| The following are excerpts from an interview with the head of the PLO political bureau, Faruq Qaddumi. Syrian TV aired this interview on March 12, 2005 Farouq Qaddumi: The Turkish and Iranian positions are more favorable than the Arab position. People say things about Iran, but I say that my enemy's enemy is my friend. Iran has Shihab missiles, which means: "Israel, beware of attacking us." The Arabs, of course, don't have such capabilities. This is a necessary deterrence. I'm the only one saying these things, so that our people will know who its friends are. There has been a change in the Turkish position, which has become better than that of the Arabs. This is a fact. Our problem with Israel is temporary. We have two important elements: the land and the people. The Arab land and people numbering 300 million. I said to one of our Pakistani brothers: "Time is not on your side, because there are one billion Indians behind Kashmir, while you number only 130 million. Before it's too late and your cause is lost, you'd better reach a political settlement. In our case the opposite is true." "How come?" asked the Pakistani. I said: "An ocean lies behind Israel, with 300 million Palestinians and Arabs in front of it. There are 300 million people and vast lands. As long as the hostility continues between Israel and us Israel is the loser, since time is on our side, not Israel's. Interviewer: So you are an optimistic? Farouq Qaddumi: You are 100% correct. Each year, the resistance grows stronger, and Israel's power of deterrence weakens. Time is not on their side. As for America - this country has indeed expanded, but it will gradually diminish because bi-polarization has begun, and America will not be allowed to maintain its influence in all kinds of places. |
