|
DFLP, Press Slam U.S. "Immoral Conduct" In Middle East
 |
| Palestinians march in support of Yasser Arafat |
DAMASCUS, Jan. 27 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - One of the three main components of the Palestine Liberation Organization, condemned Sunday Washington's "partial and immoral" stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, news agencies reported Sunday.
The Damascus-based Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) accused U.S. President, George W. Bush, of backing the campaign by hawkish Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, against the Palestinians. "We are shocked by the partial attitude of the U.S. administration in favor of the bloody war being waged by Ariel Sharon and his army, using the most sophisticated American weaponry," a DFLP statement sent Sunday to Agence France-Presse (AFP) said.
Bush said Friday he was "disappointed" with the Palestinian President and that Arafat had to make a "full effort to rout out terror." The American president made his remarks as senior members of his administration were contemplating a possible change of policy towards the Palestinian Authority, BBC's online news service reported.
The DFLP said the Bush administration's "immoral conduct" had lost its credibility "with all the peoples of the Third World" and "shows that it is carrying on a biased policy." It denounced Washington's silence with regard to "the murders of Palestinians, the destruction of their houses and the blockade" of the Palestinian territories" by Israel, adding that "this stupid American policy will damage the United States."
Meanwhile, regional newspapers also attacked Bush's comments, with an Egyptian government daily saying he was encouraging Palestinian bombings by adopting Washington's most negative stand toward the Middle East in 50 years. Al-Ahram daily newspaper warned that a "large part of suicide operations is due to the total absence of hope of obtaining a political settlement and U.S. support for the peace process."
"President Bush has not only washed his hands of the situation in the Middle East," continued editorial writer, Salama Ahmed Salama, writing only hours before a resistance bomber killed one person as well as herself and wounded nearly 70 more in west Jerusalem Sunday. "But the spokesmen of the White House and the U.S. Secretary of State insist on declaring Israel's innocence and throwing the blame on Arafat, held as a hostage in Ramallah under the threat of Sharon's tanks.”
The U.S. stand "is closer to a shield for Israeli aggression than an attempt to play an active role for a return to calm and negotiations," Al-Ahram said. Newspapers in the Gulf and Iraq also, on Sunday, blasted Washington's pro-Israeli stance after Bush's biased comments.
"Bush's words and threats of reprisals against the Palestinian Authority confirm that the US administration is no longer trustworthy," Al-Khaleej of the United Arab Emirates said. "The U.S. administration has revealed its Israeli character and spared the Arab world losing more time. The United States has decided to openly undertake Israel's war, which will not be limited to the Palestinians but the entire Arab region."
Qatar's daily newspaper, Al-Sharq, said that "the greatest danger is the blind bias of the Bush's administration towards Sharon so it can continue its crimes to the end."
Al-Yawm of Saudi Arabia blamed the "thoughtless bias of the United States to Israel for the escalation of violence in Palestinian Authority territories. The White House must deal with Yasser Arafat to bring around a solution to the crisis. The adoption of a hostile attitude towards Arafat is no longer in the interests of the United States.”
In Iraq, Ath-Thawra daily newspaper, mouthpiece of the ruling Baath party, accused the U.S. administration of being a "toy in the hands of Zionism. The administration of Bush the younger is much more an ally of the Zionist entity. It executes all its orders, including those at the expense of US interests and dignity," it said.
Arafat has not commented on Bush's remarks but has called on Washington to do more to promote peace in the Middle East. He has urged Palestinian resistance activists to halt attacks on Israel, but has vowed to continue the struggle for a Palestinian state. "I have said to him that I started the peace process with his father, President Bush... I told him that I hope we will continue what was started," Arafat told reporters Saturday.
In another separate-related development, thousands of Palestinians have demonstrated in Bethlehem to show solidarity with their leader Yasser Arafat - a day after Bush's comments. The peaceful demonstration in Bethlehem started at midday, Saturday, January 26, and marchers proceeded towards Arafat's offices, carrying banners bearing the image of their leader.
Representatives of the main Palestinian factions attended the march in addition to parliamentarians, members of the Palestinian National Council, and Christian and Muslim figures from Bethlehem and its surrounding villages.
The National Palestinian Forces - a coalition of 13 resistance groups formed at the start of the Intifada against Israeli occupation 16 months ago - distributed a statement to the crowd. The coalition called for "the continuation of the Intifada, the necessity to affirm national unity and to release political prisoners," who have been jailed recently as Arafat has come under increasing pressure from Israel and the U.S.
|
