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| Rafah refugee camp, Gaza Strip, Oct. 26, 2001: A member of the extremist Palestinian movement Islamic Jihad protests Israeli incursions into the West Bank that left 50 dead (Photo: AFP). |
Middle Eastern Press Reaction to the War on Terrorism:
Following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States and the subsequent U.S. military campaign in Afghanistan, the world has turned with renewed attention to the increasingly explosive situation in the Middle East. The U.S. and British governments and their allies competed with Osama Bin Laden and the Taliban for the sympathies of the Arab world on the airwaves of Qatari satellite network Al-Jazeera, while Israeli and Arab pundits have turned the volume of their invectives up a few notches.
U.S. president George Bush's reference to an 'axis of evil' including Iran, Iraq, and North Korea in his State of the Union address has raised tensions in the region further. Iran's government-owned Islamic Republic News Agency carries daily condemnations of Bush's new hard line, amid reports that Iran is preparing for what the country's leadership sees as impending U.S. military strikes against that country.
Amid escalating violence, the liberal Israeli press has lately begun to express greater dissatisfaction with Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon's strategy for dealing with the Palestinians, whereas more conservative publications such as The Jerusalem Post and the banned, pro-settler Arutz-Sheva have maintained their support for Sharon's resolve to remove Palestinian leader Yassir Arafat from power.
Editorial: "The Obvious Conclusion" | Ha'aretz (liberal), Tel Aviv, Israel, Feb. 15, 2001.
With or Without Arafat? | Rabbi Rafael Grossman, Arutz Sheva (right-wing, pro-settler), Israel, Feb. 14, 2002.
Editorial: Al-Ahram Weekly (government-owned), Cairo, Egypt, Feb. 14, 2002
Singling out members of the international community on a strictly unilateral and subjective basis as members in an 'axis of evil' will not bring an end to acts of violence. In fact, it will increase the anti-American sentiment that has been brewing in this part of the word.
The U.S. administration, hawks and doves alike, must realize that Arab sympathy, aroused by the tragedy of Sept. 11, is fading quickly. The world is reeling in horror at the way the United States has lashed out, striking Afghan villagers, starving Iraqi children, and allowing Israel to demolish Palestinian houses and murder activists and bystanders wholesale.
Editorial: Egyptian Gazette (government-owned), Cairo, Egypt, Feb. 14, 2002
By lavishing protection on Israel's wrongdoing the United States is denting its image and credibility as a world leader. Bush's harsh swipes and unsubstantiated accusations against the alleged 'axis of evil' have understandably drawn fire from many countries, including Washington's allies. Picking on others over mere suspicions threatens to strike hard at the core of the fight against terror.
Equally counter-productive is Washington's continued ignorance of Israel's terrorist practices. The United States, now engaged in the process of categorizing the world into good and rogue nations, must not allow its long-pampered protege in the Middle East to be a law unto itself.
Mohamed Wahib al-Sayed, Columnist, Al-Ahram al-Messa'i (governement-owned), Feb. 13, 2002.
One is surprised at the number of times Bush used the term 'war' in his recent State of the Union speech, and even more surprised at the applause he had received every time the word was used. It bodes ill that his audience, Congressmen and Senators alike, are in such a vengeful mood, since it is they who are entrusted with correcting the president when he is wrong. That the entire U.S. administration has gone astray augurs bad for the entire world, which could be transformed into a huge battle zone.
Welcome to the Third World, Mr. Bush | Abeer Mishkhas, Arab News (independent), Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 6, 2001.
Editorial: Labor's Day of Reckoning | The Jerusalem Post (conservative), Jerusalem, Israel, Dec. 5, 2001.
Editorial: On the Verge of Disaster | Ha'aretz (liberal), Tel Aviv, Dec. 5, 2001.
Op-Ed: Time to Break Apart this Unity | Gideon Samet, Ha'aretz (liberal), Tel Aviv, Dec. 5, 2001.
Op-Ed: Galal Duweidar, Al-Akhbar (government-owned), Dec. 5, 2001
Excerpt: "It's a joke to hear the White House describe the recent Israeli attacks on the Palestinians as acts of self-defense. It's also a joke to hear Israeli Prime Minister Sharon announcing that Palestinian President Arafat is the major obstacle to peace. The butcher Sharon seems to have forgotten that his country, Israel, is occupying Palestinian and Arab territories, and that Israeli practices violate all international conventions and resolutions. It's Sharon, not Arafat, who is the obstacle to peace. According to Sharon's reasoning, Israel is entitled to commit any act of violence, to kill and destroy, and the Palestinians should do nothing but surrender and give in to please Washington and receive its blessings."
Op-Ed: Mursi Attallah, Al-Ahram al-Messai (government-owned), Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 5, 2001
Excerpt: "The Jerusalem and Haifa explosions would never have taken place had the Palestinians seen a glimmer of hope at the end of the dark tunnel that is the peace process. If Israel had any concern for realizing peace, it would have condemned the blasts, but would have declared that its belief in peace was still strong. Israel should have pushed for confidence-building measures with the Palestinian Authority, its co-partner in the peace process, as a message to the enemies of peace who mounted the attacks. But Sharon has declared an all-out war on the Palestinians and the peace process as a whole."
Editorial: What Arafat Has to Lose | The Jerusalem Post (conservative), Jerusalem, Israel, Dec. 4, 2001.
Full Text of Sharon's Address to Israel | Israeli Foreign Ministry, Jerusalem, Israel, Dec. 3, 2001.
Israel's Morning Class | Khaled Amayreh, Al-Ahram Weekly (semi-official), Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 5, 2001.
Afula Attack Embarrasses Arafat on Eve of Zinni Visit, and Underlines His Fading Control | Peter Hirschberg, Ha'aretz (liberal), Tel Aviv, Israel, Nov. 27, 2001.
