Saddam Hussein’s record is well known: He took part in a coup d’etat in the ’60s; became president 11 years later and has oppressed his own people since; attacked Iran and gassed thousands of Iraq’s Kurds in the ’80s; invaded Kuwait and launched missiles against Israel in the ’90s; and is currently financing Palestinian suicide bombers and … Seguir leyendo Give Hussein «time» to polish his talents – 13/12/02 →

In 1987, Egyptian author Said Ayyub published a book titled The Anti-Christ, in which he claimed that all the popes of the Catholic Church, Martin Luther King and Napoleon Bonaparte were Jewish. In 1990, another Egyptian writer, Izzat Arif, published The End of Saddam, where he accused the dictator of Baghdad of being a Jew. In 1995, the Syrian … Seguir leyendo Europe encourages anti-semites to be blatant – 22/11/02 →

All it takes for a baseless statement to be accepted at face value at the United Nations is for an Arab diplomat to utter it. Just observe the evolution of the newest diplomatic charge by Arab leaders: the United Nations, it turns out, is biased in favor of Israel. Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz protested in … Seguir leyendo Israel faces rampant discrimination at the United Nations – 01/11/02 →

One can only feel sorry for the American, Russian, European and United Nations’ diplomats of the «quartet.» Their task is unenviable: to offer, on a silver platter and for the umpteenth time, a sovereign state to a people who have been rejecting it again and again. Understandably, they have to become more creative each time. … Seguir leyendo The temperature of peace in the mideast -20/09/02 →

We know the cycle. First comes the Arab provocation, followed by Israeli inaction. The international media ignore the event. Then, Arab pressure mounts, prompting an Israeli retaliatory measure that triggers headlines from Lima to Beijing. The Arab world is furious, mass hysteria reigns in Europe, the United Nations calls emergency sessions to discuss Israel’s aggression, … Seguir leyendo Nonstop aggression on Israel – 14/10/2002 →

The paramount features of Palestinian victimhood are its refugee status and its identity as a people living under occupation. Amazingly, the father of the Palestinian revolution has suffered neither: Yasser Arafat has never been a refugee nor has he ever lived under Israeli occupation (except during the last few months). In fact, he isn’t even … Seguir leyendo Revolutionary, not statesman – 30/08/02 →

Spain legitimately prides itself in the cultural richness it inherited from the Muslims of past centuries. Today it enjoys excellent relations with both the Islamic and Arab worlds and is highly involved in Mideast affairs. The European Unions special envoy to the Middle East, Miguel Angel Moratinos, is a Spaniard. So is Javier Solana, NATOs … Seguir leyendo Spain’s double standard – 09/08/02 →

Undoubtedly one of the most fascinating characters Israel has ever produced, Shimon Peres, may be the single most recognized and internationally acclaimed Israeli leader. Born in Poland in 1923, Peres immigrated as a child, with his family, to Palestine, where he would become one of the founders of Kibbutz Alumot in the Jordan Valley. A … Seguir leyendo Shimon Peres – a failed modern-day prophet – 19/07/02 →

Forty years ago last week, SS-Oberstumbannfuehrer Adolf Eichmann was executed in Israel. He had been arrested at the end of World War II and confined to an American internment camp, but he managed to escape to Argentina. He lived there for 10 years under the name Ricardo Klement until Israeli secret agents abducted him in … Seguir leyendo When Hitler became Abu Ali- 07/06/02 →

«No one can control or change this revolution» Yasser Arafat said on a sunny day in September 1983.  “No one can control or change me.» At the time, many ignored the Palestinian leader’s statement. To this very day, many continue to disregard Arafats commitment to his revolutionary cause — chief among them, Kofi Annan, the … Seguir leyendo The president is right on Arafat – 28/06/02 →