It's All The US/Israelis Fault

Annie

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Nov 22, 2003
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This actually belongs on WOT thread, but I know it would be moved:
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=15335_Shocka!_Arabs_Blame_Israel_US_for_Problems&only=yes


4/6/2005: Shocka! Arabs Blame Israel, US for Problems

I know this will probably come as a great shock, but believe it or not, the latest Arab Human Development Report from the United Nations blames the Arab world’s degraded state on ... wait for it ... the US and Israel: UN report blames Israel, US for lack of Arab reform.

The creation of Israel and the US support for its policies in the West Bank are partially to blame for the lack of reform in the Arab world, according to a UN-sponsored report released Tuesday.

The Arab Human Development Report 2004 (AHDR) cited the creation of the Jewish state as one of the roots of authoritarianism in the Middle East, along with the discovery of oil and the support for dictators by the superpowers during the Cold War.

Israel rebuffed the claims. “For too long too many people in the Arab world have used Israel as an excuse to justify behavior that cannot be justified,” said Mark Regev, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry. “You can’t have democratic elections because of Israel and you can’t give equal rights to women in Saudi Arabia because of Israel. This is of course a cop out.”

The 248-page report, published by the United Nations Development Program, was ready months ago, prior to the Palestinian and Iraqi elections, but its release was delayed because of objections by the US and Egypt. It was finally released with the UN logo and a disclaimer in the preface.

In the most controversial part titled Towards Freedom in the Arab World, the report stated that the Israeli occupation of the territories and the US occupation of Iraq both created excuses for Arab governments to postpone democratization and they strengthened extremist groups which advocate violence.

At the Washington Post, Marina Ottaway of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace says it would be a big mistake for the US to condemn this report, and that we should accept it as the best we’re going to get and Listen To Arab Voices, no matter how hateful and whiny they are.

The UN, by the way, decided to publish the report despite US objections: UN Insanity Watch.
 

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