Iraqi PM: No normalization with Israel until Arab states ready

Haaretz ^ | July 26, 2004 | Associated Press

[yonif]

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said Monday that Baghdad will not make any moves to normalize relations with Israel before other Arabs do as part of a Mideast settlement.

The U.S.-backed prime minister, speaking to reporters at a joint news conference with Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, also dismissed Arab press reports that Israelis have established a presence in Iraq after the U.S.-led invasion.

"Future relations with Israel are determined by two issues: international resolutions and a just and comprehensive peace that has been adopted by Arab leaderships, including the Palestinian leadership. Iraq will not take any unilateral action on a settlement with Israel outside those two frameworks," Allawi told reporters.

He described as "absolutely false" Arab press reports that Israeli intelligence agents were operating out of Iraq.

"We regretfully hear reports in the Arab press that there are 10,000 Israelis, and stories that Iraq is being used as a base for Israeli intelligence - this is inaccurate and false," he said. "Iraq and its territory will not be a base for any action hostile to any Arab country."

[yonif]

"Future relations with Israel are determined by two issues: international resolutions and a just and comprehensive peace that has been adopted by Arab leaderships, including the Palestinian leadership. Iraq will not take any unilateral action on a settlement with Israel outside those two frameworks,"

Then Iraq is still hostile (maybe not physically) to Israel. This is basically what every other Arab country in that area says about peace with Israel, the "Zionist entity."

"Iraq and its territory will not be a base for any action hostile to any Arab country."

Could this statement be a hint that he considers the operations of Israel hostile to Arab countries like the one he is leading?

[yonif]

Ping.

[endthematrix]

Taming the rabble-rousers in the streets. The Iraqi leadership know who they govern. The last thing to say is Israel and Iraq are forming a strategic partnership so recently installed.

[thoughtomator]

That's okay. Reform by persuasion or force is coming to the rest of the Arab world, whether they like it or not.

[risk]

Yes, it's "let's play the game of pretending that Arab grievances are legitimate so we don't derail the peace process." In this case it's "let's try not to attract undue attention in Iraq."

Someone is living in a dream world.

We won't win the war on terror until we declare open season on its core tenets, including anti-Zionism.

[DustyMoment]

And, thus, begins anew the continued threat of Islam against Israel. After all the coalition bloodshed and money, some of us hoped for a different response from the interim Iraqi government.

(sigh)
Iraq is simply proving that the old adage "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink" is still true. What we, Americans, still fail to comprehend is that Islam remains trapped in the 13th Century and the practioners of this so-called "religion" like it that way. There are no free thinkers in Islam, thus the decision not to normalize relations with Israel and become a leader in the arab world.

[sukhoi-30mki]

There is a very fine line of difference between what we call the Arab world&the Muslim world-you can bring democracy,tolerance&rule of law etc to the Arab world-u can see hints of it in places like Jordan,Bahrein,Qatar,Morocco etc.But you can only bring those reforms(by force or otherwise) to a point because at a short distance,they clash with the interests of the Muslim world-improvement in status of women,equal treatment of ethnic/racial minorities(lots of them exist there,many of them Muslims itself)& ofcourse dealing with the ZIONISTS.Do u honestly think that people(whether in a democratic or authoritarian setup) would even want a working relationship with a group of sub human scum(commonly used/implied term) whom they have been thought to hate for 1,500 years,not just by their governments,but their religion.For common sense sake,U'd have to forcibly change their religion or destroy it,which is the most ingenious recipe for allout disaster.The only Arab nation where there is some genuine affection for Israel,Jordan, is itself torn at a societal level between moderate&extremist sake.

So honestly ,having lived among Arabs for bout 10years( & having understood their collective pysche to an extent)-a forcibly "democratized " Iraq or any other nation ,ain't gonna be in genuinely interested in ties with the JEWS (whether Uncle Sam wants it or not)-it will remain a proverbial pipe dream.

Just look at how democratic Muslim nations such as Turkey,Bangladesh &even Malaysia are disinterested/increasingly hostile to the Israelis.

[thoughtomator]

Soon enough, we'll take out their stupid moon rock and the United States will assume its rightful position as their god in their religion of power-worship.

[risk]

Google News continues its fair and balanced reporting:

Xinhua

Israel's Sharon: No Turning Back on Gaza Pullout
Reuters - 15 minutes ago
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said there is no turning back on his Gaza withdrawal plan, even after 100,000 Israelis mounted the biggest mass protest against evacuating Jewish settlements in the territory.
Israeli Extra-judicial Killings Persist, Toll Heavy on Innocent  Palestine Media Center
Human Chain Links Gaza Strip to Jerusalem Cybercast News Service
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It's just a machine, you know.

[sukhoi-30mki]

Fine with me-but these folks are not averse to blowing themselves up at the smallest instance-afterall what better incentive than 72 virgins&mind u there are over a billion of them&they reproduce at a rate of knots.

[thoughtomator]

That's okay. I'm not averse to blowing them up, either. And they'll find reproduction awfully tough when there's no more food for them to eat.

[Dave Elias]

"But you can only bring those reforms(by force or otherwise) to a point because at a short distance,they clash with the interests of the Muslim world-improvement in status of women,equal treatment of ethnic/racial minorities(lots of them exist there,many of them Muslims itself)& ofcourse dealing with the ZIONISTS"

Women certainly are treated poorly in many of these Arab states. However I think that has more to do with Arab culture than Islam per se. For instance is it not interesting to compare how many women POTUS's there have been to how many women have lead Muslim states.

Also if there is any laudible aspect to Islam it is the fact that one of its basic tenets is not distinquishing between race.

Then again I certainly have no desire to live in a muslim state. They're so uptight.

[Dave Elias]

18 is your favourite number no doubt.

[Allegra]

Rome was not built in a day.

Iraq, possibly the oldest place on earth, is a brand new nation.

They need to focus on getting the insugency quelled, stopping 'em from chunking mortars, rockets and attacking convoys.

There'll be time for other developments down the road.

[Fenris6]

Exactly. Not surprised by this. Expecting Iraq to embrace Israel this early is a bit much

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

[happygrl]

Also if there is any laudible aspect to Islam it is the fact that one of its basic tenets is not distinquishing between race.

Oh please.

Tell that to the Black Muslim Sudanese in the Dafur Province who are being slaughtered by their Muslim countrymen.

Tell that to the Black Muslim Malians who are still in slavery to their fairer-skinned Arab Muslim countrymen.

Watch what they do, not what they say.

[ASA Vet]

Iraq and its territory will not be a base for any action hostile to any Arab country.

How about a Persian country?