AMMAN, Jordan, Nov. 27 (UPI) -- Arab press roundup for Nov. 27:
Egypt's al-Gomhuriya welcomed Monday the truce declared between the Palestinians and Israelis, saying it deserves support from regional and international forces. The semi-official daily said in its editorial this is not the first ceasefire, adding that previous truces were violated "due to the Israeli provocations and unjustified raids aimed at breaking the Palestinian will to accept solutions that don't meet the minimum demands." The mass-circulation insisted the Israeli government of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert now has to do much to persuade the Palestinians, Arabs and international community that his country is truly interested in peace. It urged Tel Aviv to stop "maneuvering to win time and end pressuring the Palestinians to surrender or fight until death -- because they (Palestinians) have chosen resistance."
Qatar's al-Rayah said the Palestinian-Israeli truce is a positive move that should be supported by the international community because if it continues, it will lead to restoring stability in the region. The pro-government daily added such stability will lead to serious discussions on peace through negotiations guaranteeing durable security for both sides. The editorial insisted that such regional and international support should be translated into action by launching unconditional and direct negotiations between the Palestinians and Israel to resolve all pending issues and with an active and effective Arab role. "The facts have shown the Israeli vengeance military operations will not bring them security, but only lead to more turmoil," it said. It urged all the Palestinian factions observe the directives of the Palestinian Authority and government and refrain from taking any military actions against Israel so that it does not give the latter a chance to "implement its plans that have so far failed despite its enormous military machine." The Palestinian factions' adherence to the truce, the paper said, could pave the way for the PA, government, Fatah and Hamas to seriously work towards unifying their vision to form a new "salvation national unity government, because the atmosphere of calm will help everyone work towards a solution."
The London-based ash-Sharq al-Awsat blasted Hamas, saying it was strange for it to call for a ceasefire when at one time it described a truce with Israel as treason and "every rocket fired as sacred that cannot be criticized." A commentary in the Saudi-owned daily said it was "political hypocrisy" for Hamas to agree with Israel on a ceasefire, saying the "price this time is very high, with 400 Palestinians killed because of Hamas' policy that destroyed the government infrastructure, starved the people and opened the doors wide for Israeli aggression and assassinations...And the result today is a truce to protect Israel from the rockets and suicide operations." It suggested that Hamas' change of position is a temporary tactical move so that it can secure the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel four months after the abduction of the Israeli soldier. "But if the concessions, such as protecting Israel from the rockets, are allowed for Hamas, then why did it reject them in the past?" it asked. The paper said it doubted anyone would object to the truce because "all see the results of the failed Hamas policy more as protection for Israel and less (Palestinian) military operations than during the government of Fatah." It opined it is not convincing for Hamas to boast that it managed to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners in return for the Israeli solider because Israel "was ready to release prisoners in exchange for a truce without the need for kidnapping soldiers."
Another London-based daily, al-Quds al-Arabi, commented on the escalating sectarian bombings sweeping Iraq in recent days amid the government's failure to protect its citizens. The independent Palestinian-owned daily blamed the elected Iraqi government, saying it bears as much responsibility as the occupation for the security deterioration and the daily massacres because "it pushed towards this direction when it monopolized the decision and encouraged its loyal militias to carry out vengeance killings based on identity." It insisted that the call by Sheikh Hareth al-Dhari -- head of the Iraqi religious Sunni authority -- to withdraw the recognition of the current government due its sectarianism should be heard, not only by Arab governments, but by the Iraqi people themselves, "who are the victims of the campaign of lies in the past four years." When the United Nations confirms the killing of more than 4,000 Iraqis a month and the fleeing of 2 million people from the country, it argued, it means it is high time for the Iraqi people to wake up and "say no to this ruling bunch that sunk them into blood baths and destroyed their present."
Bahrain's Akhbar al-Khaleej hailed the general elections in the kingdom as an important democratic exercise that was not free of mistakes. The pro-government daily said in a commentary the polls were the "start of the democratic road and we have not yet achieved complete political maturity." It argued the elections process is a political game that has its limits, rules and tactics, but whatever errors happened will be handled by the judiciary, "rather than for us to resort to shouting, which will change nothing." It noted while the final results have not yet been determined, as there will be a second round of voting, the first round has been determined in terms of "thought and ideology (for the Islamist trend), and proved the loss of the liberal, nationalist and future trends." The next few days will reveal new alliances, deals and attempts to gain supporters by the losing candidates, the paper said, while the Sunni and Shiite Islamists will try to gather more supporters to achieve a majority. It said regardless of who will make it to Parliament or the local councils, "we should learn from experience and mistakes; and to trust the 2006 elections is good practice to prepare for a better 2010 polls."
