A regularly updated roundup of commentary from Arab newspapers.
Let all participate for unity's sake
The Palestinian Al Hayat Al Jadeeda newspaper said on December 22 there was just one reason to hold the Palestinian legislative elections, but many more reasons to delay them.
The mainstream daily said the Israeli authorities on Wednesday added another important reason for postponing the polls: Banning Jerusalem Palestinians from voting.
"This means we have many obstacles that could lead to not holding the elections and none of us can accept partial polls," the West Bank-based paper said. "It is our duty to affect international public opinion against this illegal measure and to link the elections with voting in occupied Jerusalem."
The paper argued the elections have now become a problem rather than a solution and that's why "we cannot continue to fight over them," and called for ending the "internal collapse and to form a strong salvation and emergency government that is not technocratic". It called for a security and economic-based government that will put matters in order to restore popular confidence in the Palestinian Authority and to leave the chance open for factions to participate "since it is the minimum requirement to ensure the badly-needed national unity".
Al Hayat Al Jadeeda concluded an emergency government and entering immediate factional dialogue were the only way out for the Palestinian crisis.
Stupid description of terrorist
London-based Al Hayat daily commented on December 22 that the US administration and Israel obviously did not want the Palestinian legislative elections to be held, not because Hamas may win, but because it will participate.
The Saudi-financed daily said the Americans and Israelis were relying on "stupid logic of their descriptions of who is a terrorist and who isn't among the peoples," adding that Europe followed suit after having opened contacts with Hamas.
"What is left now is for (UN Secretary-General) Kofi Annan to oppose Hamas' participation in the elections," which it said was not far-fetched since Annan had "appointed himself for the Israeli agenda until the end of his term".
The daily, distributed in most Arab capitals, added while the Palestinians are doing what they can to ensure the polls are held on time next month because their delay would have serious repercussions, the Americans, Israelis and Europeans "are active on more than one front to pressure the Palestinian Authority without realizing the implications of this pressure."
Covering up for Iraqi failure
Syria's official Al Thawra daily commented on December 22 that the US administration insists on continuing to pressure Syria by fabricating accusations "to activate its Middle East schemes because of its political and military failure in Iraq".
The state-run paper cautioned Lebanese political forces from being used by the West, saying there were those in Beirut who are "implementing a role orchestrated from the outside aimed at legitimizing" the pressures on Syria. It insisted it was no coincidence that accusations against Syria by Lebanese forces coincide with those from the West, saying it was a "plan that is being implemented gradually".
The daily stressed that Syria ended its military and security presence in Lebanon eight months ago, something that has been recognized by the UN. It said this fact alone was clear evidence that "whoever threatens Lebanon's independence, is confiscating its democratic process and threatening internal chaos are the interfering foreign forces and the [Lebanese] figures coordinating with them."
Iraqi polls setback, now new enemy in Bolivia
Jordan's Ad Dustour said in a commentary on December 22 the United States suffered a big setback with initial results from the Iraqi elections showing that former Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi will not return to his post and with the victory of elected Bolivian President Evo Morales, "a new enemy to the American imperialism on the continent."
The mass-circulation daily argued the Americans tried to bring Allawi back to power in Baghdad by presenting him as a strong man capable of fighting terrorism, poverty and unemployment.
The paper, which describes itself as independent but is partially owned by the government, insisted Allawi "is finished as a political leader, just as Ahmed Chalabi was finished before him".
It said this might not be good news for the United States, "which now has to deal with its new opponent in its own backyard: The new Bolivian leader, Morales, the loyal friend to Cuban President Fidel Castro and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez."
Misjudging modern Arab history
Jordan's Al Ghad published on December 22 a political cartoon criticizing the role of the United States as the Arab policeman, judge, jury and executor. The cartoon depicts President George W. Bush sitting in a judge's chair behind a podium that says "USA" and shows an unbalanced weighing scale. Bush is pointing a gun at an old and miserable-looking Arab man standing in a courtroom cage, who is looking down and holding a big book under his arm. Behind him a caption reads: "Modern Arab history."
Reports on Iraq offer stark contrast
Saudi Arabia's semi-official Al Riyadh daily said in its editorial on December 21 that the Iraqi general elections held last week "fly with one wing." The mass-circulation paper said "whoever listens to the Americans would think the elections are taking place in a country like Sweden or Switzerland, but who looks at the political party leaders and different Iraqi forces finds them to be in the midst of chaos."
The daily commented the polls were an experiment that came after mistakes, catastrophes, wars and isolation, which is why the process was tribal and sectarian. It warned that elections based on tribalism, with external intervention, may lead to tribal alliances that will lose Iraq its national identity and lead to war among the different trends in which everyone will lose.
Al Riyadh urged Washington to understand it is in its interests to remain completely neutral if it wants real democracy in Iraq. Otherwise, it warned, the United States will lose militarily and politically.
"Perhaps many [in the region] want defeat for America and few want its success - not out of love for it, but for fear that Iraq is slipping towards a civil war, in which it will become fertile for terrorism from all forces," the paper insisted.
