"Amidst all the tumult of Hamas' clamoring and the deaths of innocents, nobody paid attention to the countries that were supporting Hamas, and that were planning moves aimed at embarrassing their rivals... at a cost of innocent lives." -State Arab Officials and Columnists #
"Does Iran realize that it is party to the murder of innocents in Gaza because of its support for Hamas' [foolhardy] actions?
Has Qatar considered, even for a moment, withdrawing its financial and media support for this wretched and loudmouthed movement? Does Syria realize that its involvement with Hamas does not lessen its isolation [in the international arena] but increases it?In a March 25, 2008 article by MEMRI, No. 1879
Arab Officials and Columnists Say:
"Hamas Responsible for Escalation in Gaza"
Arab officials and columnists such as, Nasser Al-'Utaibi with Al-Siyassa; concerned with Lebanon's rights, its independence, its sovereignty, and its freedom to elect its own president without pressure from Iran and Syria... and the Arab nation's tire of regimes, groups, power centers and self-interested [parties] exploiting the Palestinian cause as a pretext for [waging] wars...
Read following columns; and excerpts (below) (Source: MEMRI.org)
[1] Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), March 3, 2008.
[2] Al-Quds (Palestinian Authority), March 4, 2008.
[3] Al-Hayat Al-Jadida (Palestinian Authority), March 5, 2008.
[4] Al-Siyassa (Kuwait), March 1, 2008.
[5] Al-Raya (Qatar), March 10, 2008.
[6] Al-Siyassa (Kuwait), March 10, 2008.
[7] http://www.elaph.com/, March 2, 2008.
[8] Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), March 2, 2008.
Article excerpts:
Al-Maliki added, "By staging a coup against the legitimate Palestinian [authority] in Gaza, and with its useless rockets, Hamas has given the international community an opportunity to disregard the situation in Gaza." [1]
Harsh criticism of Hamas was also voiced by the Al-Azhar Sheikh Muhammad Sayyed Tantawi, who said that the Hamas' rocket attacks were useless and would only bring trouble upon the Palestinians themselves. [2]
Will you return to your senses and to your people, and give up the wretched notion of establishing an [Islamic] emirate [in Gaza]?" [3]
Hamas - whose leader appears only at rallies, like [Hizbullah Secretary-General] Hassan Nasrallah... - bears sole responsibility for the death of Palestinians [which is occurring] on a daily basis... In light of their insane insistence on launching improvised rockets [into Israel], they bear sole responsibility for the destruction of Gaza... " [4]
"No Palestinian liberation movement can make any headway in the conditions prevailing today in Gaza, [especially] when its will is subjugated to that of strong external [powers], which direct it according to their own orientation and interests.[5]
"We feel sorry for the Palestinian people, which has fallen prey to the leaders in Damascus and Tehran... [6]
"Will the people of Gaza wake up and rebel against Hamas and its financiers, and thus send [its members] scurrying like rats for cover, along with the Al-Qaeda cells, both dormant and active, [in Gaza] - as happened to the remnants of Al-Qaeda in Iraq? We hope that they will." [7]
Also, Al-Sharq Al-Awsat editor Tariq Alhomayed wrote:
"Syria and Iran must be questioned about the seriousness and efficacy of the actions of their allies in Hamas - both those who remain in Damascus and those who hide in their holes in Gaza. Did their rocket [attacks on Israel] benefit the helpless Palestinian [people in any way]? Or have the people of Gaza been left to deal with the death and destruction on their own, while the Hamas leaders flee to safe hideouts, calling this the 'prudent' way to wage war with Israel?" [8] Read the entire article!
