Oct 7, 2000 - 07:11 PM

Arab World, Angry With Israel, Demonstrates in Support of Palestinians By Omar Shama Associated Press Writer

CAIRO, Egypt (AP) - Egyptian riot police dodged stones thrown by students Saturday, Syrians marched in peaceful protest and Iraqis volunteered to fight alongside their Palestinian brethren as Arabs expressed anger at Israel over clashes in Jerusalem. Thirteen Egyptian riot police officers were injured as student demonstrators pelted them with rocks at Cairo University on Saturday. In full gear, the riot force guarded the university gates to keep an anti-Israel demonstration from spilling into the streets.

No students were hurt and demonstrators did not force their way off campus. Security, however, was beefed up outside the Israeli Embassy in Cairo, just a few hundred yards from the university.

Throughout the Arab world and Iran, resentment has reverberated over Israel's handling of clashes that began Sept. 28. So far, 80 people have died, mostly Palestinians.

In Syria, 10,000 students left their schools Saturday to peacefully march through the streets of Damascus, chanting anti-Israel slogans and burning an Israeli flag.

Security also was tight around the U.S. Embassy in Damascus after protesters a day earlier hurled stones at the building.

Iraqis demonstrated their support for Palestinians with rallies at universities, offices of the ruling Baath Party and schools nationwide.

About 7,000 people gathered at al-Mustansireya University in Baghdad, where they burned Israeli and U.S. flags. They shouted "death to the Zionists and their slaves the Americans!"

Mohammed Aldura was the 12-year-old Palestinian boy whose shooting by Israeli forces last week was captured on television, making him a rallying point in the latest violence.

Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, speaking during a visit to Jordan, blamed Arab leaders for Israel's "upper hand" in the region.

"Israel is not the problem, we are," Gadhafi said. "Israel can vanish within 24 hours" if all the Arabs attack it, he told Jordanian lawmakers.

In Iran, Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazzi greeted his Saudi counterpart, Prince Saud al-Faisal, who arrived for talks in part on the situation in Jerusalem.

"This visit is taking place at a time when the Palestinian great intefadeh (uprising) is under way," Kharrazi said. "The policy of violence by the Israelis and developments in the occupied territories definitely demand consultations with regional states, including Saudi Arabia."

In Saudi Arabia, in a rare form of public protest, about 40 women wrapped in black veils from head to foot marched through Jiddah after midday prayers.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGANTCOW1EC.html

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), October 07, 2000

Answers

If Crazy Gadhafi had his way Isreal would disappear in twenty four hours.

-- Uncle Fred (dogboy45@bigfoot.com), October 07, 2000.

Egyptians losing patience with violent Israel

Egypt was the first Arab country to
recognize Israel. Whereas the
government recognizes Israel, Egyptian
public opinion has always been hostile
to its non-Arab neighbor. That public
opinion has been outraged over the last
few days as Egyptians closely monitor
the violence unfolding in Israel and the
Occupied Territories.

. . .

State-run Al Gumhuriya has accused the
Israelis of using internationally banned
Dum-Dum bullets, designed to cause maximum
damage to their targets. The Wafd
opposition paper has accused Israel's
Prime Minister Ehud Barak of threatening to
increase the use of force to, "silence
the Palestinians."

. . .

Dr. Ahmed Amr Hashim, one of the authors
of the statement, calls on "the international
community to interfere to stop the massacre
which is taking place by the Israeli
security forces in Palestinian towns
and villages."

Hashim is in no doubt as to which figure is
most responsible for the bloodshed. He
says, "The ugly [crimes] began when
the terrorist Ariel Sharon forced entry into the
compound of the Al Aqsa mosque."

Popular sentiment was far more vocal in
its anger. Students from the American
University in Cairo reportedly burnt
the Israeli flag in the university's Jameel
Center.

. . .

The intifada is the main topic of conversation
and suggested solutions to the 'Israeli
problem' are extreme. Jamal al-Hamdi, the
cafe's manager, thinks that "Arabs need to
unite to finish off Israel. That is the only
solution," he says.

"Otherwise they will continue to kill Arabs."

Middle East Times

-- spider (spider0@usa.net), October 08, 2000.

Crisis in Palestine ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- Summit will discuss call to isolate Israel

By Mohamed Abdul Rahman, Our Riyadh Correspondent and agencies Arab leaders will discuss a proposal calling for the boycott of Israel diplomatically and economically as punishment against its crimes committed against the Palestinians, an official of the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Gulf News yesterday. The call to boycott Israel is a vital matter and shall be definitely discussed by the leaders at the upcoming Arab summit in Cairo on October 21-22, he said.

There is unanimous agreement on this issue and in case a resolution is adopted calling for the expulsion of Israeli ambassadors from the Arab countries having diplomatic relations with Israel as well as closing its offices in Arab states, he said such resolutions will be binding and implemented immediately.

He emphasised that the summit will take a strong and decisive stand against Israel.

Saudi Arabia, is in consultations at the level of the Arab foreign ministers to decide on the agenda for the summit. There is still contrasting viewpoints from Arab states about the issues to be included in the agenda, the official said.

He added that most of the Arab states are for the opinion to confine the agenda to one issue only... that is the stand against the bloody developments in occupied territories and the massacres committed by Israel. Most feel that they should focus their efforts on these and confine their negotiations around this critical issue rather than discuss other issues.

He said that some Arab states are demanding to put forth specific issues on the agenda such as the situation in the Gulf Region and the latest Iraqi provocations against Kuwait. He said consultations aimed at reaching a consensus are still progressing.

The explosion of anger and violence in most of the Arab states shall not cease unless the summit adopts clear resolutions and effective action against Israel, he said. Arab people will not be satisfied by the usual statements and resolutions which only condemn and denounce such actions, he added.

In Dubai, meanwhile, in a statement about the latest development in the occupied Palestinian lands, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance and Industry, praised the boldness and fearlessness of the Palestinian youth. He said their courageous stand reflects their adherence to their rights and an example of their resolve to protect Al Aqsa.

Sheikh Hamdan emphasised that the tragic situation witnessed by the Palestinians calls on the Arab Muslims to stand as one in support of the Palestinians.

He also praised the stand of President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, as well as the government and the people of the UAE in supporting the Palestinians at this moment.

Sheikh Hamdan pledged his full support to Sheikh Zayed's call to hold the summit for the protection of the holy sites.

Sheikh Hamdan called the world community, the UN and the Security Council, the U.S. and Russia, in their capacity as co-sponsors of the peace process, to put more efforts to promote the peace process and to seek the best basis for peace.

http://www.gulf-news.com/

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), October 08, 2000.