HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------- Tuesday, 18 December, 2001, 13:43 GMT
Saddam urges Palestine summit
Saddam Hussein: The Arab world has neglected the
Palestinians
Iraqi president Saddam Hussein has appealed to Arab leaders to convene an emergency summit to discuss the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. In a hard-hitting speech broadcast to the Arab world, the Iraqi president said the Arabs had not done enough to support the Palestinians. Arab foreign ministers are due to hold an extraordinary meeting in Cairo on Thursday to discuss the situation in the Palestinian territories, but the Arab world is divided over how to deal with Israel. Saddam Hussein said the summit - to be held preferably in the Saudi holy city of Mecca - should be devoted exclusively to what he called aggression against the Palestinians. Popular rhetoric The next Arab summit is not due to be held until March, but that, said the Iraqi leader, was like telling someone standing on burning charcoal that fire fighters would be coming in a few months time.
It is part of Saddam Hussein's enduring appeal among ordinary Arabs - that they can count on him for fiery anti-Israeli rhetoric. But the Iraqi leader also knows there is almost no chance of him being invited to an Arab summit, certainly not on Saudi soil. The Gulf Arab states have still not forgiven him for invading Kuwait 11 years ago. Splits over Arafat And now there are more splits emerging between Arab countries. They cannot agree on how to react to a speech made by the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Sunday. In it, he called for a halt to all Palestinian violence against Israel and a return to peace talks. Moderate Arab states like Egypt and Jordan know that this may be his only chance to end the Israeli occupation. But to some Arabs, a call to end violence amounts to a betrayal. On Tuesday, a Saudi newspaper even accused Mr Arafat of "surrendering to Israel". ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9WB2D Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================ | |||||||||
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