about the peace plan, Peres intentionally ignored the Saudi-initiated Arab peace plan, although the questions raised by reporters on the issue were very clear. He insisted that his country would accept the American peace plan, which is still a political mystery. Then he started talking about democracy, thinking that there are people who believe that the military government in Israel is democratic and is an example to follow. Israel?s rejection of the Arab peace proposal will be a big mistake and will certainly be missing a golden opportunity.

"After several years, medical scientists found a medicine that will enable a human body to accommodate a foreign organ, on condition that a person take it for the rest of his life. Such is the condition of Israel, which always needs the unqualified support of the United States because of its presence in the Arab world. But one thing they should bear in mind is that the American tablet is dependent upon Washington?s strategic interests in the region.

"On the other hand, the Arab peace plan is the best one as it allows Israel to remain in the region as a secure country in the region. The Arab peace plan calls for total Israeli withdrawal from Arab land, dismantling of Jewish settlements in Arab territory and recognition of Palestinian rights, including the right to establish an independent state. In return, all Arab countries will recognize Israel and its existence within its internationally recognized borders. They will also cooperate with Israel in all areas as part of normalization.

"All other peace proposals are temporary solutions. They will not help achieve peace. They will only help give Israel more time to grab more Arab territories and prevent the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state.

"The presence of the butcher Sharon in power will not help peace. The Israeli policies of terrorism, destruction of houses and farms and massacre of civilians will not succeed. A country established on racism, religious bias and force will not remain long among countries and societies known for their great history, noble descent and honorable lineage."