Excerpts: Zionist gangs and the Temple Mount.Terror suspects
arrested.Dialogue problems.29 May 2003
+++JORDAN TIMES 29 May '03:FULL TEXT:
"Commission denies Israeli media reports"
QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"denied reports in the Israeli media alleging that negotiations
are underway for opening Al-Aqsa Mosque to non-Muslims."
" 'part of a Zionist media psychological war waged in
Palestine and abroad which is considered an attempt to
distort facts, running in harmony with an ongoing campaign
on the part of the Zionist gangs to rebuild the so called
Temple Mount' "
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FULL TEXT:
AMMAN (Petra) - The Amman-based Royal Commission for Jerusalem Affairs on
Wednesday denied reports in the Israeli media alleging that negotiations are
under way for opening Al Aqsa Mosque to non-Muslims.
The reports had quoted Raef Nijem, the deputy chairman of a committee
charged with reconstructing the mosque, as saying that the Israeli
authorities are holding talks with the Jerusalem Awqaf Department to allow
non-Muslims access to the Muslim shrine.
Commission president Abdullah Kanaan said, "the Awqaf Department in
Jerusalem adheres to its principled stand of not allowing other than Muslims
to pray in the mosque."
The Israeli media reports are part of a Zionist media psychological war
waged in Palestine and abroad which is considered an attempt to distort
facts, running in harmony with an ongoing campaign on the part of the
Zionist gangs to rebuild the so called Temple Mount through giving Jews
access to the mosque," charged Kanaan.
Stressing that Al Haram Al Sharif (the complex housing the Aqsa and the Dome
of the Rock mosques) is a sacred shrine for Muslims, Kanaan warned the
Israeli authorities against opening the site for Jews for the sake of
promoting tourism or any other excuse.
+++ARAB NEWS (Saudi 29 May '03:"Riyadh Blasts Mastermind, 10 Others Held"
Mohammed Alkhereiji, Arab News Staff
QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"announced the arrest of 11 wanted persons including three
religious men who allegedly instigated
terrorist attacks."
"Jordan described the cooperation of Saudi investigators with the
Americans as 'superb'. "
"Asked about prospects of elections to the regional and local
councils, Prince Naif said:'The goal is to
have qualified people... . The members we have today in these
councils are the best people. We
should be concerned more with the goal than the means.' "
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EXCERPTS:
JEDDAH, 29 May 2003 - Interior Minister Prince Naif yesterday announced the
arrest of 11 wanted persons including three religious men who allegedly
instigated terrorist attacks.
. . .
... Prince Naif also disclosed that Saudi security agents had identified six
of the nine suicide bombers who carried out the May 12 terrorist attacks in
Riyadh.
"Four of the six are from the 19 men whose names were announced earlier,"
the minister said, referring to the list of Al-Qaeda suspects published by
the Interior Ministry on May 6.
Saudi sources yesterday revealed that the arrested persons included an
Al-Qaeda suspect who allegedly masterminded the May 12 suicide attacks that
left 34 people dead and some 200 injured.
But Prince Naif did not confirm that report. "It is better if we depend on
statements based on facts... We'll provide you with all the details when
investigations are completed," he said.
. . .
Prince Naif denied reports that some suspects had been killed during the
arrest. ..."No one was hurt as the arrests took place without use of
weapons."
The minister estimated the total number of suspects arrested following the
Riyadh bombings at 21. ...
... the arrests took place at an Internet cafe in Madinah and the arrested
suspects included Ali Abdul Rahman Al-Ghamdi, who is believed to be the
mastermind of the Riyadh bombings.
US officials have said Al-Ghamdi is one of the top Al-Qaeda men in the
Kingdom. Al-Watan also quoted witnesses at the Internet cafe as saying that
Al-Ghamdi arrived at the cafe first and was joined later by two companions.
The three reportedly performed Zuhr prayers with workers at the cafe. ... .
Al-Ghamdi's name was among the 19 men wanted in connection with a cache of
weapons and explosives found in Riyadh in May.
Al-Ghamdi, 29, was born in Riyadh. He studied economics and business
management at King Abdul Aziz University, but dropped out before obtaining a
degree. He traveled to Afghanistan several times ... .
. . ..
According to Western diplomats a number of the people arrested in Madinah
are part of a cell on their way abroad to carry out attacks in Europe and
possibly the US.
"There is no indication that this was a one-time...attack and that these
terrorists are satisfied that they have made some sort of a point," US
Ambassador Robert Jordan told reporters in Riyadh.
. . .
Jordan described the cooperation of Saudi investigators with the Americans
as "superb."
The US Embassy said the 60 FBI agents would leave the Kingdom by the end of
the week and be replaced by a smaller team.
. . ..
Asharq Al-Awsat, a sister publication of Arab News, said the 11 arrested
were Al-Qaeda members.
. . .
In his wide-ranging press conference, Prince Naif said the gun attacks in
the northern Jouf region over the past months were not organized crimes.
"They are individual operations and not linked with any organization," he
said. However, he suspected that the persons who targeted security officers
might have links with some groups.
"But all these things are now under investigation," he pointed out.
. . .
Prince Naif commended the strong relations between the Saudi people and
their leadership. "There is no gulf between the two," he said, adding that
the recent events had strengthened these relations.
Asked about prospects of elections to the regional and local councils,
Prince Naif said: "The goal is to have qualified people as members in these
councils. The members we have today in these councils are the best people.
We should be concerned more with the goal than the means."
+++ARAB NEWS (Saudi) 29 May '03: "The Rules of Dialogue"Dr. Abdul Wahid
Al-Humaid, Al-Riyadh
QUOTE FROM TEXT:
"Those who dare to ask questions ... will be labeled as troublemakers or
even worse .... The phenomenon is not confined to Saudi society but is
common in virtually all Arab societies."
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EXCERPTS:
If there is one thing that we urgently need in these difficult days, it is
constructive dialogue. It should be based on mutual respect .... What we
don't need is a dialogue of the deaf in which no one listens or understands
what the other says. The debate that is currently going on in our press and
on the Internet is a positive sign ...
The problem with the ongoing discussion is that it is not always as clean
and objective as it should be. The language is tense, aggressive and
sometimes very hostile.
Some commentators go too far and jump to conclusions that may have never
occurred to the writer of the article being responded to. Writers may be
attacked for things they have never said. Judgments are passed and writers
may find themselves confined to this or that camp. What appears on the
Internet is usually even worse since it lacks the basic rules and ethics of
constructive intelligent dialogue. ...We must admit we have a problem when
it comes to dialogue and the reason may be because we are not used to
talking to each other and frankly exchanging opinions and views. People
accept whatever comes as fate, feeling that it was inevitable.
Those who dare to raise questions or seek other explanations will be labeled
as troublemakers or even worse. It all has to do with the prevailing
culture. The phenomenon is not confined to Saudi society but is common in
virtually all Arab societies.
Talk shows and live interviews on satellite channels have introduced us to
bizarre, sometimes funny examples of, public figures whom we would expect to
engage in objective discussion, using refined language and logic and
convincing their listeners. Instead, what we get is abusive language, lack
of objectivity and angered guests shouting at each other.
... Recent events in the country have generated a good deal of
self-criticism which is very healthy.
All we hope for is that the dialogue will become more rational and
constructive. This puts more responsibility and pressure on all who use
either public or private platforms to express themselves.
Dr. Joseph Lerner, Co-Director IMRA
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