Free Republic

Libya’s eccentric dictator Muammar Qaddafi told a sleepy United Nations audience Wednesday night that he has the solution to the Israeli-Arab conflict: a single state called Isratine, an acronym for Israel and Palestine. He previously has suggested the term, but last night was the first time the phrase was introduced in the United Nations "The solution is a democratic state without religious fanaticism," he said. "Everybody should live in peace. Isratine, Isratine is the solution."

In recent days, Washington has experienced a media blitz by the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, including an op-ed in the New York Times and his first US videoconference in months. In the wake of the Obama transition, the "Guide of the Revolution" is reaching out to the new administration, using his stance towards Israel as the bait. Libyan, Israeli and American relations form a fateful mix, with Libyan-Israeli relations seeing an improvement as a result of US-Libyan rapprochement. Despite some positive developments, the nature of Libya's moves towards Israel suggests the limits of the transformative power of engagement. Libyan-Israeli relations...

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 29 (AFP) - Libya on Wednesday offered some colourful ideas for reforming the United Nations, including moving the General Assembly to Geneva and letting Bill Clinton resolve the world's conflicts and wars. Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi, never shy about putting forward visionary proposals, also wants his nation to have a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, Libyan Foreign Minister Abdurrahman Mohamed Shalghem said. "The past 59 years have proven that the General Assembly is merely a decorative body without a soul," Shalghem said as Libya took the podium at the annual United Nations debate of...

Gadhafi: Change Israel to ‘Isratine’ Libyan leader proposes new democracy, rejects Saudi plan DUBAI, March 25 — Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi said Israel should be replaced by a democracy called “Isratine” where unarmed Israelis and Palestinians could live in peace. “If the Jews want peace, they should accept to live in peace and drop arms with their Palestinian brethren,” Gadhafi said in an interview with al-Jazeera satellite television. GADHAFI, WHO HAS rejected a Saudi Middle East peace bid, said it was “impossible” to create an independent Palestinian state along with Israel because “the Israelis would not accept to live within...