• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

DATE=10/13/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-267913

TITLE=MIDEAST VIOLENCE / ARAB REACT (L ONLY)

BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB

DATELINE=CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Across the Middle East, Arab nations are reacting with shock and anger to the Israeli attacks Thursday on Palestinian installations in Gaza and the West Bank. Correspondent Scott Bobb reports from our Middle East Bureau in Cairo that many are saying the latest round of violence has dealt a serious, perhaps fatal, blow to the peace process.

TEXT: Thousands of Palestinian refugees in camps in Syria and Lebanon Friday demonstrated against the Israeli attacks in Gaza and the West Bank.

In Egypt, thousands of people gathered outside Cairo's Al-Azhar mosque after prayers Friday, chanting anti-Israeli slogans and demanding war.

/// SFX: SOUND OF CHANTING ///

There have been protests on Egyptian campuses virtually every day since the clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli troops began two weeks ago.

Egypt's foreign minister, Amr Moussa, warned that the Arab world will not accept continued violence.

/// MOUSA ACT ///

This is indeed a big blow to the peace process,

a big blow to the relations in the region, a big

blow to the stability in the Middle East. This

has to cease. This has to stop.

/// END ACT ///

Egypt is preparing to host a summit of Arab leaders who are expected to blame Israel for the recent violence.

Repercussions already are beginning to be felt in the Arab world.

The government of Oman is closing the Israeli trade mission in Muscat and is recalling its trade envoy from Israel, ending a modest diplomatic opening in the Gulf Region. Demonstrators Friday called on Qatar, the only other Gulf nation with ties to Israel, to do the same.

Morocco has quietly recalled its diplomat from Tel Aviv in response to the violence.

And in Mauritania, demonstrators this past week called on their government to break recently established diplomatic relations with Israel.

Jordan, which along with Egypt has signed peace agreements with Israel, also condemned the violence.

King Abdullah said the situation had reached unacceptable levels. And a government statement called it the result of extremist practices by the Israeli government.

Lebanese Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss said the Israeli government has once again demonstrated its ferocity. He criticized Western governments for condemning terrorism while ignoring Israel's actions.

Lebanon's Hezbollah movement, whose kidnapping of three Israeli soldiers this past week contributed to the escalation, called on Muslims to take to the streets Friday in a day of Arab anger.

Syria expressed dismay that Western envoys rushed to the region following the kidnapping of the Israeli soldiers, but did little after a Palestinian boy was killed in his father's arms by Israeli fire on worldwide television.

/// REST OPT ///

In the Gulf region, United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Zaid bin Sultan al-Nahayan said the Israeli operation was a blatant breach of international law and a serious escalation.

The government of Kuwait called it a criminal attack. And Saudi Arabia's King Fahd was quoted by the official Saudi news agency as saying the incidents have hurt the peace process.

Meanwhile, Iraq urged Arab countries to liberate Palestine by force. Iran's foreign minister, Kamal Karazzi, said intifada, or uprising, was the only way for Palestinians to regain their rights. (Signed)

NEB/SB/KL/WTW