Syria starts
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
DefenseNews: Saudi Sends Military Gear to Syria Rebels: Diplomat
DUBAI — Saudi Arabia is delivering military equipment to Syrian rebels in an effort to stop bloodshed by President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, a top Arab diplomat said on March 17.
“Saudi military equipment is on its way to Jordan to arm the Free Syrian Army,” the diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity. “This is a Saudi initiative to stop the massacres in Syria,” he added, saying that further “details will follow at a later time.”
The announcement came two days after the conservative Sunni-ruled kingdom said it had shut down its embassy in Syria and withdrawn all its staff. It also followed a brief meeting on the Syrian crisis last week between Jordan’s King Abdullah II and the Saudi monarch King Abdullah in Riyadh.
There was no official reaction to the statement from the Saudi capital, but Jordan flatly rejected the report.
“Jordan categorically denies the report,” government spokesman and information minister Rakan Majali told AFP. “This is completely baseless. Jordan has not discussed this issue with any parties or brought it up at all,” he said without elaborating, while adding that an official statement would be issued later on March 17.......
The diplomat’s statement on Saudi military supplies being sent to Syria came as Iraq told Iran it would not permit weapons shipments to the strife-torn country. Baghdad informed Tehran “that Iraq will not permit the use of its airspace or its territory for the transit of any arms cargo to Syria,” Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said..........
DUBAI — Saudi Arabia is delivering military equipment to Syrian rebels in an effort to stop bloodshed by President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, a top Arab diplomat said on March 17.
“Saudi military equipment is on its way to Jordan to arm the Free Syrian Army,” the diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity. “This is a Saudi initiative to stop the massacres in Syria,” he added, saying that further “details will follow at a later time.”
The announcement came two days after the conservative Sunni-ruled kingdom said it had shut down its embassy in Syria and withdrawn all its staff. It also followed a brief meeting on the Syrian crisis last week between Jordan’s King Abdullah II and the Saudi monarch King Abdullah in Riyadh.
There was no official reaction to the statement from the Saudi capital, but Jordan flatly rejected the report.
“Jordan categorically denies the report,” government spokesman and information minister Rakan Majali told AFP. “This is completely baseless. Jordan has not discussed this issue with any parties or brought it up at all,” he said without elaborating, while adding that an official statement would be issued later on March 17.......
The diplomat’s statement on Saudi military supplies being sent to Syria came as Iraq told Iran it would not permit weapons shipments to the strife-torn country. Baghdad informed Tehran “that Iraq will not permit the use of its airspace or its territory for the transit of any arms cargo to Syria,” Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said..........
I love it! The Saudis have decided to make things more interesting.
Tension between Iran and Saudi, and Iran and Iraq, look to increase.
This could become quite a mess in a short period of time.
(Note to self, get a box of popcorn when next at the store.)
Tension between Iran and Saudi, and Iran and Iraq, look to increase.
This could become quite a mess in a short period of time.
(Note to self, get a box of popcorn when next at the store.)
Thread Starter
Add it Iran arming Yemeni tribesmen who Saudi's have been using aircraft to bomb and Egypts Muslim Brotherhood linking with Iran a picture starts to emerge.........
NF Idea what the picture is but be not surprised if Saudi's attempt at taking down countries backfires.
NF Idea what the picture is but be not surprised if Saudi's attempt at taking down countries backfires.
Its about time the Saudis manned up and put to good use some of their vast, shiny arsenal, rather than continually bleat to the US to do their bidding.
How long before Assad and his crazybitch wife end up dead or exiled?
How long before Assad and his crazybitch wife end up dead or exiled?
Thread Starter
Its about time the Saudis manned up and put to good use some of their vast, shiny $$$$$$$$$$,
Taliban
9/11
Financing and supporting insurgency in Iraq
Financing and supporting Islamic groups round the globe
Pity the Saudi's don't try and introduce democracy into their own place first.
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
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They did see
As for democracy please see Egypt, Libya etc. Personal view only but I have lived and worked there and I believe that the Arab world don't want democracy as we in the west know it, just strong, fair leaders, but many of the countries are so tribally divided, (e.g. Libya), even that option seems unlikely.
Thread Starter
Bit unfair there Racedo, rogue elements within Saudi have certainly funded terrorist actions, particularly Al Qaeda, but the main administration in Saudi have usually played it fairly straight with the western world.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
ABC News: Russian Anti-Terror Troops Arrive in Syria
MOSCOW, Russia, March 19, 2012
A Russian military unit has arrived in Syria, according to Russian news reports, a development that a United Nations Security Council source told ABC News was "a bomb" certain to have serious repercussions.
Russia, one of President Bashar al-Assad's strongest allies despite international condemnation of the government's violent crackdown on the country's uprising, has repeatedly blocked the United Nations Security Council's attempts to halt the violence, accusing the U.S. and its allies of trying to start another war.
