Both Israel and America are seen as being involved in intrigues against the Arab world. However, in some cases, the Arab press gives America the benefit of the doubt and says only that she is a victim of the intrigues of the Jews.
A writer for the Lebanese ad-Diyar newspaper sees an Israeli/American connection between the recent massacre of 30 Shiite Moslems in Pakistan and a similar attack in Fallujah, Iraq. In the case of Fallujah, the columnist writes, “The Iraqis knew, by instinct, that the massacre was perpetrated by the US and was inspired by the Israeli atrocities committed against Palestinians. The Americans are copying Israeli methods almost to the letter in the viciousness of the attacks against the Iraqis.” Such attacks on religious targets, the Beirut newspaper article explains, cause more Moslem-Christian violence - “in Palestine, Iraq or Pakistan”. And who has an interest in such strife? According to the columnist, it is wrong to blame deposed dictator Saddam Hussein for the current warfare in Iraq, “when a country like Israel had everything to gain from strife involving Muslims and Christians.”
Similarly, but with more forgiveness for the US, Cairo’s al-Wafd newspaper calls the US “a scared nation” since September 11, 2001. “Hence the threats to Iran and to Syria, and the attempts to calm the Middle East situation.... Washington has come to grips with the fact that the reason why it is hated here is because of its pro-Israel policies.” Therefore, the “worst fear” of the Americans “is that the weapons of the Palestinian groups might one day be used against it on its own soil,” according to the Egyptian paper. “For its part,” the al-Wafd article continues, “Israel is quite aware of America’s fears and accordingly exploits them to its best interests.”
“The highway to Washington passes through Tel Aviv. This has become a slogan for many governments, especially in the Third World and Islamic and Arab worlds. Chanting this slogan, many countries have been able to reach the heart of Washington, a capital that has bestowed upon them financial, military, economic and political support,” the United Arab Emirates’ Gulf News daily said. According to the article, countries like Egypt, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia and Qatar, in the Arab world, and India, Eritrea and the Islamic republics of the former Soviet Union, elsewhere, have taken that highway. “The duration of the journey to Washington can take years or just a few days it depends on whether Tel Aviv is ignored or not. If it is, the road is long and difficult. For example, for Syria and Iran, the highway to Washington has not come to an end because their route doesn’t take them through Israel. However, for Musharraf, inclined to establish relations with Israel, the journey might be quicker. Many countries have taken that path before and quickly found themselves in the warm arms of America. Nobody can blame Pakistan.”
As for domestic Israeli matters, the Arab press sees its intentions to release hundreds of Arab prisoners from jail, and the cease-fire agreement, as yet another scheme.
A columnist for Oman’s al-Watan had this to say about the Israeli policies at during the supposed cease-fire with Palestinian Authority terrorist groups: “Despite the Palestinian-Israeli cease-fire, the Israeli settlement building has not stopped. Even the settlements that were dismantled have been rebuilt. But the Israelis have additional acts of sabotage up their sleeves. At a time when the Palestinians expected thousands of their detainees in Israeli jails to be released as a gesture of goodwill, only 300 are to be set free. Sharon continues to anger the Palestinians by staging visits to the al-Aqsa Mosque and continuing to build the wall separating Israelis from Arabs....”
In similar vein, a columnist in the official Egyptian daily al-Ahram opined that “We Arabs believe there are not enough guarantees binding Israel to its obligations under the Road Map. It is most feared that the Israelis might intentionally use an incident or create an excuse to dodge their commitments. The truce would accordingly be broken and the Palestinian resistance would have the right to retaliate.”
Unsurprisingly, the Palestinian Authority newspaper al-Quds (“Jerusalem”) expressed the opinion, in an unsigned editorial this past week, that the almost 10,000 Arabs currently being detained by Israel are to be used a card by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon - against either the Israeli public or the Palestinian Authority. “It looks increasingly likely that Israel has not learned from past mistakes with regard to this sensitive issue,” the newspaper stated, asking suspiciously, “What’s the wisdom behind keeping so many Palestinians and Arabs locked up at a time when all the factions have signed the three-month cease-fire with Israel?” the paper asked, adding that most of those prisoners have not been accused of any crime.
