In its June 21st edition, the editors of the on-line Egyptian weekly newspaper As-Safir Al-Arabi (Arab Ambassador) felt it necessary to react to the Israeli press' "falsification" in reporting about As-Safir's new Hebrew-language edition. The self-described "independent newspaper issuing from Cairo in 5 languages" published its "clarification", in Hebrew and Arabic, after one of Israel's leading newspapers, Ma'ariv, claimed that As-Safir Al-Arabi intends to "increase understanding between the Arab nation and the Israelis" and to thaw the cold relations between Egypt and Israel.
As Ma'ariv was quoting an Egyptian daily for its story, the editors of As-Safir Al-Arabi begin their response by expressing "respect for the editors of the Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper," but "utterly reject the misleading and inaccurate" report in Ma'ariv. "But we are not surprised by the determination of the Israeli media to adopt the way of falsification and misdirection," the editors wrote.
The weekly said its editorial line is "adherence to Arab identity and commitment to the nation's principles, in addition to absolute rejection of any dialogue, contact or normalization with the Israeli side, especially in light of the continuation of the Israeli policies that deny Arab rights and that are in opposition to international and humanitarian law, in addition to the ongoing Israeli crimes against the Arab peoples."
Immediately thereafter, however, the editorial stated: "As-Safir Al-Arabi again emphasizes that it is interested in opening channels [of communication] with all sides, and in opening bridges of ideological and cultural closeness." Not "all sides", exactly, as the editors then explained, "As-Safir emphasizes that its interest is focused on those sides struggling for peace and that are committed to international legitimacy, and also respect the humanitarian, historical and diplomatic laws of all nations."
The pan-Arab weekly's June 5, 2005, press release announcing the Hebrew web site made it clear: "The Hebrew edition of As-Safir Al-Arabi does not represent a call for dialogue with the Zionist entity, or an initiative to thaw the frozen peace process between Israel and the Arab states...."
As Ma'ariv was quoting an Egyptian daily for its story, the editors of As-Safir Al-Arabi begin their response by expressing "respect for the editors of the Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper," but "utterly reject the misleading and inaccurate" report in Ma'ariv. "But we are not surprised by the determination of the Israeli media to adopt the way of falsification and misdirection," the editors wrote.
The weekly said its editorial line is "adherence to Arab identity and commitment to the nation's principles, in addition to absolute rejection of any dialogue, contact or normalization with the Israeli side, especially in light of the continuation of the Israeli policies that deny Arab rights and that are in opposition to international and humanitarian law, in addition to the ongoing Israeli crimes against the Arab peoples."
Immediately thereafter, however, the editorial stated: "As-Safir Al-Arabi again emphasizes that it is interested in opening channels [of communication] with all sides, and in opening bridges of ideological and cultural closeness." Not "all sides", exactly, as the editors then explained, "As-Safir emphasizes that its interest is focused on those sides struggling for peace and that are committed to international legitimacy, and also respect the humanitarian, historical and diplomatic laws of all nations."
The pan-Arab weekly's June 5, 2005, press release announcing the Hebrew web site made it clear: "The Hebrew edition of As-Safir Al-Arabi does not represent a call for dialogue with the Zionist entity, or an initiative to thaw the frozen peace process between Israel and the Arab states...."