The editor of a leading Egyptian weekly has harshly criticized Yasser Arafat for the recent assault on Egypt's foreign minister while on the Temple Mount by Muslim worshippers last Monday.
Ibrahim Saada wrote the editorial in Akhbar Elyom on Saturday and stated that, "It is now time to adopt a new attitude toward the Palestinian Authority, to tell them 'No' a thousand times, as we are not as naive as they think."
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher was pushed and shoved by a group of PA Arabs who shouted that he was not welcome when he visited the mosque on the Temple Mount.
Saada wrote that he rejected Minister Maher's attempt "to deflate this ugly incident, trying to convince the public opinion that those who carried out this aggression were a small, trivial and banned group."
In words addressed to Yassir Arafat, Saada wrote, "Your excellency, the sole spokesman of the Palestinian people, we are fed up with your repetition that any Palestinian act against Egypt, or any Palestinian act - verbal or physical - against an Egyptian official, should be blamed on a trivial, small and banned group."
The editorial went on to recall several occasions when Arafat's policies have been directly opposed to those of Egypt.
Saada said that after Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was assassinated in 1981, "his excellency the Palestinian president was the first among those who rejoiced, clapped, and danced."
An editorial in Lebanon’s leading newspaper An-Nahar called the attack, "The peak of Arab lowness." Gubran Tweini, a popular Lebanese journalist wrote, "The attack on Ahmed Maher came as a free gift to the Arabs' adversaries, first and foremost Israel. Once again it becomes clear that the most threatening enemies of the Arabs and their cause are Arabs…precisely as the most threatening enemies of the Palestinian cause are those Palestinians who adopt rejection, extremism, and radicalism."
Tweini concluded, "Is it reasonable that we witness, on the land of Palestine, a minister for the largest Arab state, which holds the banner of Arabism and Palestine, sent by his government to consolidate the Palestinian front in its confrontation with the ferocious Israeli enemy, being assaulted by stupid Palestinians? And then being protected and treated by the Israeli occupier? It is the peak of Arab lowness!"
Farouk Kaddoumi, who serves as the PLO’s Foreign Minister, arrived in Cairo the day after the assault to apologize for the attack saying the assailants were "a rogue group that has no connection to the Palestinian people."
The speaker of Egypt's parliament Fathi Sorour denounced Israel for the attack, Egypt's Middle East News Agency reported. "We also condemn Israel's position because it did not protect the minister," Sorour told parliament Saturday.
Ibrahim Saada wrote the editorial in Akhbar Elyom on Saturday and stated that, "It is now time to adopt a new attitude toward the Palestinian Authority, to tell them 'No' a thousand times, as we are not as naive as they think."
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher was pushed and shoved by a group of PA Arabs who shouted that he was not welcome when he visited the mosque on the Temple Mount.
Saada wrote that he rejected Minister Maher's attempt "to deflate this ugly incident, trying to convince the public opinion that those who carried out this aggression were a small, trivial and banned group."
In words addressed to Yassir Arafat, Saada wrote, "Your excellency, the sole spokesman of the Palestinian people, we are fed up with your repetition that any Palestinian act against Egypt, or any Palestinian act - verbal or physical - against an Egyptian official, should be blamed on a trivial, small and banned group."
The editorial went on to recall several occasions when Arafat's policies have been directly opposed to those of Egypt.
Saada said that after Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was assassinated in 1981, "his excellency the Palestinian president was the first among those who rejoiced, clapped, and danced."
An editorial in Lebanon’s leading newspaper An-Nahar called the attack, "The peak of Arab lowness." Gubran Tweini, a popular Lebanese journalist wrote, "The attack on Ahmed Maher came as a free gift to the Arabs' adversaries, first and foremost Israel. Once again it becomes clear that the most threatening enemies of the Arabs and their cause are Arabs…precisely as the most threatening enemies of the Palestinian cause are those Palestinians who adopt rejection, extremism, and radicalism."
Tweini concluded, "Is it reasonable that we witness, on the land of Palestine, a minister for the largest Arab state, which holds the banner of Arabism and Palestine, sent by his government to consolidate the Palestinian front in its confrontation with the ferocious Israeli enemy, being assaulted by stupid Palestinians? And then being protected and treated by the Israeli occupier? It is the peak of Arab lowness!"
Farouk Kaddoumi, who serves as the PLO’s Foreign Minister, arrived in Cairo the day after the assault to apologize for the attack saying the assailants were "a rogue group that has no connection to the Palestinian people."
The speaker of Egypt's parliament Fathi Sorour denounced Israel for the attack, Egypt's Middle East News Agency reported. "We also condemn Israel's position because it did not protect the minister," Sorour told parliament Saturday.