Excerpts: Israel source of regional terrorism.Peace and
anti-terrorism.Reuters Wrong on Arab Boycott of Israel 13 October 2005

+++ ARAB NEWS (Saudi) 13 Oct.'05:"Prince Turki Calls for Inter-Faith Unity
to Defeat Terrorism" P.K. Abdul Ghafour

QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"Al-Qaeda's terrorism has changed the world "
"denounced allegations that Saudi Arabia supported terrorism"
" 'Why doesn't it (the West) enforce UN resolutions calling on Israel to
move back to boundries set more than 30 years ago?It is this cause above all
others that has given lifeblood to this evil cult of hate.' "
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXCERPTS:

JEDDAH, 13 October 2005 - Saudi Arabia's new ambassador to the United States
has urged people of all faiths to stand united in the fight against
terrorism. Prince Turki Al-Faisal, former Saudi envoy to the UK, said
Al-Qaeda's terrorism was based on a perverted cult ideology.
He also emphasized that the uneven handling of the Palestinian-Israeli
dispute by the West had played a big role in damaging Western-Islamic
relations.
In a major speech to the Oxford Philosophy, Politics and Economics Society
... Prince Turki said Al-Qaeda's terrorism had changed the world and would
continue to shape the future of international relations.
A solution to the world's problems would not bring current terrorism to an
end, the prince said, adding that Al-Qaeda was not a religious or political
organization, but a cult, which makes use of the suffering of others to
further its vested interests.
"These cults claim that if the problems of Palestine and Iraq were solved,
then they would be satisfied. I do not believe that is true," the ambassador
said. Al-Qaeda's terrorism, he added, was not based on Islam, but on a
"perverted cult ideology."
. . .
In his address ... Turki said: "Terrorism is currently the biggest single
threat to international peace and stability. It has ripped communities apart
and has tried to turn friends into foes."
He denounced allegations that Saudi Arabia supported terrorism. " ... we
are the victims, not the supporters, of terrorism. The fact that they have
sprung up within our midst is as horrifying to us as it is to you," ... .
. . .
... he asked, "Why does the West enforce UN resolutions with untold power
and might in the Arab world? Why doesn't it enforce UN resolutions calling
on Israel to move back to boundaries set more than 30 years ago? It is this
cause above all others that has given lifeblood to this evil cult of hate."
[IMRA: UN resolutions don't call on Israel to go back to the Green Line
which wasn't a boundry.]
Prince Turki said Saudi Arabia, along with other Arab countries, had clearly
expressed its interest in reaching a peaceful solution to the Arab-Israeli
conflict. "The Arab peace plan initiated by Custodian of the Two Holy
Mosques King Abdullah has been welcomed by all countries but rejected by
Israel," he pointed out. "I believe that until Palestinians are finally
given justice and their own homeland, where they can live in peace, this
will remain not just a tragedy but will provide terrorists with a ready
excuse for their terrible actions," he added.
. . .
Prince Turki ...said. "We must cut off any intellectual, financial or
political support that feeds these groups. We must ensure that no one twists
the words of the Qur'an, or indeed any holy book, to justify their political
aims and ends. This is corruption at its worst."
[IMRA: Which "holy book" other than the Koran is being twisted?]

+++JORDAN TIMES 13 Oct.'05: " 'Mideast peace key to anti-terror fight' "
QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"achieving peace in the region has become an urgent
need and a prerequisite to triumph in the anti-terror
fight"

"the Muslim nation has to shoulder the responsibility of
defending the true Islam as a faith that promotes, peace,
tolerance and human dignity"

"he stressed that such support does not mean that
Jakarta seeks to establish diplomatic ties with Israel"
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EXCERPTS:
JAKARTA (Petra) -...King Abdullah on Wednesday held talks with Indonesian
President Susilo Bambang Yudhyono on bilateral ties and issues of concern to
the Muslim world.
. . .
In his talks ... , the King reviewed Jordan's efforts to fight attempts to
distort Islam, emphasising the importance of coordination between the
Kingdom, Indonesia and other Muslim countries to present the true image of
the religion.
. . .
They also agreed to boost the trade volume as well as economic and
investment cooperation.
In their discussion ... King Abdullah pointed out that achieving peace in
the region has become an urgent need and a prerequisite to triumph in the
anti-terror fight.
. . .
He said the Muslim nation has to shoulder the responsibility of defending
the true Islam as a faith that promotes peace, tolerance and human dignity.
He also called for concerted international efforts to support the Middle
East peace process as well as efforts by the Palestinian Authority to build
democratic institutions.
On the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the King reiterated that this
development was an important milestone in the history of the conflict.
. . .
... the Indonesian president reviewed the outcome of his talks with King
Abdullah and stressed his country's support for the Middle East peace
process.
But he stressed that such support does not mean that Jakarta seeks to
establish diplomatic ties with Israel. . . .

+++Reuters Wrong on Arab Boycott of Israel

By Dr. Joseph Lerner

In Haaretz' 12 Oct. '05 Reuters' story "Bahrain lawmakers reject
Bahrain lifting ban on Israeli goods" Reuters notes:"...many Bahrainis ...
like many ordinary Arabs, are angry at Israel's occupation of Arab lands and
its treatment of Arabs." This suggests theat the boycott began after the
1967 Six Day War. Actually the boycott started before the establishment in
1948 of the State of Israel.

The Arab League boycott was declared on December 2, 1945

It declared: "Jewish products and manufactured goods shall be
considered undesireable to the
Arab countries. [All Arab] Institutions.,
organizations, merchants commission agents
and individuals [are called] upon to refuse to
deal in, distribute, or consume Zionist
products or manufacured goods."

Dr. Joseph Lerner, Co-Director IMRA