Op-Ed: Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (Saudi-owned), London, England, Nov. 27, 2001.
Excerpt: "Here is Kabul: Finally, after 60 months, we finally see Afghan women out and about in the streets of Kabul. They had been living as prisoners, captive to tribal custom, captive to repressive clothes and their homes. We also see Afghan men coming out. The society we view seems so strange, almost Medieval, as years under the Taliban have enforced their radical and ignorant interpretations of Islamic law. It is obvious that the kind of social slavery that the Taliban imposed is so against the spirit and actual contents of Islamic guidance. The rights given to women and enshrined in the Quran were denied at the most fundamental level, as the Taliban equated women to some beastly status. The equality of women, as sisters of men, is something that should never be denied."
Column: Getting Uneven | Saul Singer, The Jerusalem Post (conservative), Jerusalem, Israel, Nov. 26, 2001.
Op-Ed: Ahmed al-Gindi, Al-Akhbar (government-owned), Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 26, 2001.
Excerpt: "American peace envoys to the Middle East William Burns and Anthony Zinni arrive today for talks with the Palestinians and the Israelis on means of stopping the violence and resuming peace negotiations based on the Mitchell recommendations and on relevant UN resolutions. But will they ever accomplish their mission? Or will they fail as others before them have? The Burns-Zinni mission has already failed, for how could it succeed when Israel's missiles have already destroyed every hope it has? Still, who knows? For it could be that the Israeli attacks against the Palestinians are part the greater mission?"
Column: Salama Ahmed Salama, Al-Ahram (government-owned), Nov. 26, 2001.
Excerpt: "All political and strategic analysis aside,the only plausible explanation to give for America's speedy victory over the Taliban is the successful global mobilization against the movement and Bin Laden as symbols of terrorism. Allies in Europe, friends in the Middle East, and the White Bear in Russia have joined in the campaign. Even Pakistan has extricated itself from a long-lived strong alliance with Taliban and has turned into a military base to serve U.S. goals. Assets, bank accounts and communications worldwide have been brought under control. It should also be noted that both the United States and Britain, mighty and powerful as they are, have unleashed their firepower not against a regular army, but against guerrilla elements equipped very simply, with no command, no intelligence, and no special forces."
Op-Ed: Al-Dustour (government-owned), Amman, Jordan, Nov. 19, 2001.
Excerpt: "As Powell himself said in his long-awaited speech regarding the U.S. position on the situation in Israel, he had no new plan. It essentially boiled down to a reaffirmation of the Mitchell Plan...which is ludicrous because Sharon has proven that he does not plan to acquiesce to it. While it is clear that the United States has become all too aware of Sharon's obstinancy, they have not been bold enough to break the impasse. What is needed is some kind of diplomatic threat on Israel to prompt some action; an immediate implementation of Mitchell concurrent with Israeli withdrawals from re-occupied territories and return to the negotiating table. To do anything else will resolve nothing. And the fact that the United States, preceeded by the EU, has failed to convince or coerce Sharon into taking positive steps only reinforces the view that Israel has been above international law. Despite international standards of human rights or any other resolutions of the UN, Israel has been able to maintain its freedom from any outside influence."
Editorial: Powell's Welcome Vision | Ha'aretz (liberal), Tel Aviv, Israel, Nov. 21, 2001.
Between the Ballot and the Bullet: Egypt's War Against Terrorism | Andrew Hammond, World Press Review correspondent, Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 15, 2001.
Sharon Celebrates New Settlement | Arutz Sheva (pro-settler), Israel, Nov. 21, 2001.
Jihad for Whom? | Uthman Mirghani, Al-Sharq al-Awsat (Saudi-owned), London, England, Oct. 24, 2001. Translated and posted to worldpress.org, Nov. 19, 2001.
Critical in Cairo | Andrew Hammond, World Press Review correspondent, Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 13, 2001.
Dear George | Saul Singer, The Jerusalem Post (conservative), Jerusalem, Israel, Oct. 30, 2001.
Editorial: The Evil that Men Do | Khaled Al-Maeena, Jedda Arab News (independent), Jedda, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 30, 2001.
This Is Not a Prelude to War | Amir Oren, Ha'aretz (liberal), Tel Aviv, Israel, Oct. 30, 2001.
The Terrorist Sharon! | Muhammad Barakat, Akhbar Al-Yom (government-owned weekly), Cairo, Egypt, Oct. 27, 2001 (translated and posted to the Web on Oct. 30).
Excerpt: "The entire world is preoccupied with the US military campaign against Afghanistan under the flag of declaring war on terrorism, while the bloodthirsty General, Sharon, is busy killing the Palestinians, demolishing their homes, destroying their camps, and implementing his horrible criminal plan to assassinate and liquidate the cadres and symbols of the Palestinian struggle on all levels.
"In his continued escalation of the violence and the killing operations against the Palestinian people, his blatant and rude defiance of the Arab and Islamic feelings, and his invasion of the cities and villages under the Palestinian Authority, killer Sharon feels as if he is fighting his last battle against peace. He wants to bring down the temple on all those in it and to bury any glimpse of hope in the horizon for reviving the peace process once again, following his desperate attempts to kill it and put an end to it throughout the past 12 months."
Analysis | Mohammed Sid Ahmed, Al-Ahram (government-owned), Cairo, Egypt, Oct. 27, 2001 (translated and posted to the Web on Oct. 30).
Excerpt: "Terrorism is no longer an accidental, marginal or regional issue but has now become a global epidemic eroding the very foundations of the world order. It is not by eradicating this or that group of terrorists that terrorism can be eradicated. These groups are merely symptoms of a disease that needs to be treated in a more holistic fashion by addressing its root causes, or the reasons why anyone would choose to resort to such extreme measures in the first place. These reasons have more to do with the present world order than they do with the terrorists themselves.
