Britain: Morocco blasts undermine peace process

The Jerusalem Post ^ | 20 May 2003 | Douglas Davis

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May. 20, 2003
Britain: Morocco blasts undermine peace process
By DOUGLAS DAVIS

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has suggested that the 12 suicide bombings in Casablanca on Friday which killed 41 people might have been related to Morocco's support for the peace process.

"It is not accidental that we have had these terrorist outrages directed at Morocco, one of the most modern and advanced of Arab societies, and also the terrorist outrages in Israel timed to kill Israelis but also to undermine the peace process."

Straw's remarks coincided with a visit to London on Tuesday by Moroccan Foreign Minister Mohammed Benaissa, who described the Casablanca attacks as part of a "wave of terrorism against change in the Middle East."

He said Morocco had played a "very important role" over the years in trying to bring the parties together.

Straw said Morocco holds a pivotal and respected position, enjoying the confidence of both sides: "We look forward to Morocco playing a continuing role in that regard, and we are both agreed about the importance, now that the road map has been delivered, of the road map being implemented."

Benaissa said Morocco enjoys a good relationship with all the parties and he pledged to continue working to promote the peace process.

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Emphasis added by me.

The first thing Morocco has to do is go after it's home-grown terrorists. Many Moroccans have been arrested as part of the war on terror.

[Bahbah]

"the peace process"

I am so sick of this phrase. I just know I'm going to have to listen to that awful Hanan Ashwari intoning about the supposed peace process over and over while her minions continue to blow people up. Ugh.

[Cicero]

In the first place, everyone knows that the peace process is meaningless, as far as leading to peace is concerned.

What people also should understand is that the peace process doesn't buy us any time, or any liking, in the Arab world. Just the opposite. Every time we try to restart the process, the bombing increases and virulent anti-American hatred increases.

Does anyone really think that America's involvement in the peace process has endeared us to the Arab world? Just the opposite. It has continually brought us to their attention as meddlers in the region, and it has made them suspicious of our intentions, and it has continually increased their hatred of the United States.

The more we lean on Israel, the more Arabs accuse us of colluding with Israel. It's a no-win business. All but the most naive politicians understand that it won't bring peace, and they are quite cynical pretending that it will. But what they don't seem to understand is that it won't bring us relief from Arab hatred either. It only makes things worse.

[meenie]

Actually the meddling causes more trouble than it eliminates. The Palis rely on the theory that the United States will lean on Israel hard if there is more violence. The United States has warned Israel repeatedly to cease and desist when it goes after the terrorists, instead of letting Israel solve the problem as they see fit. The United States plays the role perfectly of the meddlesome mother that is going to intervene in the quarrel between her daughter and her son-in-law. Everybody knows whose side she will be on.