Tariq A. Al-Maeena

Jacques, my South African living reference guide to Kreugerland wildlife, called me the other day from Riyadh. He was updating me with information on what I would encounter during an upcoming trip to the wildlife reserves, something I have been looking forward to since childhood.

After a few minutes of facts and figures, Jacques soon got into politics. “Can you believe those murderous Israelis? They have publicly declared their intention of assassinating an elected head of state!” He was referring to the recently publicized statements by the upper hierarchy of the Israeli government making plain their unlawful intent of killing Yasser Arafat, president of Palestine.

“Surprised, Jacques? Don’t be. The Israeli government is currently being led by a rogue who has been evading criminal charges from the courts in Belgium for murder and torture of the innocent. Ariel Sharon, the butcher of Sabra and Shatilla, has embarked on a course of terrorizing and destruction.”

“And not unlike Adolf Hitler, his continuing policy of ethnic cleansing and unpardonable crimes against innocent civilians since he has taken office are well documented. This ongoing holocaust against the people of Palestine has been going on for 50 years. And now the Israeli government just wants to take it a step further. From infants to toddlers, from young boys and girls to resistance fighters, his command has been one bent on extermination.”

“I know,” countered Jacques. “Just think what reactions would have taken place had the shoe been on the other foot.” “Oh, you can be sure the Israelis would be crying out at their loudest, demanding instant reactions and retributions. Deafening cries of “anti-Semitism” would smother the arguments of thinking men, and their media spin machine would leave us with no peace. Frankly, I am getting sick of their twisted manipulation of guilt over what Hitler did. It was wrong of the Nazis, but what the Israelis are doing today is awful too. And just think what kind of precedent such a blatant act will set. Any elected leader of a country will be fair game.”

And what so far has been the reaction of the self-proclaimed international warrior against terrorism, Mr. Bush? “Nary a peep. No statement of condemnation has come from the number one global cop over this murderous declaration. After loudly labeling Sharon as a ‘man of peace’, what can he really do? As a matter of fact, the only hint of his displeasure at the Israeli government were his instructions to the US representative at the UN Security Council to veto at any cost a motion censuring Israel for considering such an illegal act of murder,” I said.

“You know, Jacques,” I added. “Politics does indeed makes strange bedfellows. But perhaps none as bizarre as George Bush Jr. and Ariel Sharon.”

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- Arab News Opinion 20 September 2003