"What happened on Sept. 11 opened a new era in the world's assessment of and relationship with terrorism. Before that date, it was possible to see the phenomenon as no more than a nuisance, an aberrant form of behaviour displayed by a disgruntled few, certainly not as important enough to challenge world order itself. That all changed with the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, as it became clear that, with the advent of the new millennium, the world had entered a new era marked by growing disorder. The new century was supposed to bring people closer together in the context of globalisation; instead, it has elevated the phenomenon of terrorism from a marginal issue to one that is threatening the structural underpinnings of the global system. The most dangerous aspect of the 11 September attacks is less the actual damage they inflicted than the promise they carry of more and worse attacks to come, now that terrorists realise they are capable of carrying out such feats successfully."
Editorial | Al-Ahram (government-owned), Cairo, Egypt, Oct. 30, 2001.
Excerpt: "The future of democracy in our world is at stake. News reports indicate that the US is considering using torture and other methods to elicit confessions from suspects held in connection with the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States... The CIA is also contemplating resorting to assassinations, an act of terrorism as obvious as any could be. In the aftermath of the "Black Tuesday" events in the United States, hundreds of people also were arrested [in the West Bank] on the flimsy pretext of exchanging congratulations; something from which even the most undemocratic countries would balk.
Meanwhile, the United States continues to turn a blind eye to Israel's fascist behavior in the occupied territories. Nevermind that American weapons and American funds have been used against unarmed Palestinian civilians. America's campaign in Afghanistan, moreover, has turned millions of Afghans into refugees. They face increasingly difficult conditions now that the harsh, cruel Afghan winter is upon them. It is feared, given the international scene at present, that the world will be driven towards more acts of terrorism. The Anthrax attacks in the West—which, all evidence suggests, are the work of Nazi and extremist groups—are one example. More violations of human rights are also feared in the countries where such rights were most protected."
Editorial: Israeli Terrorism | Ha'aretz (liberal), Tel Aviv, Israel, Oct. 26, 2001.
Editorial: Let Sharon Speak | The Jerusalem Post (conservative), Jerusalem, Israel, Oct. 26, 2001.
Editorial | Al-Wafd (opposition), Cairo, Egypt, Oct. 26, 2001.
Excerpt: "What will it take to convince Arab leaders that the United States is deceiving them and that it will offer them nothing in return for their support of the war against terrorism? The Bush administration of is incapable of doing anything to solve the Palestinain question, as Clinton’s administration was. The Arab leaders can hold an emergency summit to ask themselves what is the proper way to deal with the crazy Sharon. They should also ask why the United States asks for Arab support in its battle against terrorism while giving no heed to solving the Palestinian question."
History Speaks for Itself | Yousef Al Yousef, Gulf News (independent), Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Oct. 26, 2001.
Editorial: Refugee Crisis | Riyadh Daily (pro-government), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 24, 2001.
Opinion: Do Not Ask Why | Rabbi Rafael G. Grossman, Arutz Sheva (online, pro-settler), Israel, Oct. 23, 2001.
Editorial: Peres at the Crossroads | The Jerusalem Post (conservative), Jerusalem, Israel, Oct. 23, 2001.
Opinion: U.S. Goals in Afghanistan | Al-Sharq al-Awsat (Saudi-owned), London, England, Oct. 23, 2001.
Excerpt: "The U.S. campaign in Afghanistan has two clear goals right now: to gather support from the region for its military activities, and to determine what kind of government will take over in Afghanistan after the Taliban are gone. This brings up an important issue: many of Afghanistan's neighbors—such as Russia, Iran, an India—view it as a source and instigator of conflict and terrorism in their own countries. So they are also interested in seeing the demise of the Taliban... This means they are even more interested in what government will take the Taliban's place.
"Therefore, the war is of bombs and diplomacy, and the goal is to determine the fate of Afghanistan. It must be remembered that past invasions, or foreign interference of any sort, in Afghanistan have failed. Instead, they have created the turmoil and wars that have plagued the country. The Northern Alliance, the erstwhile ally of the United States, was essentially the instigator in a long line of civil conflict for years before the Taliban...
"Likewise, the Northern Alliance is internally divided. Racial, tribal and social schisms betray their "alliance." The human suffering of the Afghan people, and their desires for what sort of government they would like should carry the greatest weight. Regardless, despite the war's duration, reaching these two goals will require patience, as U.S. President George Bush has suggested all along."
Editorial | Al-Wafd (opposition), Cairo, Egypt, Oct. 22, 2001.
Excerpt: "It is no secret, at least not at present, that America's war in Afghanistan was planned even before the September events ever took place. America's goal is to control the oil-region of Central Asia, or at the very least share this control with both China and Russia. A world which endorses America's actions is indeed one without a conscience."
Commentary | Mahmoud A. Mourad, Al-Akhbar (government-owned), Cairo, Egypt, Oct. 22, 2001.
Excerpt: "What has the United Nations done, what resolutions has it adopted so far to rescue humanity from the scepters of death hanging over it: A struggle between Arabs, having lost their land, and Israel, which, for the past half-century, has been killing, destroying, and starving Palestinians? For the sake of truth, the U.N. has adopted two important decision in the wake of the 1967 war, neither of which was implemented, despite their having been passed by a unanimous vote in the Security Council. Since then, the U.N. has made no attempt to probe the consequences, let alone to solve the problem. At this very moment, the world has more than the 50-year old struggle to deal with."
Editorial: What the Cabinet Wants | Ha'aretz (liberal), Tel Aviv, Israel, Oct. 22, 2001.