A writer for the Lebanese ad-Diyar newspaper sees an Israeli/American connection between the recent massacre of 30 Shiite Moslems in Pakistan and a similar attack in Fallujah, Iraq. In the case of Fallujah, the columnist writes, “The Iraqis knew, by instinct, that the massacre was perpetrated by the US and was inspired by the Israeli atrocities committed against Palestinians. The Americans are copying Israeli methods almost to the letter in the viciousness of the attacks against the Iraqis.” Such attacks on religious targets, the Beirut newspaper article explains, cause more Moslem-Christian violence - “in Palestine, Iraq or Pakistan”. And who has an interest in such strife? According to the columnist, it is wrong to blame deposed dictator Saddam Hussein for the current warfare in Iraq, “when a country like Israel had everything to gain from strife involving Muslims and Christians.”
Similarly, but with more forgiveness for the US, Cairo’s al-Wafd newspaper calls the US “a scared nation” since September 11, 2001. “Hence the threats to Iran and to Syria, and the attempts to calm the Middle East situation.... Washington has come to grips with the fact that the reason why it is hated here is because of its pro-Israel policies.” Therefore, the “worst fear” of the Americans “is that the weapons of the Palestinian groups might one day be used against it on its own soil,” according to the Egyptian paper. “For its part,” the al-Wafd article continues, “Israel is quite aware of America’s fears and accordingly exploits them to its best interests.”
“The highway to Washington passes through Tel Aviv. This has become a slogan for many governments, especially in the Third World and Islamic and Arab worlds. Chanting this slogan, many countries have been able to reach the heart of Washington, a capital that has bestowed upon them financial, military, economic and political support,” the United Arab Emirates’ Gulf News daily said. According to the article, countries like Egypt, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia and Qatar, in the Arab world, and India, Eritrea and the Islamic republics of the former Soviet Union, elsewhere, have taken that highway. “The duration of the journey to Washington can take years or just a few days it depends on whether Tel Aviv is ignored or not. If it is, the road is long and difficult. For example, for Syria and Iran, the highway to Washington has not come to an end because their route doesn’t take them through Israel. However, for Musharraf, inclined to establish relations with Israel, the journey might be quicker. Many countries have taken that path before and quickly found themselves in the warm arms of America. Nobody can blame Pakistan.”
As for domestic Israeli matters, the Arab press sees its intentions to release hundreds of Arab prisoners from jail, and the cease-fire agreement, as yet another scheme.
A columnist for Oman’s al-Watan had this to say about the Israeli policies at during the supposed cease-fire with Palestinian Authority terrorist groups: “Despite the Palestinian-Israeli cease-fire, the Israeli settlement building has not stopped. Even the settlements that were dismantled have been rebuilt. But the Israelis have additional acts of sabotage up their sleeves. At a time when the Palestinians expected thousands of their detainees in Israeli jails to be released as a gesture of goodwill, only 300 are to be set free. Sharon continues to anger the Palestinians by staging visits to the al-Aqsa Mosque and continuing to build the wall separating Israelis from Arabs....”
In similar vein, a columnist in the official Egyptian daily al-Ahram opined that “We Arabs believe there are not enough guarantees binding Israel to its obligations under the Road Map. It is most feared that the Israelis might intentionally use an incident or create an excuse to dodge their commitments. The truce would accordingly be broken and the Palestinian resistance would have the right to retaliate.”
Unsurprisingly, the Palestinian Authority newspaper al-Quds (“Jerusalem”) expressed the opinion, in an unsigned editorial this past week, that the almost 10,000 Arabs currently being detained by Israel are to be used a card by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon - against either the Israeli public or the Palestinian Authority. “It looks increasingly likely that Israel has not learned from past mistakes with regard to this sensitive issue,” the newspaper stated, asking suspiciously, “What’s the wisdom behind keeping so many Palestinians and Arabs locked up at a time when all the factions have signed the three-month cease-fire with Israel?” the paper asked, adding that most of those prisoners have not been accused of any crime.