ARAB WORLD TAKEN ABACK BY BUSH SPEECH ON MIDDLE EAST

The Media Line ^ | June 25, 2002 | Michael Widlanski

[Stultis]

ARAB WORLD TAKEN ABACK BY BUSH SPEECH ON MIDDLE EAST

By Michael Widlanski

Arab leaders and the Palestinian community were sharply taken aback by the tone and content of President George Bush’s Middle East policy speech that called for a change in Palestinian leadership.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat tried to put a good face on the Bush speech that did not mention Arafat but hinted broadly at the need for his replacement. Arafat’s WAFA press service issued a short statement welcoming the Bush speech, but privately Palestinian officials were outraged.

“This is a slap in the face of the Palestinian national movement and its symbols,” asserted Talal Awkel, a Palestinian political analyst in Gaza, interviewed by Al-Jazeera satellite television

“The Arab world is stunned by Bush’s speech,” asserted Brig. Gen. Yossi Kupperwasser, head of the Israeli Army’s (IDF) Intelligence Acquisition Department, in a briefing to the Israeli cabinet.

General Kupperwasser said that many Arab assumptions about Bush’s speech were proved wrong (as were those of many local Israeli journalists), but the general’s words were interrupted by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

“This is not a move against the Arab world,” said Sharon, who said the Bush Administration was merely making clear to Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian Authority (PA) that they were going to pay a price for encouraging terror.

“I didn’t think much of Bush’s speech,” insisted Ghazi Ghreib, an Arab journalist in Jerusalem. “What does he think he’s doing ignoring our interests?” he added.

After several hours of stunned official silence, Arab capitals reacted slowly and cautiously to the Bush speech. Egypt tried to stress Bush’s comments about the need for Israeli withdrawal, without mentioning Bush’s demand that the withdrawal lead to “secure and recognized” borders for Israel.
Arab League Secretary General Amr Musa underlined the same point about the need for Israeli withdrawal, adding that the Bush speech needed to be more explicit about a timetable for an Israeli pull-out.

“Everyone has to remember that the Palestinian people will pick their own leaders,” asserted Arafat himself, after catching his second wind after the Bush speech clearly knocked the air out of him.

Arafat seemed even shakier than usual, his lips trembling and the flesh around his neck seeming to sag from sudden loss of weight, as he addressed reporters near his command post in Ramallah surrounded by a ring of Israeli army troops.

But the Bush speech was not the only case of someone calling into question Arafat’s leadership. The leader of the Islamic HAMAS movement, Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, publicly humiliated Arafat this week when he ordered his body guards to repel a “house arrest” imposed on Sheikh Yassin by Arafat.

Sheikh Yassin invited tv crews into his house to berate Arafat as being a collaborator with Israeli authorities who killed several senior operatives in the HAMAS terror organization.

Elsewhere in Gaza, hundreds of Palestinian demonstrators marched noisily this weekend to demand jobs and food, banging on plates and pots. The Gaza workers have lost any chance of working in Israel, which has been the main source of employment for them for years, but the current Palestinian-Israelis war has also eliminated the ability to work even inside Gaza.


© 2002 Michael Widlanski

Michael Widlanski is senior analyst at The Media Line and lecturer at The Rothberg School of the Hebrew University.

By The Media Line Staff on Tuesday, June 25, 2002

[meenie]

The problem with Bush's speech in the eyes of the Arabs is the threat to withold aid if the Palestinian leadership doesn't shape up. The little game of both sides playing to the United States for their financial support and sympathy is coming to an end. The Arab nations and Israel played the US like a fiddle during the cold war by jockeying back and forth between the two competing powers and it became a way of life to all participants.

[perez24]

If Bush gave away the store and endorsed/rewarded terrorism and all of the horrible things of which he was accused on this board during the speech, why are the terrorists so angry?

Could it be that he's possibly on the right track????

[Coop]

“This is a slap in the face of the Palestinian national movement and its symbols,” asserted Talal Awkel

Well, DUH!

[Technocrat]

Jar Jar must not be allowed to serve in any leadership capacity!