Editorial: Arafat Must Drop Terror or Fall | The Jerusalem Post (conservative), Jerusalem, Israel, Oct. 22, 2001.
Editorial: Intentions Do Not Suffice | La Presse (conservative), Tunis, Tunisia, Oct. 22, 2001 (Adobe Reader format).
Excerpt: "[American and British] sweet talk and good intentions will not suffice. The Palestinians and Arab nations are waiting for concrete actions to get things started, and—why not?—to change the course of history in this region of the world. This is urgent. There should be no need to wait for another Sharon, who has made no secret of his scorn for peace or of the fact that his sole ambition is to return the entire Middle East to the way it was years, if not decades, before."
Editorial: The Egyptian Gazette (government-owned), Cairo, Egypt, Oct. 22, 2001.
Excerpt: "In their largest strike to date on Palestinian self-ruled zones within a year of continuous conflict, Israeli troops have mounted raids on most West Bank towns. So far, 22 Palestinians, including young girls and small children, have been killed and hundreds more seriously injured. The government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon insulted the intelligence of the international community by holding the Palestinian authorities responsible for aggravating the situation...
"Sharon's irresponsible policies and hatred towards his Palestinian neighbours have clearly expanded the vicious circle, and have even threatened... the stability of the whole region. Sharon appears to have ignored the lessons of the past. The desperate Palestinian people will not give in to Israeli atrocities. Nor will the Palestinian people under any circumstances allow Sharon to take everything: security and land.
"In the meantime, the international community has indirectly encouraged the Israeli prime minister's acts of terrorism against innocent civilians, who desire the restoration of their legitimate rights and their land..."
Comment: Farouk Goweida, Al-Alam al-Yom (financial), Cairo, Egypt, Oct. 22, 2001.
Excerpt: "Will the United States, after it has accomplished its mission in Afghanistan, turn to attack Iraq, Syria and/or Lebanon? And what could Palestinian President Yasser Arafat do should America hinge the resumption of the peace talks with Israel on his surrendering militant Hamas and Jihad leaderships? So far, the U.S. position remains unclear. It is feared that it would all be a game of deceit; a game played out until the war in Afghanistan comes to an end, then America would revert to its previois position of silence and inertia."
Taliban Claim to Have Downed Three U.S. Helicopters, Killed 20 U.S. Soldiers | Al-Jazeera (independent satellite TV network), Doha, Qatar, Oct. 22, 2001.
Which Islam do we need? | Al-Sharq al-Awsat (Saudi-owned), London, England, Oct. 21, 2001.
Excerpt: "Which [interpretation] of Islam do we heed? That which is promoted by extremists and sees a fundamental conflict and violence? Or one in which peace and loving your neighbor is promoted? Do we want to live as birds in gilded cages or birds free to fly? ...Muslims and Arabs have a great opportunity right now to promote vigorously the fact that Islam is a religion of life and goodness. We want an Islam that recognizes the individual rights of beings, respects differences and allows others to live in freedom. We do not want the religion to be interpreted as something forceful, compulsionary. It is important that we proclaim this to the world."
Anti-American Sentiment Heats up | Mohammed Zaatari, The Daily Star (independent), Beirut, Lebanon, Oct. 20, 2001.
Editorial: Shoulder to Shoulder | The Jerusalem Post (conservative), Jerusalem, Israel, Oct. 20, 2001.
Arab Press Eyes War on Terrorism with Unease | Joel Campagna, World Press Review Contributing Editor, Oct. 19, 2001.
Opinion: The Assassination of Ze'evy | Al-Ra'i (pro-government), Amman, Jordan, Oct. 19, 2001.
Excerpt: "Following the assassination of the Israeli tourism minister, Sharon's government has demanded that the Palestinians hand over anyone connected to the crime... What of those connected to the criminal assassinations of prominent Palestinian leaders? Should Ariel Sharon be handed over to the Palestinian Authority to stand trial for the numerous assassinations he has ordered over the past months? Despite the fact that the Jordan and Israel's foreign ministers agree on their opposition to political assassinations, the impending escalation of tit-for-tat killings will truly spell disaster if the world community and the Bush administration do not step in. Israeli and Arab extremists are already exploiting the situation. Without strong language and involvement from the United States, Israelis and Palestinians will not come to any common understandings or mutual confidence in the other... Because there is no such thing as a military solution to this problem.
"This assassination of the tourism minister turns a new page in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. No one knows where it will be taken now. Israel claims that the Palestinian Authority should not only clamp down on its own people but should also stop attacks before they happen... But how is this to happen when Israel is still the occupying power, when Israel has undermined all Palestinian authority, destroyed police stations and tied its hands at every turn? As well, it should be noted that if terrorism is defined as attacks on innocent civilians, how is it that Israel's collective punishment of the families of Palestinian activists is not seen as terrorism? How is it that the Israeli policies of demolishing houses, uprooting orchards, and destroying the livelihood of families, nevermind its "normal" human rights abuses, are not seen as terrorism?"
Editorial: Revenge Is not Policy | Ha'aretz (liberal), Tel Aviv, Israel, Oct. 19, 2001.
A Death with a Dire Warning | Avi Davis, Arutz Sheva (right-wing, pro-settler), Israel, Oct. 19, 2001.
Editorial: A Pretext for a Clampdown | Khaleej Times (pro-government), Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Oct. 19, 2001.
Israeli
Minister's Death Leaves Peace Hopes in Peril | Elisa Ben-Rafael,
World Press Review Correspondent, Jerusalem, Oct. 18, 2001.'Everything Has Changed' | Graham Usher, Al-Ahram Weekly (semi-official), Cairo, Egypt, Oct. 18-24, 2001.