Now the Russian Black Sea fleet's Iman tanker has arrived in the Syrian port of Tartus on the Mediterranean Sea with an anti-terror squad from the Russian Marines aboard according to the Interfax news agency. The Assad government has insisted it is fighting a terrorist insurgency. The Russian news reports did not elaborate on the Russian troops' mission in Syria or if they are expected to leave the port.
The presence of Russian troops in Syria could be a "pretty obvious" show of support to the regime, according to Russian security expert Mark Galeotti. "No one thinks of the Russians as anything but Assad's last friends," said Galeotti, professor of global affairs at New York University.
The Iman replaced another Russian ship "which had been sent to Syria for demonstrating (sic) the Russian presence in the turbulent region and possible evacuation of Russian citizens," the Black Sea Fleet told Interfax. RIA Novosti, a news outlet with strong ties to the Kremlin, trumpeted the news in a banner headline that appeared only on its Arabic language website. The Russian embassy to the U.S. and to the U.N. had no comment, saying they have "no particular information on" the arrival of a Russian anti-terrorism squad to Syria.
Moscow has long enjoyed a cozy relationship with the Assad regime, to which it sells billions of dollars of weapons. In return Russia has maintained a Navy base at Tartus, which gives it access to the Mediterranean.
Last week Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia had no plans to send troops to Syria. "As for the question whether I consider it necessary to confront the United States in Syria and ensure our military presence there… in order to take part in military actions -- no. I believe this would be against Russia's national interests," Lavrov told lawmakers, according to RIA Novosti.
MOSCOW, Russia, March 19, 2012
A Russian military unit has arrived in Syria, according to Russian news reports, a development that a United Nations Security Council source told ABC News was "a bomb" certain to have serious repercussions.
Russia, one of President Bashar al-Assad's strongest allies despite international condemnation of the government's violent crackdown on the country's uprising, has repeatedly blocked the United Nations Security Council's attempts to halt the violence, accusing the U.S. and its allies of trying to start another war.
Now the Russian Black Sea fleet's Iman tanker has arrived in the Syrian port of Tartus on the Mediterranean Sea with an anti-terror squad from the Russian Marines aboard according to the Interfax news agency. The Assad government has insisted it is fighting a terrorist insurgency. The Russian news reports did not elaborate on the Russian troops' mission in Syria or if they are expected to leave the port.
The presence of Russian troops in Syria could be a "pretty obvious" show of support to the regime, according to Russian security expert Mark Galeotti. "No one thinks of the Russians as anything but Assad's last friends," said Galeotti, professor of global affairs at New York University.
The Iman replaced another Russian ship "which had been sent to Syria for demonstrating (sic) the Russian presence in the turbulent region and possible evacuation of Russian citizens," the Black Sea Fleet told Interfax. RIA Novosti, a news outlet with strong ties to the Kremlin, trumpeted the news in a banner headline that appeared only on its Arabic language website. The Russian embassy to the U.S. and to the U.N. had no comment, saying they have "no particular information on" the arrival of a Russian anti-terrorism squad to Syria.
Moscow has long enjoyed a cozy relationship with the Assad regime, to which it sells billions of dollars of weapons. In return Russia has maintained a Navy base at Tartus, which gives it access to the Mediterranean.
Last week Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia had no plans to send troops to Syria. "As for the question whether I consider it necessary to confront the United States in Syria and ensure our military presence there… in order to take part in military actions -- no. I believe this would be against Russia's national interests," Lavrov told lawmakers, according to RIA Novosti.
Orac,
Amazing how a story can get blown out of all proportion! This is just the standard marine protection force on the Russian Navy, tanker Iman. I've been tracking this vessel in Morse Code, call sign RMGB, ever since it left the Black Sea. The conspiracy nuts have got hold of it and are implying that the marines are being used to crush the rebels. Hardly likely that the Russians are going to deploy a ship for such a mission and allow it to transmit routine weather and sea state reports all the way from the Black Sea!
Even the Amur Class Repair Ship PM-56 (Call sign RIR98) that was previously in Tartus, Syria had a protection force on board. This also transmitted routine Morse weather and sea states on its transit to and back to the Black Sea.
BSF Floating Workshop PM-56 Returned to Sevastopol
The Russian Navy tanker Iman sent routine weather during 12 GMT today.
12464 Khz
RCV DE RMGB QSA ? QTC K @1204Z
RMGB 193 19 21 1600 193 BT SML FOR RJH45 RJE73 BT
21121 99349 10358 41998 03502 10190 40200 53001 70200 80000 22200 00190 20000 88000 80000 21015 BT AR
RMGB K
This is international weather code. See following for how to decode.
http://www.vos.noaa.gov/ObsHB-508/Ob..._compliant.pdf
From the second and third groups 99349 10358
This breaks to
34.9N 35.8E
Map Link
From the 11th group the vessel is indicating 00 which means hove to / at anchor / stopped.
The rest is just weather and sea state code. For example the sixth group is the temperature Plus 19 degrees.
