Mid-East press rejects London link

[justinsb]

Mid-East press rejects London link

Israeli and Palestinian newspapers take issue with UK Prime Minister Tony Blair's argument that the London bombings are linked to the Middle East peace process.

Mr Blair said the "root causes" of terrorism included the lack of democracy, deprivation and conflict in the Middle East.

"With all due respect, the British prime minister is wrong," says Israel's most popular daily, Yediot Aharonot.

Echoing Israel's official stance, it argues that the war on terror is a global phenomenon, with no specific regional causes.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4669249.stm

[Coastie for Truth]

1. The article goes on to say ...

That, like its Israeli counterparts, the largest-circulation Palestinian daily al-Quds also connects the London bombings to wider tension between the West and Arab countries.

"There is no question that the West's policies vis-a-vis Arab issues are incompatible with the national aspirations, hopes and expectations of the oppressed people, above all the Palestinian and Iraqi people," it says in an editorial.

... ... (Editorial comment in original source) ... ...

"What meaning is there in these attacks other than stirring terror and horror, and triggering animosity and anger against whatever is Arabic and Islamic?" it rails.

"Blind violence will only result in spreading the conviction that the Western nations have about all Arabs and Muslims being terrorists."

It is insane to avoid the issue of maldistribution of the region's oil wealth among its Arab peoples - and the exploitation of the Arab proletariat by the mineral companies and the ruling elites.

House of Saud =?= House of Romanov

[eyl]

2. Looks like he didn't say that in the first place

Associated Press retracts Blair 'story'
The Associated Press (AP) has retracted a story in which it falsely claimed that British Prime Minister Tony Blair blamed the July 7 London terrorist attacks on the Israeli - Palestinian conflict.

In its original report , the AP reported Blair as saying that "you have to try and pull terrorism out by its roots..." and claimed that meant "easing the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians."

"The Associated Press erroneously reported that he spoke of easing the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Blair did not specifically mention the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in his interview with the British Broadcasting Corp," said the AP in a statement.

Source

[Englander]

3. ~sigh~ . "...some of the critical issues in the ME...."

"are dealt with & sorted out."

That's what Blair said.

When asked what are the root causes,
Blair said;

"Creating the circumstances in which there is a proper understanding of people of different faiths in which some of the critical issues in the ME are dealt with & sorted out & where people in the ME can see there is a perfectly good path to democracy if people want to take it...."

Listen to him say it,here;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4666311.stm

The link is under his picture,about 07:50 mins,
real player required.