Al-Gomhouriya (government-owned), Cairo, Egypt, Oct. 12, 2001.
Excerpt: "Egypt has been at the very forefront of countries that take determined stances on terrorism. This was crystal-clear when it stressed the importance of a global campaign against this dangerous phenomenon. Egypt, also, has been calling on the whole world to exert concerted efforts to realize the aspirations of the Palestinain people through establishing their own independent state. These two goals were have been on the focus of the Egyptian-British summit in Cairo.
"British Prime Minister Tony Blair's statements since the Black Tuesday tragedy are to his credit. He called for establishing the Palestinian state to exist along with Israel. This, Blair believes, would maintain peace and stability in the Middle East. He further stressed that it is unjust to link terrorism with Islam, adding that terrorism knows no religion. The summit that gathered President Mubarak and British Premier Blair is a summit of understanding and joint action."
Al-Ahram (government-owned), Cairo, Egypt, Oct. 12, 2001.
Excerpt: "The heinous terrorist attacks that hit the United States on Sept. 11, 2001 have provided a great momentum to stand against the horrible phenomenon [of terrorism]. Yet even had they not happened, the international community would still need to exert all possible efforts to define terrorism. Drawing a line between the legitimate resistance of occupation and terrorism is a must. No one should ignore the state terrorism practiced by Israel against the unarmed Palestinain people who seek to liberate lands from occupation. Within this framework, the Arab world could play an important political role in addressing terrorism as a global phenomenon within the context of President Mubarak's call to hold an international conference on terrorism under the auspices of the United Nations."
Editorial: Operation Enduring Madness | Hani Shukrallah, Al-Ahram Weekly (semi-official), Cairo, Egypt, Oct. 11-17, 2001.
Seize the Opportunity | Naomi Chazan, The Jerusalem Post (conservative), Jerusalem, Israel, Oct. 12, 2001.
The Trap Known as Afghanistan | Meron Benvenisti, Ha'aretz (liberal), Tel Aviv, Israel, Oct. 11, 2001.
Editorial: Afghan Amnesia | Khaleej Times (pro-government), Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Oct. 11, 2001.
Iran, Egypt Stress Need for U.N.-Led Campaign Against Terrorism | Islamic Republic News Agency (government-owned), Tehran, Iran, Oct. 11, 2001.
Government Reshuffle in Tunisia | Tunisia Information Service (government-owned), Tunis, Oct. 8, 2001.
Editorial, Al-Ahram (government-owned), Cairo, Egypt, Oct. 9, 2001.
Excerpt: "With the outbreak of the first war of the 21st century, our wish is that the United States should win the fight against terrorism. However, we do not want this war to create new generations of terrorists, who would be more cruel and more atrocious than their predecessors. The announcement by the US that this war could widen to include other areas is very dangerous since it will confuse right with wrong, and lead to more hatred and animosity. We believe that once the military campaign against Afghanistan is over, the international community should explore a new mechanism to deal with the situation."
Editorial, Al-Akhbar (government-owned), Cairo, Egypt, Oct. 9, 2001.
Excerpt: "The success of America's campaign against terrorism depends basically on how far justice is achieved. All terrorists, including Israeli forces with their long record of atrocities committed against the Palestinian people, must be pursued. The perpetrators of the New York and Washington explosions are not the only terrorists who should be brought to punishment. Israeli occupation forces who kill defenseless Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza are also terrorists. And so too is Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, the veteran war criminal whose hands are soiled with Arab blood. That the United States should remain silent over Israeli crimes can only throw the credibility of its attempts to uproot terrorism from the world at large and from the Middle East in particular in great doubt."
Two Jokes on the Way to Coalition | Ze'ev Schiff, Ha'aretz (liberal), Tel Aviv, Israel, Oct. 9, 2001.
Editorial: West Is as West Does | Hani Shukrallah, Al-Ahram Weekly (semi-official), Cairo, Egypt, Oct. 4-10, 2001.
Editorial: Debt West Owes to Afghanistan | Khaleej Times (pro-government), Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Oct. 9, 2001.
Editorial: The Broader Battle | The Jerusalem Post (conservative), Jerusalem, Israel, Oct. 8, 2001.
Review of Turkish Press | Anadolu News Agency, Ankara, Turkey, Oct. 8, 2001.
Islam, Peace, and an Irish King | Dr. Steven Plaut, Arutz Sheva (right-wing, pro-settler), Israel, Oct. 8, 2001.
Review of the Egyptian Press | Cairo Press Review (government-owned news agency), Cairo, Egypt, Oct. 5, 2001.
Editorial: Building Points of Friction | Ha'aretz (liberal), Tel Aviv, Israel, Oct. 5, 2001.
Sorry, but It's a New Cold War | Amitai Etzioni, The Jerusalem Post (conservative), Jerusalem, Israel, Oct. 5, 2001.
Undefined Terminology in the Cooperative Effort to Fight Against Terrorism | Abd al-Rahman al-Rashid, Al-Sharq al-Awsat (Saudi-owned), London, England, Sept. 17, 2001. Translated by Peter Valenti, Web posted Oct. 2, 2001.
Why the United States Has Already Lost this War | Moshe Feiglin, Arutz Sheva (pro-settler), Israel, Sept. 28, 2001.
United States Should Re-Examine its Policies First | Dr. Fayiz Rasheed, Al-Hayat Al-Jadedah (government-owned), East Jerusalem, Palestinian National Authority, Sept. 19, 2001 (translated by Peter Valenti).
Review of Turkish Press | Anadolu News Agency, Ankara, Sept. 29, 2001.
The First World War of the 21st Century | Ephraim Reiner, Ha'aretz (liberal), Sept. 27, 2001.
