Israel not on U.S. list of 63 countries eligible to compete for billions in Iraqi reconstruction

Haaretz News Ticker ^ | 12/10/2003

[yonif]

Ping.

[Pikamax]

well...duh?

[FreedomPoster]

Would be local political suicide for the civilizing and rebuilding effort. That's the ugly reality.

[MEG33]

Think about it!

[spetznaz]

If Israel was to be part of the rebuilding process the fallout (both from Iraqis and Arabs in general) would kill any good GW was trying to do. Trust me ....it is a good thing Israel is not part of the process.

Sad, but true.

[faithincowboys]

Well, of course not, It would be an untenable arrangement. The removal of the Baaths should be enough for Israel right now, Demanding that we allow Israeli companies to rebuild Iraq is just greedy and unwise. The level of anti-Israeli sentiment is overwhelming, it would be needlessly provocative to let Israel participate.

[yonif]

Sure, Iraqis hate Jews. But if Bush has any intention of making them tolerant of others, he must allow others that once were hated to interact with the population in some way. What is the point of rebuilding a country if the same hate is there?

This is just like saying American Jews should not work in the US Embassy in Germany (when we still had relations with the Nazis, before we entered the war), because it would do nothing but inflame the German population who was taught to hate Jews.

And also, concerning rebuilding, what Israel would do is not provide materials, construction workers, etc. It would be probably providing services and training.

In addition, a lot of Israelis know Arabic.

[SJackson]

No surprise. There have been indications that Jews (not just Israelis) will be banned from doing business in democratic Iraq, the US is just going along.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

[yonif]

There have been indications that Jews (not just Israelis) will be banned from doing business in democratic Iraq, the US is just going along.

See what I wrote in #9. That is what I am sure is happening. I remember the US telling schools to change textbooks to remove Saddam and his glorification, etc. But are they checking the books for maps that don't show Israel on the map? Chapters which call for killing Jews, Israel, and Christians?

I hope this is being done, because if it isn't, there is no real point in rebuilding the schools which will result in more hate-filled children growing up and flying the next planes going into buildings.

[yonif]

The US has said it wants to rebuild Iraq and change the state of mind of the Iraqi population. While whether its possible or not is not the question. The question is, how does banning Jews from helping in what the US wants to do going to achieve the aim of the administration, if the population continues to hate Jews and Christians, as well, looking at them as inferior people and who they must murder?

[SJackson]

Like it or not, I likely couldn't go to Iraq and engage in a business or purchase property, and the US will be fine with that. It's not much different than supporting as a keystone of American policy the expulsion of Jews from the West Bank and Gaza because Jews shouldn't live there.

You're right, of course, Israeli investment and expertise could be a major plus for Iraq, as it once was in providing palestinian Arabs the highest standard of living in the Arab world. But they don't see it that way.

If the US can avoid an Islamic government, that will be an accomplishment and hopefully things will improve over time.

[Terabitten]

I thought the actual wording from Wolfowitz said that only those nations that provided troops to the coalition would be eligible for the 26 contracts. Israel didn't provide troops (at least not that they admit to), so, no contract. I don't see this as anti-Israel in any way, it's just the terms of the deal.

[smpc]

If the US can avoid an Islamic government

Do you think that is realistic?

[SJackson]

"How can you call Ferdinand of Aragon a wise king, the same Ferdinand who impoverished his own land and enriched ours?"
Sultan Bayezid (Bajazet) II