What citizens of other countries are reading about the Middle East.
By THE MEDIA LINESheikha Naima Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (left), president of the Kuwait Women’s Sports Federation, and Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (second left), president of Qatar’s Football Association, attend the opening ceremony of the Soccerex Asian Forum conference at the King Hussein Convention Center(photo credit: REUTERS)Why would Israel sign an agreement? Al-Quds, Jerusalem, May 13Whoever believed that US Secretary of State John Kerry was intending to establish a new Palestinian state is either naïve or ignorant as to what is happening in the Middle East. The whole goal of the past nine months was to claim in front of the Arab states that Washington is working to solve the problem of the 5 million Palestinian refugees scattered throughout the Arab countries for seven decades. The truth is that Israel was never ready to sign a deal with the Palestinians. Why would it? Israel holds all the cards in the game, and controls the most important military and natural resources in the area; it enjoys the control it has over American foreign policy. Add to that the mentality of the ruling Likud Party, which wants to prevent the existence of a Palestinian state. Palestinians pose a little annoyance to Israel, but not more than that.Israel doesn’t want peace Al-Sharq, Jeddah, May 12It is surprising that there are still people who think Israel is not an apartheid state, says writer Reda Ahmed. If we go by the definition, there should be no doubt left in the mind of any sane person about the true nature of the Zionist regime. One thing for sure is that Israel is not at all willing to give Palestinians their legitimate rights. It spares no effort to sabotage the peace process, in a way which makes us realize that Israel is not serious about signing a deal with Palestinians. In light of the continued occupation and increased settlement construction, Palestinians should adopt a different course of action. I am not advocating for an armed struggle; a solution is offered by the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against. It has already garnered support internationally and among the Palestinians.The next step should be making good use of social media, and creating awareness among people who think Israel is a thriving Middle Eastern democracy that is “threatened” by Palestinians.Israel’s losses and our losses An-Nahar, Beirut, May 13More than 20,000 soldiers and 2,000 civilians have been killed in Israel since the beginning of the Zionist project. Writer Majid Kayyali points out that 389 people were killed annually in wars since 1948, according to formal Israeli statistics. The cost of establishing the State of Israel in 1948 – although many of us consider it a fake state – reached 6,500 people, making it the highest price this state has paid in its history. Civilians number 2,477 killed throughout the conflict, 996 of whom were killed since the beginning of the second intifada. These statistics don’t underestimate these human losses or the effort made to fight Israel, but remind us that Israel was very keen on saving the lives of its Jewish citizens, and did everything to protect their safety and security. However, the Arabs have incurred major losses in their wars with Israel, and in civil wars. It is ironic that car accident victims in Israel exceed those who were killed because of war or resistance activities.Apartheid or no apartheid? Can we talk? Al-Rai, Amman, May 11Analyzing the latest developments in the peace process, we’ve come to the realization that Israelis can have the apartheid debate, but we cannot, says writer James Zoabi. This equation brings to mind a comment I heard from former US senator Joseph Lieberman in 2000, “It is easier to debate issues like settlements and Jerusalem in the Knesset than to have the same debates in the US Senate,” he acknowledged.The question, then, is how can the US lead Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking when we can’t criticize Israel, or have an honest debate about its policies? For more than two decades now, America has assumed a unilateral role in the peace process. During all that time, our leadership as Arabs has repeatedly been tested. All too often, we haven’t lived up to the challenge, and our inability to pursue peace free of domestic political considerations has had dramatic consequences. Yet, a firm challenge from America will help spur needed debate and change in Israel. A decisive stand by America will also empower progressive Palestinians, and not extremists and cynics.Lebanon remains an attractive tourist area Dar Al-Khaleej, Abu Dhabi, May 12Lebanon this week made it on the list of “Nine places you must see before you die” – the only Arab country to win a slot. Despite travel warnings issued against the country during the past year, Lebanon remains a tourist attraction. The Mediterranean country was on the Huffington Post’s list alongside London, Santorini in Greece, Guadeloupe, Denmark, Bora Bora, Italy, Scotland and Hawaii. Lebanon is famous for its beautiful nature, thrilling nightlife and Roman-era monuments. However, Lebanon’s tourist industry has suffered amid the conflict in neighboring Syria, with the influx of more than half a million refugees. Last year, six Gulf states told their citizens to avoid Lebanon for security reasons. The number of tourists to the country dropped by 10 percent in the first eight months of 2013, for a total of 891,079, compared to the same period in 2012.