Backlash and Backtrack | Edward Said, Al-Ahram Weekly (semi-official), Cairo, Egypt, Sept. 27-Oct. 3, 2001.
Editorial: An Apology Due | The Jerusalem Post (conservative), Jerusalem, Israel, Sept. 26, 2001.
Special Report: Into the Abyss | Al-Ahram Weekly (semi-official), Cairo, Egypt, Sept. 20-26, 2001.
A Time to Hate | Shmuley Boteach, The Jerusalem Post (conservative), Sept. 17, 2001.
Horror, Horror | Graham Usher, Al-Ahram Weekly (semi-official), Cairo, Egypt, Sept. 13-19, 2001.
The Jig Is Up | Gideon Samet, Ha'aretz (liberal), Tel Aviv, Sept. 17, 2001.
Summary of North African Press Coverage | allAfrica.com, Washington D.C., United States, Sept. 12, 2001.
Terrorist? Moi? | Gerald Steinberg, The Jerusalem Post (conservative), Jerusalem, Israel, Sept. 15, 2001.
Iran Seals Afghani Border, Condemns Attacks | Islamic Republic News Agency (government-owned), Tehran, Iran, Sept. 15, 2001.
Ankara Wants Washington to Avoid a War of Civilizations | Turkish Daily News (English-language), Ankara, Sept. 15, 2001.
American Nightmare | Salama Ahmed Salama, Al-Ahram (government-owned), Cairo, Egypt, Sept. 13, 2001.
Excerpt: "This tragedy compels us, first and foremost, to feel compassion for its victims. It forces us, too, to contemplate its implications with regard to America's international stature. In spite of its overwhelming might, the United States has proved itself incapable of preserving its own peace and security. Indeed, it has managed to turn the love and admiration that peoples around the world once felt for America as a champion of liberty, democracy and self-determination, into universal suspicion and mistrust, a transformation that is the result of Washington's misuse of power and abuse of the moral foundations upon which it built its civilization.
And the danger of this tragedy, which has already cost innumerable lives, is that it may be just one link in a far longer chain of attacks against American interests. It would be equally disastrous for the White House to unleash its wrath in a spate of retaliatory operations, or for a nation such as Israel, which has been waiting for the opportunity, to manipulate the tragedy for its own ends. In America's case, a loss of patience at this critical time would invariably entail a loss of sound judgment."
Editorial: What Comes After the Attack on the United States? | Ibrahim Nafie, Al-Ahram, (pro-government), Cairo, Egypt, Sept. 14, 2001.
Excerpt: "While we fully appreciate America's situation as it faces this terrorist aggression which threatens all human values, the magnitude of the event, the number of casualties, and respect for the innocent victims means we should take time to investigate the issue properly.
Calls for prompt retaliation and yielding to feelings of rage and pain will take us away from the truth, and will jeopardize the lives of even more people. Americans would be making a mistake were they to rush into attacking countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Iran, or Libya. The world’s lone superpower is expected to act wisely and try to tackle the matter impartially.
It is definitely in the Middle East that United States' moral credibility is being tested, especially amid the bloody atmosphere of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It cannot be denied... that the United States' limitless support of the abominable role played by Sharon have stirred feelings of hatred."
Editorial | Galal Duweidar, Al-Akhbar (pro-government), Cairo, Egypt, Sept. 14, 2001.
Excerpt: "It’s true that some anarchist terrorist organizations seek to incite trouble and shake stability all over the world. But there are some countries, managed by terrorist governments, whose policies and strategies are based on terrorism without any regard for the laws, treaties, or resolutions of international law. Israel is a typical example of such states where terrorism has become a profession... There is no difference between the bloody terrorism that targeted the USA, and the daily brutal and oppressive acts against the innocent Palestinians..."
Editorial | Samir Ragab, Al-Gomhouriya (pro-government), Cairo, Egypt, Sept. 12, 2001.
Excerpt: "It is the duty of us all to cooperate and fight this terrifying phenomenon that threatens safety of everyone, young and old. The innocent victims of yesterday’s attacks in the United States should motivate Americans and non-Americans alike to re-evaluate [their common] situation and work out a new framework for the interconnection of peoples worldwide."
Afghan Mob Kills Minister | AFP via The Times of India (conservative), New Delhi, India, Feb. 15, 2002.
Palestinians Bomb Israeli Tank, Killing Three Soldiers | Amos Harel, Ha'aretz (liberal), Tel Aviv, Israel, Feb. 15, 2002.
North Korea Brands United States 'Empire of Evil' | Korea Central News Agency (government-owned), Pyonyang, North Korea, Feb. 15, 2002.
Bush 'Orders' Plans to Remove Saddam Hussein | The Hindu (centrist), Chennai, India, Feb. 15, 2002.
Zimbabwe: Film Shows Plot to Kill Mugabe | Luke Tamborinyoka, The Daily News (privately-owned), Harare, Zimbabwe, Feb. 15, 2002.
Milosevic on Trial | B92 Radio (independent), Belgrade, Feb. 12, 2002.
Iran: Plane Crash Kills 117 | Islamic Republic News Agency (government-owned), Tehran, Iran, Feb. 12, 2002.
FBI Warns of New Terror Attack | BBC (news agency), London, England, Feb. 12, 2002.
Israeli Airforce Bombs Gaza Jail, 300 Hamas, Islamic Jihad Prisoners Freed | Ha'aretz (liberal), Tel Aviv, Israel, Feb. 12, 2002.
Musharraf Arrives in Washington | Dawn (centrist), Karachi, Pakistan, Feb. 12, 2002.
Argentine Peso Passes First Test | TN24horas (national TV news), Buenos Aires, Argentina, Feb. 12, 2002.
Arafat Defiant Amid Fresh Israeli Raids | BBC (news agency), London, England, Feb. 11, 2002.
