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When Will the Arab World Tell Its People "Israel Is Not the Enemy"?

[Jerusalem Post] Barry Rubin - In pursuit of its vendetta against Israel and the West, the Arab world is committing suicide. On a daily basis, this means rejecting the reforms its societies need. In the long run, it means risking takeover by radical Islamists. What's the effective voice in the region? Not the "peace process" concept used in talking with the West, but the "resistance" concept, used in talking among themselves. Even in countries with genuinely moderate governments, no official or state-controlled newspaper (and very few intellectuals) dare say: Israel is not an enemy; America is a friend; the true struggle is to raise living standards and promote freedom. What does it matter if Arab notables speak soothingly at diplomatic parties or in Western media interviews while millions at home are inundated by a very different message? Hamas member of parliament Fathi Hammad told al-Aksa television (7Sep08): "The approaching victory...is not limited to Palestine. You are creating the ethos of victory for all Arabs and Muslims, and Allah willing, even on the global level. Why? Because Allah has chosen you to fight the people he hates most - the Jews." Is Arab victory approaching? Well, no. But this kind of talk has kept the suckers in line for 60 years now. It's just so useful for rulers and revolutionaries. The writer is director of Global Research in International Affairs Center and editor of the Middle East Review of International Affairs Journal.
2008-10-15 01:00:00
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