MEDIA REACTION ON MIDDLE EAST

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TAGS: KMDR JO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON MIDDLE EAST


Summary

-- A lead story in all papers today, June 17, focuses
on Israel's establishment of the "dividing wall"
between Israel and the West Bank. A number of
commentaries lash out at Israel's "racist" policy.
Another front-page story, without commentary,
highlights the New York Times article about President
Bush's call on the CIA to find ways to oust the Saddam
Hussein regime of Iraq.

Editorial Commentary

-- "The racist dividing wall"

Center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour
(06/17) editorializes: "Israel is going against the
current and the spirit of this century, which has
witnessed the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the fall
of the most racist division in South Africa. This is
only so Israel can start its own stage of implementing
the same hateful policy, as it is determined to be the
last of all occupations and the last of racist
entities. The Palestinians are not sorry to see their
occupiers hide behind walls and electrical fences.
This separation could have, however, taken place as a
result of a final solution, whereby this dividing wall
turns into international borders that separate between
a free and independent Palestine and the Hebrew state.
It is sad that these racist plans of isolation have
not received the international and American
condemnation they deserve. In fact the plans are
understood by Washington in line with its policy of
blind bias in favor of the Hebrew state. We condemn
this policy of racism. We tell the government of
rabbis and generals that their protective walls will
not bring them safety and security, and that no matter
how much they fortify themselves, the will of the
Palestinians to be free and independent will
eventually win."

--"The isolating wall: Israeli aggression with U.S.
blessing"

Daily columnist Rakan Majali writes on the back page
of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour
(06/17): "It is obvious that Prime Minister Sharon
returned from the United States with ultimate support
for his plan to build a dividing wall and to impose
the ugliest form of racial discrimination. The
interesting thing is the presence of this American
cover and a false screen that talks about initiatives
or ideas to be presented by the U.S. President. In
our opinion, the Palestinian leadership and the Arabs
must seriously consider this most dangerous move, and
not be misled by these projects on papers, but to
focus on what is happening on the ground in the land
of Palestine."

-- "Israel's dividing wall: an attack on international
legitimacy"

Daily columnist Mazen Saket writes on the op-ed page
of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour
(06/16): "Funny how this world sings the praises of
international legitimacy, asks us to respect and abide
by it and punishes those countries that rebel against
it and refuse to abide by it. And there stands
Israel, despite all the international legitimacy
decisions that confirm the illegality of its
occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. There's Israel,
setting up this dividing wall. Israel is actually
setting the borders that it has decided for the
Palestinian state, before the negotiations, before
reaching agreements, and despite all the Security
Council resolutions. Can we still talk about an
international conference and a settlement with Israel
on the basis of Security Council resolutions?"
GNEHM