Palestinian elections quandry
London-based Al Quds Al Arabi commented on December 21 that the Palestinian situation was "frustrating by all standards" as it lacks leadership amid chaos.
The independent Palestinian-owned daily said the Palestinian Authority has become weak, corrupt and is collapsing, with its leader, Mahmoud Abbas, having lost his standing and unable to carry out his tasks. "He has no vision for the future," the paper opined, adding the divisions and chaos come weeks before the legislative elections next month.
The paper said no one wanted the elections to take place except Hamas because it is confident it will receive the highest number of votes, just as it did in the latest municipal elections; "That's why the pressures (from the United States and Europe) have started."
Holding the polls under (Israeli) occupation is illegitimate, it continued, and only improves the image of the Jewish state as being "democratic and merciful to those it occupies, while showing the Palestinians as ignorant, backward and bickering, unfit for the democracy they have been granted."
Al Quds Al Arabi doubted the polls will be held, but if they are, the paper said, then every Palestinian has the right to participate and the entire international community must respect the results no matter what they are.
Good to turn a blind eye to Iran nuclear
Bahrain's Akhbar Al Khaleej said on December 21 the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council did well by not dwelling on Iran's nuclear program, which it said was a "substantial development in dealing with the Islamic Republic."
The pro-government daily argued this could lead to a new stage in regional understanding between Iran and its neighbors, and could establish a common strategic vision that will protect all the Gulf countries' security, away from American control.
It was high time to discuss the Gulf states' relations with Iran, the paper said, based on transparency and total clarity because of Iran's "openness" and influence in the region: Lebanon, where Hizbullah is powerful; the Palestinian Islamic movements; and "Iran's great influence in the Iraqi situation."
The daily insisted that Iran's growing power was making the United States, its European allies and "the Zionist entity" face great difficulties in how to deal with rebellious Iran. "Thus, an American or Zionist military strike against Iran will be a great stupidity," the Bahraini paper opined.
Oil Arabs are Iran's real targets, not Israel
Egypt's semi-official Al Ahram daily said on December 21 the six-member GCC leaders had renounced the spread of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East and asked Iran to join a regional plan to remove WMD.
The mass-circulation paper commented in its editorial that whether or not the Gulf leaders' final statement regarding Iran's nuclear program reflects Western pressures, it still shows a "strong common realization by the GCC on the dangers of Iran's nuclear program on their national security."
It insisted the oil-rich states might have also realized "they are the real targets from this program, and not Israel, particularly that the Gulf states are now surrounded by nuclear countries or with potential nuclear powers, such as India, Pakistan, Israel and Iran."
Therefore, the Egyptian paper continued, it is difficult to ignore nuclear proliferation in the region and it is expected to become a basic issue of the GCC's agenda.
"This concern," it said, "should expand beyond the Gulf countries to become a general Arab issue that should be studied, and to take a specific and clear position on it."
Striking a deal
Lebanon's anti-Syrian An Nahar daily said in a December 20 commentary that some Lebanese forces who had expected a stronger UN Security Council resolution against Syria were now concerned that a deal would be struck between Damascus and the international community.
It said that these forces were afraid that such a deal would come at the expense of the "truth" about the February assassination of former prime minister Rafiq Hariri.
The mass-circulation paper added that information indicated that such a settlement was possible to avoid further turbulence and a possible rise in Islamic terrorism in the region.
"There is still an American anti-Syrian atmosphere, but that will not close the door to discussing a settlement upon the insistence of Arab and some other powerful countries," the paper said.
It stressed that while not many Lebanese hearts were seeking such a settlement, their minds do not reject it, "and they shouldn't reject it, especially if it means ensuring their independence".
Lebanon's changing priorities
Qatar's Al Watan on December 20 said that the latest report to the United Nations by German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis on Rafiq Hariri's assassination, shows that the "road to the truth is very long and cannot be completed in a few months".
The pro-government daily said that new indications in Lebanon prove that political priorities, especially with the deteriorating security conditions and continuing assassinations, have changed.
It said that many Lebanese forces are now seeking a balance between finding the truth of Hariri's assassination and protecting the country from collapsing "after the priority was only getting to the truth".
It said that Lebanese now wanted political security because they realize that their country will collapse if that is not achieved and the perpetrators of Hariri's assassination will never be found.
It said that the coming weeks will be crucial in working toward strengthening Lebanon. This, it said, should start with the resignation of President Emile Lahoud to pave the way for new elections and a new president to avoid an implosion that it cannot afford.
Let them strike each other
The United Arab Emirates' Al Khaleej said on December 20 that the United States found a strong opportunity in Rafiq Hariri's assassination to subdue Lebanon and Syria.
The pro-government daily said that Washington "found the policy of 'letting them strike each other' as the least costly", adding that America had used Hariri's slaying to put all its international weight toward the investigation and insisted on chasing Syria; thus, interfering in the investigation.
The paper accused Washington of now resorting to its intelligence and security services in Lebanon to organize the anti-Syrian affairs in the event of internal Lebanese fighting.
