Jibril: Sharon illness is 'G-d's gift'

[Behind the Aegis]

Pan-Arab satellite television broadcasters beamed out largely straightforward, nonstop live coverage early Thursday from outside the hospital where Prime Minister Ariel Sharon struggled for his life.

But a radical Palestinian leader in Damascus, the Syrian capital, called Sharon's health crisis a gift from God.

"We say it frankly that God is great and is able to exact revenge on this butcher. ... We thank G-d for this gift he presented to us on this new year," Ahmed Jibril, leader of the Syrian-backed faction Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command, a small radical group, told the Associated Press.

He said Sharon's legacy would be one of huge damage inflicted on the Palestinian people.
A Palestinian commentator on the Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya network offered Sharon unexpected praise as "the first Israeli leader who stopped claiming Israel had a right to all of the Palestinian's land," a reference to Israeli's recent withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

more...

[Lithos]

1. Jibril is a looney

And a bit of a nobody. It's almost like they were searching for that story. Truthfully, I think the Al-Arabiya commentary to be more significant.

L-

[Behind the Aegis]

3. Perhaps he is a loon.

The sad thing is that his words have been echoed here.

I also agree about the Al-Arabiya commentaries. It was encouraging to see that kind of coverage. Since they are more 'mainstream' that means a balanced report is being broadcast across the Arab-speaking world. I certainly do not expect them to sing the praises of Sharon, but they are taking 'the high road,' so to speak and reporting the news as facts and not opinion. Maybe our media will take some notes!

[barb162]

6. You know, I re-read a commentary about Abbas and Sharon

in an Egyptian paper and the author in just about every way alluded that Sharon was the giant and Abbas the supplicant. Whatever, he is a giant in the Mideast. I hate to write about him in the past tense (!) but things seem to be going very badly these last few hours. I am convinced that after he won the election, and of course he would win, he was going to present an offer to the Pals for lasting peace. I am still hoping he pulls out of this crisis, but it just doesn't look like it will happen

[Behind the Aegis]

7. Don't give up hope.

All we have right now is hope. We must stay positive, even in the light of bad news. I am more fearful what will happen to negotiations if he happens to pass away.

[barb162]

9. we're on the same page

thumbs up

[barb162]

4. same here n/t

[Tom Joad]

2. His crimes were many, he continued until the end. It has nothing to do

with god. He just ate himself to death.
He was a very rich man, he could afford the food, even when one-third of even Jewish Israeli children live in poverty.

Tyrants come and go, we must continue to struggle for justice for all.

[Wordie]

5. Interesting. The j-post article seems to be taken from a longer Haaretz

article, but with a longer title. Both articles start with the exact same sentence. The Haaretz article uses this title, "Sharon's illness draws mixed response in Arab world" and has more positive quotes by arabs than the j-post article does, and fewer of the negative ones. The j-post article cites more negative comments, and omits more of the positive ones.

Here are some positive comments that the j-post article does not cite, from the Haaretz article:
Officials from the Palestinian Authority voiced concern for the future of the peace process in Sharon's possible absence.

"On a purely humanitarian level we feel sorry for Mr Sharon," said Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister Nabil Shaath.

and:
Representatives from the offices of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordanian King Abdullah II contacted Sharon's aides to express their concern over the prime minister's condition and their wishes for his recovery.

[Behind the Aegis]

8. Probably because...

The Ha'aretz article is from "By News Agencies" and the J-Post article is only from the AP. Therefore, it looks like Ha'aretz combined multiple sources.

[Wordie]

10. Sharon's illness draws mixed response in Arab world (Haaretz)

Sharon's illness draws mixed response in Arab world

By News Agencies

Pan-Arab satellite television broadcasters beamed out largely straightforward, nonstop live coverage early Thursday from outside the Jerusalem hospital where Prime Minister Ariel Sharon struggled for his life.

While the Palestinian militant groups expressed satisfaction at Sharon's declining health, some Arab commentators praised him for last summer's disengagement from Gaza.

..."On a purely humanitarian level we feel sorry for Mr Sharon," said Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister Nabil Shaath.
"Politically it will increase the uncertainty we are facing to get back to the peace process," he said. "It is highly unpredictable to tell what will happen."

A Palestinian commentator on the Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya network offered Sharon unexpected praise as "the first Israeli leader who stopped claiming Israel had a right to all of the Palestinians' land," a reference to the recent withdrawal from Gaza.

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/666698.html

Many Palestinians and other arabs appear to be worried, just like everyone else, about what effect Sharon's illness will have on the peace process. The article also mentions some less than sympathetic comments.

[mike_c]

11. at times like this, it's hard not to remember all the DUers and others...

...who cheered Yassir Arafat's last illness and death.

Sharon is a murderous pig. The world will be a better place when he rots in the ground. I wish him peace and an easy passage, but I'll not mourn him.

[Behind the Aegis]

12. not really...

...a quick (advanced) search will show that most of the posts about the death of Arafat were not posts of joy (I did find one, I am sure there are a few more), but most were about how Israel killed him or discussing if he died of AIDS, liver damage, poison, etc.

Sharon's illness does make somethings very clear though.

[bemildred]

13. Arafat bashing has a long and fatuous history here,

along with bashing of Sharon, Jews, Palestinians,
Syrians, Saddam, Iran, the EU, the UN, etc. But
because of the rules, the predominant mode is more
oblique than mere name calling, and tends in the
direction of arguing over who is to blame for the
present mess, and more importantly who is saintly
and innocent of all blame for it.

This is still my favorite Arafat piece:

http://www.counterpunch.org/avnery08052003.html