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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 2 - 8 November 2000 Issue No. 506 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 2 - 8 November 2000 Issue No. 506
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region Interview International Economy Opinion Culture Features Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Exporting typhoid and guns
By Thomas Gourgissian"Possibly the greatest criminal pattern of behaviour abroad now by the United States and the United Nations is sustaining economic sanctions against innocent children and adults in Iraq. This is a bankrupt foreign policy. It has not destabilised the dictator of Iraq. To the contrary, it has given the dictator even more repressive powers because he can point to the foreign devils who are taking 5,000 little children's' lives every month, according to the American Physician's Task Force that visited Iraq and UN reports.
"These children die because of the embargo on medical devices and medicines and because of the destruction of electricity sources for drinking water plants, which lead to contaminated water, typhus, typhoid and cholera epidemics.
"Secondly, the militarisation of that whole area has entrenched dictatorial forces throughout those countries. It is a very serious problem that will prevent democratic forces in Arab countries from reasserting themselves.
"Third, on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the two sides seem as close together as they've ever been in 50 years on issues such as statehood for the Palestinians, some presence in Jerusalem and some right of return of Palestinian refugees. And yet, in an election year, some politicians in this country do not demonstrate a cool, committed head for peace. They are taking sides.
"If the United States is going to be an honest broker between the Israelis and Palestinians in this critical time, with the violence flaring, with most of the casualties being Palestinians on Palestinian territory, between Palestinian youths throwing ancient rocks against modern Israeli armour -- if we're going to be an honest broker, we cannot take sides. And that means that if we're going to be friends of Israelis, we've got to be friends of Palestinians. And if we're going to be friends of Palestinians, we have to be friends of Israelis.
"And if Israel's security is maintained and it's as secure, according to the Jaffe Institute in Israel, as it's ever been in its lifetime -- maintaining overwhelming military superiority -- if Israel's security is going to be retained, Palestinian justice has to be institutionalised.
...
"Al Gore has a disquieting animus toward the peoples of the Arab world and towards Palestinians. Therefore, I think he is going to be a poor follower of Bill Clinton in the peace process.
"You saw the debates and saw Al Gore being asked about this. He said the Syrian-controlled militias should return the three captured Israeli soldiers in Lebanon, but he somehow couldn't find a few words to say about the Palestinian children and youngsters who were destroyed by Israeli armaments for protesting, with rocks, inside Palestinian territory.
"That is a very important signal of the eight-year-long career of Al Gore and his being anti-Arab. And he ought to be brought to account here.
"He will never be an honest broker if he takes sides. And the perilous state of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process hangs in the balance. They must be brought back to the peace table so they can negotiate a peace; they have to live together. After they have negotiated a just and secure peace, with the help of peace forces on both sides, such as Peace Now in Israel and similar movements in the Palestinian territories, maybe in a few years both sides will wonder what took them so long.
Related stories:
Shifting borders
The Intifada this time
'Those times are over'
Snipers, gunships and now death squads
'Our blood is sacred too'
Blaming the victim
Exporting typhoid and guns
It's war -- virtually
Arab journalists join the fray
Blinded by the truth
Deciphering ZNN
The message is the medium
Also see Focus on Intifada 26 Oct. - 1 Nov. 2000
and Focus on Intifada 19 - 25 October 2000© Copyright Al-Ahram Weekly. All rights reserved