Sending a message to the rulers
The London-based Ash Sharq Al Awsat in a December 20 commentary criticized as "ridiculous and senseless" the US and European position that linked the participation of Hamas in the general elections to the international assistance of Palestinians.
The Saudi-owned daily said in a commentary that it makes no sense to fear fundamentalist groups in elections if these groups "play by the rules" and do not resort to destroying democracy.
It argued that the advancement of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Egyptian legislative elections and Hamas' gains in the Palestinian municipal polls might be a message to the "forces controlling society and a lesson to the ruling parties".
The paper said that the people will continue to vote for the "fundamentalists" because they vow to fight corruption and demand an end to poverty and unemployment.
Only when these Islamic forces make it to the decision-making positions will they be able to prove or disprove their promises to their people, the paper stressed.
It insisted that if the Egyptian ruling party had fought corruption and chosen qualified people in places of positions, and if the mainstream Palestinian Fatah faction stopped its internal struggles and launched real reforms, the results of their elections would have been different.
A matter of sovereignty
The Palestinian Al Ayyam daily said in a December 19 commentary that the US Congress, administration and American professors have no right to give the Palestinians lessons in democracy.
The mainstream paper said that neither the Americans nor the "enemy that occupies our land" should think that they are able to give orders on who can or cannot participate in the Palestinian general elections next month.
It insisted that this issue is linked to sovereignty, adding that one of the principles of this sovereignty for the Palestinians is based on democracy and the ballot boxes.
The West Bank-based daily added that only through competition can democracy be achieved, saying that it was the only way for vital political movement that will ultimately benefit Palestinian society.
Palestinian elections need international support, not threats
Jordan's Ad Dustour said in its December 19 editorial that it makes no sense for the United States and Europe to demand that Hamas not participate in the Palestinian elections when they want armed groups to disarm.
The daily said that Hamas and other factions have the legitimate right to take part in any political process even if they do not abandon their weapons "because Israel did not stop using its own weapons to kill and terrorize the Palestinians".
It argued that it was logical to deduce that all factions and organizations that enter the Palestinian municipal councils and parliament will gradually become active within the state and be directly involved in economic and social issues, as well as be part of the decision-making process.
The daily said that such a process required the support of the international community, rather than resorting to threats to withhold assistance if the Palestinians vote for Hamas.
"It would have been more conducive for the US administration and the EU to encourage a peaceful Palestinian movement toward aspired statehood and to ask the Israelis to get out of the way so the Palestinians can reach their state in peace," the paper commented.
EU foreign policy riding American bandwagon
Egypt's semi-official Al Gumhuriya daily on December 19 criticized the American and European threats to withhold assistance to the Palestinian Authority if Hamas and other armed groups participated in the general elections.
The mass-circulation paper said in its editorial that the European position shows that its foreign policy is now riding the American bandwagon and has abandoned the independent position that the Arab world had relatively respected and benefited from.
"Trying to impose trusteeship on the Palestinian people and force them to vote for one party against another is a contradiction to what Washington and some European capitals promote about democracy and respecting the will of the peoples," the paper argued.
It insisted that such positions were a continuation of the colonialist policies of the past and a return to the division of influence among the powerful countries.
GCC states have nothing new to boast about
London-based Al Hayat daily on December 19 commented on the annual Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, saying that the Gulf citizens have nothing new to boast about 25 years after the establishment of the six-member GCC.
The Saudi-financed paper said that these six countries were still unable to activate their resolutions due to bureaucracy in some of these governments.
"There is a social danger or problem in that 50 percent of the population in the GCC countries are under 25 years of age," the paper argued, "and these youth are looking to the West and East in search of decisions that represent their generation and agree with their reading of the future - not the reading of a generation that is unable to express their desires".
The paper urged the leaders of the GCC to find solutions for reform and methods of consultations with civil society through democracy, "not necessarily through elections, but through providing legitimate rights, responsibilities and freedoms".
A private club for the rich
Another London-based daily, Al Quds Al Arabi, said on December 19 that the GCC's discussions on Iran's nuclear program show that the member countries are weak in terms of security next to growing regional powers: Israel, India, Pakistan and Iran.
The independent Palestinian-owned daily said that the United States can provide protection for the Gulf countries like it did after Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait, but it cannot confront internal turbulence such as violence and terrorism.
It criticized the oil-rich states for having failed to establish an effective regional and international security strategy since the GCC's establishment, and for failing to form a military institution that can defend it.
The daily accused consecutive US administrations of having worked to strategically and demographically isolate the Gulf states from the rest of the Arab world "to form the GCC as a private club for the rich, away from the disturbing Arab-Israeli conflict, so that [America] will control the oil reserves and supplies".
The paper insisted that the Gulf countries need wise leaders who would tell the United States "we agree here and disagree there; otherwise, they will discover the American guard dogs will cost them more than the regional wolf".
Review of Arab editorials
TOOLBAR
To add a comment,
Please log in:
Don't have an account?
Register now to comment on stories and stay up to date on important events and issues in the Middle East with our newsletter.