Arab states of late - such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, even Syria - are facing stepped up terrorism and attempts to commit acts of terrorism. In commenting on the phenomenon, the Arab press tends to focus, as might be expected, on Israel and America as primary "inspiration" for all Middle Eastern (if not worldwide) terrorism, yet certain newspapers and Arab leaders do not ignore the part played by fundamentalist Islamic preachers.
The Al-Bayan newspaper (Dubai, United Arab Emirates) commented this week in an editorial that Arab national security was "now in danger" from a threat that is "expanding east and west, with the aim of destabilizing the Arab nation and its internal peace." The editorial called "for a united Arab position to support our Arab national security, whose instability will not benefit anyone except the Zionists."
More obsessively focused on Israel, the Qatari daily Al-Watan linked the escalating terrorism against Arabs by Arabs to the "poison released by the Pentagon in the joints of the Middle East through its partnership with the Israeli government, [which] aimed to put an end to Palestinian rights." Arab-on-Arab terrorism, the editors explained, serves Israeli interests: "Amid this atmosphere of death and destruction, Ariel Sharon prepares to reap the fruits of his crimes by capturing Palestine from the ruins of Iraq." Referring to comments by the special UN envoy to Iraq that Israel is "poisoning" the region, the newspaper said, "aggression is spilling outside the borders of Palestine and Iraq."
Mincing no words, Saudi crown prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz was quoted this week in the Arab press as saying, in reaction to an attack on Saturday in Saudi Arabia that killed five people, "Zionism is behind the acts of violence taking place in his country." During a public address at an official function, Abdullah claimed that "behind some 95% of what had happened are Zionist hands."
Presaging the Saudi prince, on March 18 the Egyptian government daily Al-Gumhouriyya accused the Jews of perpetrating all terrorism throughout the world, including the Madrid bombings: "It is the Jews, with their hidden filthy hands, who play their part with expertise in order to harm the Arabs and Muslims and to intensify hatred towards them. They have experience in this area. All precedents attest to this. Their black history is the best possible proof that hatred toward the Arabs and the Muslims fills their hearts and blinds their eyes. They are behind all troubles, disasters and catastrophes in the world."
On the other hand, another Egyptian newspaper, Akhbar al-Yawm, this week called for Muslim religious leaders to "join together to issue a religious fatwa [edict] condemning this phenomenon [of suicide bombings]." Yet, even while admitting that the suicide bombers are the product of Islamic clerics issuing their own fatwas - and not Israeli agents - the daily railed: "The media, which is controlled by Jews, has seized the opportunity to show viewers all over the world the savagery of these Muslims who blow themselves up." In conclusion, Akhbar Al-Yawm recommended, "Dealing with the phenomenon of terrorism should be one of the priorities of the forthcoming Arab summit conference, because it is time that we eliminate this dangerous phenomenon, which is harmful to Islam."
In a similar statement, as reported by the UAE's Al-Bayan, Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri called for a "significant measure to be practically implemented in the Arab and Islamic world, in order to confront this attack." Hariri called for "a strategy to stop the destabilization of Arab security."
In Morocco, King Mohammed VI is already on the case. He announced on Friday a new initiative to "shield Morocco from the perils of extremism and terrorism." He made the announcement during a speech before members of the Higher Council and Provincial Councils of [Religious] Scholars, at the royal palace in Casablanca.
The main features of the Moroccan monarch's three-part plan consist of edicts to bring religious education and even worship under greater state oversight. For example, the king asked that all fatwas be brought before him, in his capacity as Amir al-Muminin (Commander of the Faithful) "lest others resort to expedient ploys or seek to spread confusion and chaos." King Mohammed also warned that worship is to be performed in a quiet, peaceful atmosphere - by law. He also indicated that he would push greater integration of women in religious councils such as the body he was addressing on Friday. (per arabicnews.com)
The Al-Bayan newspaper (Dubai, United Arab Emirates) commented this week in an editorial that Arab national security was "now in danger" from a threat that is "expanding east and west, with the aim of destabilizing the Arab nation and its internal peace." The editorial called "for a united Arab position to support our Arab national security, whose instability will not benefit anyone except the Zionists."
More obsessively focused on Israel, the Qatari daily Al-Watan linked the escalating terrorism against Arabs by Arabs to the "poison released by the Pentagon in the joints of the Middle East through its partnership with the Israeli government, [which] aimed to put an end to Palestinian rights." Arab-on-Arab terrorism, the editors explained, serves Israeli interests: "Amid this atmosphere of death and destruction, Ariel Sharon prepares to reap the fruits of his crimes by capturing Palestine from the ruins of Iraq." Referring to comments by the special UN envoy to Iraq that Israel is "poisoning" the region, the newspaper said, "aggression is spilling outside the borders of Palestine and Iraq."
Mincing no words, Saudi crown prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz was quoted this week in the Arab press as saying, in reaction to an attack on Saturday in Saudi Arabia that killed five people, "Zionism is behind the acts of violence taking place in his country." During a public address at an official function, Abdullah claimed that "behind some 95% of what had happened are Zionist hands."
Presaging the Saudi prince, on March 18 the Egyptian government daily Al-Gumhouriyya accused the Jews of perpetrating all terrorism throughout the world, including the Madrid bombings: "It is the Jews, with their hidden filthy hands, who play their part with expertise in order to harm the Arabs and Muslims and to intensify hatred towards them. They have experience in this area. All precedents attest to this. Their black history is the best possible proof that hatred toward the Arabs and the Muslims fills their hearts and blinds their eyes. They are behind all troubles, disasters and catastrophes in the world."
On the other hand, another Egyptian newspaper, Akhbar al-Yawm, this week called for Muslim religious leaders to "join together to issue a religious fatwa [edict] condemning this phenomenon [of suicide bombings]." Yet, even while admitting that the suicide bombers are the product of Islamic clerics issuing their own fatwas - and not Israeli agents - the daily railed: "The media, which is controlled by Jews, has seized the opportunity to show viewers all over the world the savagery of these Muslims who blow themselves up." In conclusion, Akhbar Al-Yawm recommended, "Dealing with the phenomenon of terrorism should be one of the priorities of the forthcoming Arab summit conference, because it is time that we eliminate this dangerous phenomenon, which is harmful to Islam."
In a similar statement, as reported by the UAE's Al-Bayan, Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri called for a "significant measure to be practically implemented in the Arab and Islamic world, in order to confront this attack." Hariri called for "a strategy to stop the destabilization of Arab security."
In Morocco, King Mohammed VI is already on the case. He announced on Friday a new initiative to "shield Morocco from the perils of extremism and terrorism." He made the announcement during a speech before members of the Higher Council and Provincial Councils of [Religious] Scholars, at the royal palace in Casablanca.
The main features of the Moroccan monarch's three-part plan consist of edicts to bring religious education and even worship under greater state oversight. For example, the king asked that all fatwas be brought before him, in his capacity as Amir al-Muminin (Commander of the Faithful) "lest others resort to expedient ploys or seek to spread confusion and chaos." King Mohammed also warned that worship is to be performed in a quiet, peaceful atmosphere - by law. He also indicated that he would push greater integration of women in religious councils such as the body he was addressing on Friday. (per arabicnews.com)