Thousands Join Anti-U.S. Rally in Tehran | Islamic Republic News Agency (government-owned), Tehran, Iran, Feb. 11 2002.
Argentina to Float Peso for First Time | TN24horas (national TV news), Buenos Aires, Argentina, Feb. 11, 2002.
Vajpayee Threatens to Resign | Dawn (centrist), Lahore, Pakistan, Feb. 11, 2002.
EU, Mugabe Clash over Observers in Zimbabwe Elections | The Daily News (privately owned), Harare, Zimbabwe, Feb. 11, 2002.
Chirac Announces He Will Run Again | Le Monde (liberal), Paris, France, Feb. 11, 2002.
Lockerbie Judges to Hear Fresh Evidence | BBC (news agency), London, England, Feb. 8, 2002.
Bush Resists Israeli Pressure on Arafat, Urges Easing of Siege | Aluf Benn and Nathan Guttman, Ha'aretz (liberal), Tel Aviv, Israel, Feb. 8, 2002.
Karzai Seeks Pakistani Help in Subduing Tribes | Ikram Hoti, The News (left-wing), Peshawar, Pakistan, Feb. 8, 2002.
South African President Mbeki Refuses to Yield on AIDS Drugs | The Daily Mail and Guardian (liberal), Johannesburg, South Africa, Feb. 8, 2002.
Philippines: Malaysian National Held with 104 Passports | AFP via The Philippine Inquirer (independent), Manila, Feb. 8, 2002.
Army Deployed to Quell Lagos Riots | Alex Oliseh, The Guardian (independent), Lagos, Nigeria, Feb. 4, 2002.
Israeli Security Forces Assassinate Five Palestinian Militants in Gaza | Ha'aretz (liberal), Tel Aviv, Israel, Feb. 4, 2002.
Turkey Calls off Search for Quake Survivors | BBC (news agency), London, England, Feb. 4, 2002.
Argentina Unveils Economic Recovery Package | Clarín (liberal), Buenos Aires, Argentina, Feb. 4, 2002.
Hezbollah Calls Bush Evil Vampire | Islamic Republic News Agency (government-owned), Tehran, Iran, Feb. 4, 2002.
Suicide Bomber Wounds 25 in Israel | The Jerusalem Post (conservative), Jerusalem, Israel, Jan. 25, 2002.
Israeli Army Kills Two Hamas Militants | AFP via The Khaleej Times (pro-government), Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 25, 2002.
India Under Fire for Missile Test | Rashmee Z. Ahmed, The Times of India (conservative), New Delhi, Jan. 25, 2002.
United Nations Names Afghan Power Brokers | BBC (news agency), London, England, Jan. 25, 2002.
Venezuela: Opposition Gaining Strength | Carlos Subero, El Universal (centrist), Caracas, Venezuela, Jan. 25, 2002.
Australia Stands Firm on Immigration Policy | The Sydney Morning Herald (centrist), Sydney, Australia, Jan. 25, 2002.
Australian Immigration Protests Spread | Rebecca DiGorolamo and Matthew Spencer, The Australian (centrist), Sydney, Jan. 23, 2002.
40 Hurt in Jerusalem Shooting | Ha'aretz (liberal), Tel Aviv, Israel, Jan. 23, 2002.
Zimbabwe Press Bill Splits Ruling Party | Sandra Nyaira, The Daily News (independent), Harare, Zimbabwe, Jan. 23, 2002.
Indonesian Rebel Chief Killed | BBC (news agency), London, England, Jan. 23, 2002.
Senior Indonesian Cleric Questioned on Terrorist Links | Yogita Ramani and Annastasha Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post (independent), Jakarta, Indonesia, Jan. 23, 2002.
Lockerbie Bomber Begins Appeal | UK Press Association via The Times (conservative), London, England, Jan. 23, 2002.
Colombian Rebels Unleash New Wave of Attacks | El Tiempo (centrist), Bogatá, Colombia, Jan. 22, 2002.
Israel Kills Four Hamas Militants in Raid, Hamas Vows Revenge | Amos Harel, Ha'aretz (liberal), Tel Aviv, Jan. 22, 2002.
Court Challenge to U.S. Detentions | BBC (news agency), London, England, Jan. 22, 2002.
Afghan Leader Urges Swift Delivery of Promised Aid | Shinichi Yanagida, Mainichi Shimbun (centrist), Tokyo, Japan, Jan. 22, 2002.
Putin Blamed for TV Shutdown | Robin Munro and Andrei Zolotov Jr., The Moscow Times (independent), Moscow, Russia, Jan. 22, 2002.
China: Bugged Plane Will Have 'No Impact on U.S. Relations' | People's Daily (government-owned), Beijing, China, Jan. 22, 2002.
Congo: Lava Destroys Gas Station, 50 Killed | BBC (news agency), London, England, Jan. 21, 2002.
World Leaders Pledge 3 Billion in Aid for Afghanistan | Mainichi Shimbun (centrist), Tokyo, Japan, Jan. 21, 2002.
Israeli Army Moves into Tul Karm | Amos Harel, Ha'aretz (liberal), Tel Aviv, Israel, Jan. 21, 2002.
Australian Government Defiant on Immigration Protests | Ian Henderson, Rebecca DiGirolamo, and Benjamin Haslem, The Australian (centrist), Sydney, Jan. 21, 2002.
Zimbabwe: 20 Injured as Opposition Rally Disrupted | Chris Gande and Lloyd Mudiwa, The Daily News (privately-owned), Harare, Zimbabwe, Jan. 21, 2002.
Suspected Al-Qaeda Militants Arrested Across the World | Le Monde (liberal), Paris, France, Jan. 20, 2002.
