Posted on 10/06/2004 5:30:29 AM PDT by SJackson
Iraq's interim prime minister denounced in country's parliament for shaking Israeli foreign minister's hand; activist reported to being charged with treason for advocating better relations with Jewish state, asked to change family name
(KRT) BAGHDAD, Iraq A recent series of events, including a handshake between Iraq's interim prime minister and Israel's foreign minister at last month's United Nations meetings in New York, has set off public debate over whether the Iraqi government is trying to change Iraq's long-standing enmity with Israel.
Iraqi officials deny that any changes are afoot. They say Prime Minister Iyad Allawi was merely being polite when he took the hand of Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, who was sitting next to him because countries' delegates were arranged in alphabetical order at the United Nations.
But many Iraqis are viewing developments with suspicion.
"I knew after America invaded Iraq, the first thing that would happen (is) we would have a relationship with Israel," said Mohammed Saleem, 24, a student in Baghdad. "I have nothing against having relations with the Israelis on the condition they give the Palestinians their rights and their own country."
Any warming in Iraqi-Israeli relations would be a major change in the Middle East's power equation. Saddam Hussein was widely revered in Arab nations for his anti-Israel stance.
During the Persian Gulf War, in 1991, his army fired 39 Scud missiles at Israel. Before he was toppled he sent money to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers. The Israelis bombed Iraq's Osirak nuclear reactor in 1981, fearing that Saddam would use it to develop nuclear weapons.
(Excerpt) Read more at jewishworldreview.com ...
When the PLO, (which had it's origins in Jordan) decided that "Palestine" must not be in Jordan, after all..
It must be in Israel..
Having to do with I believe, an Iraqi security minister ?
He went to Israel to study anti-terrorism strategies, and upon returning to Iraq was charged with a Saddam Regime Era Crime..
Associating with Israel, or Israelis..
Penalty was death, I believe..
The minister is fighting the charges, and in fact, the subject of this article was mentioned in defence of his actions..
Iraq names Islam as its official state religion, in the New and Improved Iraq Constitution...didn't like it then, still don't like it today.
"I knew after America invaded Iraq, the first thing that would happen (is) we would have a relationship with Israel," said Mohammed Saleem, 24, a student in Baghdad. "I have nothing against having relations with the Israelis on the condition they give the Palestinians their rights and their own country."
>>>
Stupid Muhammadan Sons of Bitc*es...it's time for Israel to crank up the armored bulldozers and be done with this pali crap once and for all. Israel owes not one Muhammadan not one thing...
I don't see it.
That was actually proposed early on, as was the concept of allowing Jews to own property in Iraq. Those ideas died a quick death.
IMO there's a connection between these attitudes and the recent persecution of Christians.
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