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Arab Women Open First Summit Backing Mothers Of Palestinian Martyrs
by Lamia Radi
CAIRO (AFP) - The first ladies of Arab countries opened their first summit with calls of support for the mothers of Palestinian martyrs paying the ultimate sacrifice for their people's liberation.
Suzanne Mubarak, wife of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, gave the keynote speech at the forum that was also to discuss social prejudices blocking the development of Arab women.
"This summit is our voice of protest against the flagrant injustice inflicted on a struggling Palestinian people," Mubarak told the gathering, which included Soha Arafat, wife of the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
The shout of protest, she said, amounted to "the voice of half the Arab world's population against violations committed against the women and children of Palestine."
Most of the Arab League's 22 member states were at the summit, which League Secretary General Esmat Abdel Meguid said was to urge Arab peoples and their leaders to "support and honor the mothers of the martyrs" in Palestine.
Palestinian women "who sacrifice their children for the nation are offering what is most dear to them to support their people and obtain the defeat of Israeli Nazism," he said in a speech that prompted a standing ovation.
"I warn Israel against its rejection of the choice of peace ... because that only stiffens the will of the Arabs," he said.
Though first called to debate the condition of women in Arab societies, the summit is now to "show solidarity with the al-Aqsa Intifida which has become the Arab world's most important event," an Arab League official said.
The uprising, or Intifada, erupted after the September 28th visit by Israel's right-wing Likud leader Ariel Sharon to the site of al-Aqsa mosque in east Jerusalem, at the heart of the Palestinian-Israeli dispute.
Participants will also discuss other issues, such as how cultural tradition affects the role of the Arab woman, ways to involve women in political decisions, and how to boost non-governmental organizations that help women.
Mubarak, in her speech, said "the most dangerous of challenges are within us, within women themselves and within society: these are the ideas received and unfounded fears, resulting from outmoded traditions and social customs."
Among those attending the summit are Queen Rania, wife of Jordan's King Abdullah II; Fatima al-Beshir, wife of Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir; Lebanon's first lady, Andree Lahoud; and Sabika al-Khalifa, wife of Bahrain's emir Sheikh Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa.
Sheikha Latifa, wife of Kuwait's crown prince and Prime Minister Saad al-Abdallah As-Sabah, appealed for the release of Kuwaitis and others who were captured by Iraq after its 1990-1991 occupation.
She urged the summit to "intervene with the Iraqi authorities to liberate 605 prisoners of war," saying the tragedy of their unknown fate "means that sadness hovers over every household."
Delegations from Syria and Iraq have also arrived, headed by officials of women's groups in those countries.
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