Israeli flag hangs for first time in Dubai

Jerusalem Post ^ | Sep. 22, 2003 | DAN GERSTENFELD

[yonif]

The Israeli flag is hanging on the wall right in the middle of the main gathering room above the heads of participants at the annual meeting of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund held here. The flag seems to draw little attention from local man who walk around dressed in traditional long white robs and Cafias and the women whose faces are covered with wails that leave only very little room for the eyes.

Dubai, which is aiming to establish it's position as the leading financial center of the Persian Gulf was willing to allow the Israeli delegation arrive here despite the fact that the United Arab Emirates does not recognize the Jewish state.

It seems, however, that the host released a sigh of relief when Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu decided not to come to the gathering. The decision, which is attributed to security reasons although the Treasury claims it, is not, angered Israeli businessman who said this would have been a golden opportunity for Netanyahu to present Israel's case to the Arab world. In the absence of Netanyahu the delegation is headed by Netanyahu's deputy Meir Sheetrit and Bank of Israel governor David Klein.

According to media reports the Israeli and Iraqi delegations are the only two who the organizers refuse to disclose where they are staying. The Arab press meanwhile, seems to be disturbed by the fact that while the Israelis enjoy the status of members the Palestinian delegation is only an "observer" and the Iraqi one is a "special gust".

The Israeli participants are among 17,000 other delegates from 184 countries. According to a report in London's Al-Hayat the local media in the emirate was instructed not to mention the presence of the Israeli delegation. "This is embarrassing on more than one level" Al-Hayat reported.

Despite that the hosts are doing their best to make Israelis feel as comfortable as possible. An attempt however, to get into some Israeli news site has failed although others were working well.

[yonif]

[Alouette]

Israel has been quietly carrying on trade with Dubai for a number of years.

[Chad Fairbanks]

and the Iraqi one is a "special gust".

A special distinction, for event likely to be filled with windbags ;0)

[Allan]

I recently was surprised to learn
that Dubai's wealth is derived not from oil
but from trade and commerce
primarily with Iran.

3/4 of the population consists of foreign workers
and the native population consists largely
of descendents of immigrants
who came from southern Iran
in the 19th century.

In short
a culture much different
from that of the rest
of the Arabian peninsula.

[cookcounty]

"....and the women whose faces are covered with wails .........."

Hmmm...a new Sierra Club / Al-Qaida convergence?

"Save the Wails!!!

[Robert_Paulson2]

According to a report in London's Al-Hayat the local media in the emirate was instructed not to mention the presence of the Israeli delegation. "This is embarrassing on more than one level" Al-Hayat reported.

---

This kind of ignorant hatred... is what we need to ELIMINATE.
These folks cannot be educated to reject their religious, racial HATRED and intention to murder jews.

or americans eventually.

...in the kill or be killed equation... I want the "killing" side for me an mine, and that includes Jews.

We need to go to worldwide war on a massive scale with these folks. The piecemeal attack on the problem at hand is not working as quickly as needed.

[Freee-dame]

17,000 other delegates

Who pays for these meetings?

[jedwardtremlett]

Yeah, there were some amusing typos in this piece. ; )

I liked the idea of women wearing 'wails'

J

[jedwardtremlett]

Yeah, there were some amusing typos in this piece. ; )

I liked the idea of women wearing 'wails'

J

[Chad Fairbanks]

ROTFL

[jedwardtremlett]

There's another, possible angle to the 'no-mention' thing that the London paper might not have twigged on to: security.

Having the Israelis here in the UAE might have given any number of whack jobs a clear and sharp opportunity to come on in and set up a terrorist attack. And if anything had happened to the Israeli delegation while they were here, there would have been major hell to pay. So, the less specifics known in advance, the better.

At any rate, word got out even if the papers didn't say anything. But I'm almost positive that I DID see mention - however small - of the Israelis being here in one of the english language newspapers. And I know I saw something in it yesterday, because General Sheikh Mohammed spoke of how he 'saw, but did not see' the Israelis while they were here.

J