Gadhafi's son calls on Jews to return to Libya-offers Jews compensation

Maariv ^ | 4-7-04 | Itamar Inbari

[SJackson]

Libyan ruler’s son offers Jews compensation, if they leave their homes in Israel to Palestinians. Itamar Inbari

Ever since Libya's declaration of readiness to dismantle its nuclear arsenal, and the initial reports of secret contacts between Tripoli and Jerusalem, questions about compensation for Libyan Jews are in the air. Saif al-Islam Gadhafi, son of the Libyan ruler, today presented a clear response, declaring: “we will pay compensation to Jews whose property was confiscated before they left for Israel.”

In an interview with the Egyptian newspaper, "Al-Ahram al Arabi", Gadhafi's son sounded a conciliatory message toward Israel’s direction, declaring that he regards Libyan Jews as full citizens. The younger Gadhafi emphasized that he was expressing a personal view, but he was presumably acting with his father's knowledge.

"Until recently we were in a state of confrontation and hostility with Israel", Saif al-Islam said. "But things have changed. First of all the Palestinians, whom we had been helping with arms and military equipment, have begun declining this aid, and instead have asked us to provide financial assistance for constructing infrastructure and industrial projects. Secondly, even confrontation states like Egypt, Jordan and to a certain extent Syria, now conduct negotiations and maintain contacts with Israel, resulting even in the signing of peace agreements, and they enjoy the benefits while Libya – which is not a confrontation state, continues to pay the price.”

Depite (and erhaps because of) the extensive publicity given to secret contacts between Libya and Israel, Gadhafi's son said that his government had no intention of initiating negotiations with Jerusalem. At the same time, he said, Libya did not rule out the possibility of exploring other avenues of contact.

Gadhafi added that in his view it was preferable to call on Libyan Jews in all parts of the world, including Israel, to return to Libya. "This is their country and their birthplace", he stressed. He estimated that there were some 30,000 Jews of Libyan origin scattered around the world.

At the same time Gadhafi insisted that the return home for these Jews would be predicated on their leaving their homes, property and landing Israel to the Palestinians. "I believe that every Arab state, acting in a similar way, should play some sort of role in a partial solution of the Palestinian problem", he said.

[Migraine]

This is bizarre! It reminds me of the passage: "Use every strategem..."

[Little Ray]

What the...?

Oh.

At the same time Gadhafi insisted that the return home for these Jews would be predicated on their leaving their homes, property and landing Israel to the Palestinians. "I believe that every Arab state, acting in a similar way, should play some sort of role in a partial solution of the Palestinian problem", he said.


Well, that still makes him more ethical most Arab tyrants.

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[SJackson]

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

[joesnuffy]

Said the spider to the fly...

[The_Victor]

Did someone put Ecstasy in the drinking water in Libya?

[quantim]

Well, that still makes him more ethical most Arab tyrants.

"Trust, but verify."

- Sir Ronald Wilson Reagan

[Fierce Allegiance]

"Come to libya, hop on this train and we will take you to some very nice showers"

[boomop1]

Yep, I smell rat here.

[MrB]

Disperse them into countries whose governments are inherently hostile.
Get them out of their powerful, concentrated location with their own government.
Then destroy them after they have no place to go back to.

Nope, Israelis are just fine where they are. They need to decisively win their war, and severely punish any who harm their citizens. Make "Civus Israelus Sum" a phrase powerful enough to make an Islamist piss themselves.

[SJSAMPLE]

" . . . said the spider to the fly."

[Callahan]

More like George W. Bush put the fear of (our) God in them. As soon as the wobbly American public elects a pliant U.N.-happy do-nothing, i.e. John Kerry, Ghadaffi will be up to his old tricks.

[Callahan]

Israel isn't going to decisively win their war anytime soon. I take everything Libya says with a huge grain of salt, but I wouldn't spit in their face either. They are becoming a model Arab state.

[Little Ray]

I'd be inviting them back 'cause Jews seem to a productive and wealthy people and that's just the sort folks I'd want in my country...

One of my favorite solutions to the Israel / Palestine problem is to move all the Israelis to the US - they wouldn't even ... but before they leave, they blow up their cities and sow their farmlands with industrial toxic waste - leave "Greater Palestine" the way they found it.

We get the Israelis - a good, tough people, if more socialistic than I like. The Euroweenies get a major ME basket case they have to take care of.

[sociotard]

Did someone put Ecstasy in the drinking water in Libya?
Heh. That's a good one.

Even if this is a legitamate offer, made out of the goodness of their hearts, (who knows, it is a crazy, mixed up world, after all) how long will it be before the next tyrant has a different P.O.V.?

And how come every 'solution' to the palestinian problem involves the Jews giving up?

[MrB]

Israelis - a good, tough people, if more socialistic than I like

Yes, they are, but they are only socialists because we let them be socialists. I'm not for withdrawing US support of Israel, but I'd prefer that it wasn't used to skew the market.

[Dr. Marten]

You know what they say about something that sounds too good to be true...

[Valin]

"Trust, but verify."
- Sir Ronald Wilson Reagan


Very well put.

[thoughtomator]

Qadafi's son, from what I have heard of his pronouncements recently, seems to be quite Western-oriented and liberal (in the classic sense). Hope for the future?