What did Musharraf actually say?

www.jewishworldreview.com ^ | Sept. 23, 2005 / 19 Elul, 5765 | By Gary Rosenblatt

[Esther Ruth]

Jewish World Review Sept. 23, 2005 / 19 Elul, 5765

What did Musharraf actually say?

By Gary Rosenblatt

Pakistani president's appearance at New York Jewish meeting called 'historic,' but some disappointed by his remarks

http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | Did Gen. Pervez Musharraf, the president of Pakistan, satisfy his audience of several hundred American Jewish leaders in New York on Saturday night in addressing the Mideast conflict and Islamic-Jewish relations?

Some praised Musharraf, who heads the largest Islamic republic with nuclear power, for his courage in publicly calling for peaceful means to resolve the longstanding blood wars.

Noting that the Israeli and Pakistani foreign ministers had met only days earlier, through Turkish auspices, American Jewish Congress president Jack Rosen said Musharraf's call for a "new Islamic society based on pluralism and tolerance" could herald a new era of peace." Rosen called the meeting with American Jewish leaders a "historic moment."

Other Jewish leaders expressed disappointment, however, following Musharraf's 30-minute address, during which he described the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a root cause of world terror and said full diplomatic relations between Israel and Pakistan would come only after the creation of a Palestinian state.

"What have we achieved?" asked Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League. "In his world, in his culture, this is a major step. From our perspective it isn't."

[Esther Ruth]

"I believe in seizing opportunities," the president said, "but this is not the moment."

"No, Musharraf responded, not at the moment."

"Musharraf said he would consider the suggestions but had not thought of them until now."

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(Yes, we are all planning on stringin you all along till we get everything we want.)