len, thanks for that article, one of the "roots" of the problem:
What is the final goal of Islamic peoples everywhere?" he said. "It is to establish an Islamic state in
Palestine, in Egypt, in Lebanon, in Saudi Arabia—everywhere under a single caliphate(my own addition: why not Bosnia, Bulgaria, Albania, and few other places, all having "been" Muslim at one time or another) . There is no role for a Jewish state in this. I would ask you: What role is there for a Jewish state in the United States? In California? Well, in Los Angeles you may have one. In Brooklyn, yes." A knowing laugh. "But what happens in your country if they are asked to establish a Jewish state?" He made the point plainer still: "We will not tolerate a non-Islamic state on Islamic lands. We cannot allow that. Anwar Sadat was assassinated because he refused to implement Islamic law—Sharia—as Egypt's constitution."
At the same time, the doctor wished to reassure his guests. "We are not enemies of the West," he said. "It
would be a historic crime for America or the West to consider Islam the enemy. Islam is not looking for a
new enemy. Islam is working for the spread of virtue, whether by David or Muhammad. We are calling
for the purification of the world." "Purification" was a word he used often. There would be no Israel,
al-Zahar insisted, but Jews needn't worry: "It is well known that the only system in the world with no
discrimination is Islam." Sure, he wants the Israeli to accept again the yoke of Islam, they did, not only within Palestine, but within all the Arab countries, well, they did not like it. When that nice Doctor tells you quite with a straight face "We will be happy to take any square metre of land from the Israelis—the West Bank, Gaza—that they are prepared to give us, but that doesn't mean we'll renounce our rights to all of Palestine.". You see it is "All of it or nothing". Not surprising that some extreme Israeli are devising ways to pay in the same currency of "All of it or nothing". What the nice Doctor has not said is that Arafat's strategy is the same, get some now, and in time get the rest. Why would we ask the Israeli to commit national suicide?
Zeev |