[exmarine]

The arab world would be even more taken aback if our leaders had the courage to do what needs to be done to win this war right now. The solution is simple: Threaten the destruction of Mecca and Medina if the U.S. is attacked again - and follow-through with the threat. It's the one thing the islamists fear - destruction of their religion. Islam is irrevocably tied to Mecca - without it - Islam dies. It will also show the world over how impotent their God really is if he can't even protect his holiest spot. We either destroy Mecca (or threaten to) or they will destroy many Americans! Do we want to win and protect Americans or not?

[justshutupandtakeit]

That couldn't possibly be. Just ask the "true Patriots" always so happy to attack any thing they THINK Bush has/is/will do.

Lets hear it Bushwhackers, the world waits with baited breath for more pearls of your wisdom.

[Nonstatist]

In Gaza, hundreds of Palestinian demonstrators marched noisily this weekend to demand jobs and food, ... The Gaza workers have lost any chance of working in Israel, which has been the main source of employment for them for years, but the current Palestinian-Israelis war has also eliminated the ability to work even inside Gaza

Geez, and they thought there was no downside? Yea, keep demonstrating and killing. That'll put food on your table, you stupid, stupid people.

[John O]

Elsewhere in Gaza, hundreds of Palestinian demonstrators marched noisily this weekend to demand jobs and food, banging on plates and pots. The Gaza workers have lost any chance of working in Israel, which has been the main source of employment for them for years, but the current Palestinian-Israelis war has also eliminated the ability to work even inside Gaza.

mohammedans never seem to learn the lesson that you don't bite the hand that feeds you. They continually act worse than dogs

God Save America (Please)

[Guillermo]

Why should He?

[John O]

I agree entirely. President Bush (oh how I love being able to say 'President' without having to retch) needs to publicly declare that after the next terrorist attack on the U.S. Mecca will be nuked. At that point the planners and sponsors of the terror will be turned over to U. S forces or at one week intervals, medina and the capitols of the islamic nations will join mecca as radioactive glass.

Then he needs to follow through. If the islamikazis are determined to be martyrs then we should aid them as well as we can.

God Save America (Please)

[rudypoot]

"Elsewhere in Gaza, hundreds of Palestinian demonstrators marched noisily this weekend to demand jobs and food, banging on plates and pots. The Gaza workers have lost any chance of working in Israel, which has been the main source of employment for them for years, but the current Palestinian-Israelis war has also eliminated the ability to work even inside Gaza."

Geez, they bite the only hand in the region that feeds them and now they are complaining. Just another page in the arab/isreali relationship i guess.

[TheOtherOne]

Just your average daily PA cartoon

[exmarine]

You know - I've suggested this a few times on FR, and you are the first one that has responded to my suggestion. It seems to me that our nation has little heart for a real fight. We are afraid of casualties and lack the moral courage to do what is necessary for the protection of our nation. To be honest, I fear for our nation. How many Americans must die before we take this to the heart of the enemy? Chesty Puller must be turning over in his grave.

[John O]

I've stated it also. I guess we've just never discussed the point on the same thread.

The truth of the matter lies in the fact that the islamikazies only understand force. If we supply sufficient force then they will modify their behavior. If we don't supply sufficient force then we will be under continual attack.

This is a hard issue for me as the Christian in me weeps for their souls while the American in me screams for their deaths. That's why I say give them a one week reprieve. Give them one week to call on Jesus Christ and escape God's justice before we impose man's justice on them. I figure if they aren't going to see reason in one week then they never will. We've fulfilled our duty by telling them the truth, what they do with it is up to them.

God Save America (Please)

[carton253]

You know... what you wrote is true. Bin Laden is counting on it... and in the end, he thinks that he will win just because of this issue. America is soft, spoil, and has an attention span of 10 minutes. Lay off... let them forget... and repeat.

[exmarine]

We agree. There are only two ways to deal with aggressive evil: (1) the gospel of Jesus Christ, and if that fails (2) the HAMMER. It's time for the Hammer.

[exmarine]

I submit Japan and Germany as two examples. We bombed every major city to the ground. Did it work? You bet. The evil was suppressed and both countries have been peaceful ever since. IT WORKS.

[Wm Bach]

Ghazi Ghreib, an Arab journalist in Jerusalem. “What does he think he’s doing ignoring our interests?”

I think he's ignoring your interests. The moment you aided and abbetted terrorists, you lost any consideration by America of your interests. I hope Bush nukes your home nation into oblivion. Sleep well, you lying arab sack of crap.