Red Cross Inspects U.S. Base in Cuba | Paul Koring, The Globe and Mail (centrist), Toronto, Canada, Jan. 20, 2002.
UK Terror Detentions 'Barbaric' | Martin Bright, Jason Burke, and Burham Wazir, The Observer (liberal), London, England, Jan. 20, 2002.
Afghan Leader Pleads for Aid at Tokyo Conference | China Daily (government-owned), Beijing, Jan. 20, 2002.
Path Cleared for Giant China Dam | BBC (news agency), London, England, Jan. 20, 2002.
Palestinian Authority Calls for Sanctions Against Israel | Lamia Lahoud, The Jerusalem Post (conservative), Jerusalem, Israel, Jan. 20, 2002.
Israeli Warplanes, Tanks Respond to Suicide Attack | Ha'aretz (liberal), Tel Aviv, Israel, Jan. 17, 2002.
Global Raids Target Al-Qaeda | BBC (news agency), London, England, Jan. 17, 2002.
Thousands Flee Volcanic Eruption in Congo | The Mail & Guardian (liberal), Johannesburg, South Africa, Jan. 17, 2002.
Powell in India | The Times of India (conservative), New Delhi, India, Jan. 17, 2002.
Philippines: Police Seize Three, Explosives, Ammunition | The Manila Bulletin (conservative), Manila, Philippines, Jan. 17, 2002.
Portugal: 17 Women Face Jail for Abortion | Giles Tremlett, The Guardian (liberal), London, England, Jan. 17, 2002.
Powell Meets with Musharraf | Dawn (centrist), Lahore, Pakistan, Jan. 17, 2002.
Philippines: Civilians Behead Three Soldiers | The Philippine Daily Inquirer (independent), Manila, Philippines, Jan. 17, 2002.
U.S. Role in Philippines Clarified | Edd Usman and Ali Macabalang, The Manila Bulletin (conservative), Manila, Philippines, Jan. 17, 2002.
Israel Blockades West Bank Towns | Herb Keinon and Arieh O'Sullivan, The Jerusalem Post (conservative), Jerusalem, Israel, Jan. 17, 2002.
Sharon's Party Rejects Palestinian State | Nazir Majally, Arab News (independent, English-language), Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 17, 2002.
War Crimes Court to be Established in Sierra Leone | Chris McGreal, The Guardian (liberal), London, England, Jan. 17, 2002.
Iran: Khamenei Pardons MP after Walkout | Islamic Republic News Agency (government-owned), Tehran, Iran, Jan. 15, 2002.
Colombia: President Pastrana Sets Rebel Talks Deadline | BBC (news agency), London, England, Jan. 15, 2002.
United States, Britain Hunt Mugabe's 'Hidden Millions' | Adrian Hadland and Beauregard Tromp, The Cape Argus (independent), Capetown, South Africa, Jan. 15, 2002.
Argentine Supreme Court Says It Does Not Need to Rule on Corruption | Clárin (centrist), Buenos Aires, Argentina, Jan. 15, 2002.
Ireland: Violent Crime Soars 131 Percent | Eithne Donnellan, The Irish Times (centrist), Dublin, Ireland, Jan. 14, 2002.
Leading Palestinian Killed as EU Peace Envoy Arrives in Middle East | Amos Harel, Ha'aretz (liberal), Tel Aviv, Israel, Jan. 14, 2002.
India Responds to Pakistani Pledges | Manoj Joshi, The Times of India (conservative), New Delhi, Jan. 14, 2002.
Colombia: Last-Ditch Efforts to Save Peace Process | El Tiempo (centrist), Bogatá, Colombia, Jan. 14, 2002.
90 Percent of Kenyan Murders Perpetrated by Police | Brian Leyan, The Daily Nation (independent), Nairobi, Kenya, Jan. 14, 2002.
Nigeria: 36 Killed in Political Violence | Funso Muraina and Patrick Ugeh, This Day (independent), Lagos, Nigeria, Jan. 14, 2002.
Pretzel Proleaxes President | The Guardian (liberal), London, England, Jan. 14, 2002.
Zimbabwe Faces EU Sanctions Threat | BBC (news agency), London, England, Jan. 11, 2002.
New Riots in Argentina | The Guardian (liberal), London, England, Jan. 11, 2002.
Israeli Army Destroys Gaza Airport Runway | Amos Harel, Ha'aretz (liberal), Tel Aviv, Israel, Jan. 11, 2002.
Russia Pulls Plug on Last Independent TV Station | Interfax News Agency (government-owned), Moscow, Russia, Jan. 11, 2002.
Bush Accuses Iran of Seeking to Destabilize New Afghan Government | Dawn (centrist), Lahore, Pakistan, Jan. 11, 2002.
Wahid Answers Bribery Charges in 'Tommy' Case | The Jakarta Post (independent), Jakarta, Indonesia, Jan. 11, 2002.
Israeli Bulldozers, Tanks Destroy 32 Homes in Gaza Refugee Camp | The Guardian (liberal), London, England, Jan. 10, 2002.
India Wary of 'Nice Guy' Musharraf | Siddharth Srivastava, The Times of India (conservative), New Delhi, Jan. 10, 2002.
U.S. Military Plane Crashes in Pakistan | The Frontier Post (left-wing), Peshawar, Pakistan, Jan. 10, 2002.
U.S. Planes Bomb former Al-Qaeda Base | Agence France-Presse (news agency), Paris, Jan. 10, 2002.
Zimbabwe: Journalists Warned Ahead of New Vote on Repressive Laws | The Mail and Guardian (liberal), Johannesburg, South Africa, Jan. 10, 2002.
Crimminal Inquiry into Enron Collapse | BBC (news agency), London, England, Jan. 10, 2002.