RCV = Head quarters Black Sea Fleet, Sevastopol
RMGB = Auxiliary Vessel Iman
Here was the Russian Navy tanker Iman back on 22 February at 12 GMT as she headed for the Bosphorus.
12464 Khz
RCV DE RMGB 22121 99443 10330 22252
44.3N 33.0E Heading South West at 6-10 Knots
Map Link
Amazing how a story can get blown out of all proportion! This is just the standard marine protection force on the Russian Navy, tanker Iman. I've been tracking this vessel in Morse Code, call sign RMGB, ever since it left the Black Sea. The conspiracy nuts have got hold of it and are implying that the marines are being used to crush the rebels. Hardly likely that the Russians are going to deploy a ship for such a mission and allow it to transmit routine weather and sea state reports all the way from the Black Sea!
Even the Amur Class Repair Ship PM-56 (Call sign RIR98) that was previously in Tartus, Syria had a protection force on board. This also transmitted routine Morse weather and sea states on its transit to and back to the Black Sea.
BSF Floating Workshop PM-56 Returned to Sevastopol
To provide security during the cruise, PM-56 had an anti-terror group and boarding party consisting of BSF marines.
12464 Khz
RCV DE RMGB QSA ? QTC K @1204Z
RMGB 193 19 21 1600 193 BT SML FOR RJH45 RJE73 BT
21121 99349 10358 41998 03502 10190 40200 53001 70200 80000 22200 00190 20000 88000 80000 21015 BT AR
RMGB K
This is international weather code. See following for how to decode.
http://www.vos.noaa.gov/ObsHB-508/Ob..._compliant.pdf
From the second and third groups 99349 10358
This breaks to
34.9N 35.8E
Map Link
From the 11th group the vessel is indicating 00 which means hove to / at anchor / stopped.
The rest is just weather and sea state code. For example the sixth group is the temperature Plus 19 degrees.
RCV = Head quarters Black Sea Fleet, Sevastopol
RMGB = Auxiliary Vessel Iman
Here was the Russian Navy tanker Iman back on 22 February at 12 GMT as she headed for the Bosphorus.
12464 Khz
RCV DE RMGB 22121 99443 10330 22252
44.3N 33.0E Heading South West at 6-10 Knots
Map Link
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Turkish Gvt. Asks Authorization to Send Troops Abroad
Turkish government appeals to parliament for dispatch of troops to foreign countries regarding Syria issue.
The Turkish government on Thursday presented a "Prime Ministry Motion" to the Turkish parliament which authorizes the government for a year to to send Turkish troops abroad regarding Syria issue.
Signed by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the motion covers;
The Turkish Parliamentary General Assembly convened on Thursday under the chairmanship of Deputy Parliament Speaker Mehmet Saglam.
Turkish Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag and AK Party's group deputy chairmen came together to discuss "Prime Ministry Motion" which authorizes the government for a year to send Turkish troops abroad regarding Syria issue.
Closed-to-press meeting hosts AK Party Group deputy chairmen Nurettin Canikli and Mustafa Elitas as well as bureaucrats from Turkish parliament.
"Prime Ministry Motion" to be discussed in closed-door session
The ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's group deputy chairman Nurettin Canikli has said that the "Prime Ministry Motion" would not be discussed in an open session at the Turkish Parliament.
Turkish government appeals to parliament for dispatch of troops to foreign countries regarding Syria issue.
The Turkish government on Thursday presented a "Prime Ministry Motion" to the Turkish parliament which authorizes the government for a year to to send Turkish troops abroad regarding Syria issue.
Signed by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the motion covers;
"Ongoing crisis in Syria affects the stability and security in the region and now the escalating negativeness affects our national security. Syrian armed forces have been holding assailant acts under the name of military operations into Turkish land despite our several warnings and diplomatic tries since September 20, 2012. This situation risks and threatens our national security. In this respect, the need of taking precautions and acting quickly against any threats to Turkey has arisen. In the framework of the situation, according to Article 92 of the Turkish Constitution, we kindly ask Turkish parliament to discuss a motion that authorizes the government for a year to send Turkish troops to foreign countries."
Turkish parliamentary general assembly convenesThe Turkish Parliamentary General Assembly convened on Thursday under the chairmanship of Deputy Parliament Speaker Mehmet Saglam.
Turkish Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag and AK Party's group deputy chairmen came together to discuss "Prime Ministry Motion" which authorizes the government for a year to send Turkish troops abroad regarding Syria issue.
Closed-to-press meeting hosts AK Party Group deputy chairmen Nurettin Canikli and Mustafa Elitas as well as bureaucrats from Turkish parliament.
"Prime Ministry Motion" to be discussed in closed-door session
The ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's group deputy chairman Nurettin Canikli has said that the "Prime Ministry Motion" would not be discussed in an open session at the Turkish Parliament.
Last edited by ORAC; 4th Oct 2012 at 10:05.
According to the news this morning, the Turks are now shooting back along the border here and there.
They might want to cleverly infiltrate into Syria a few miles to create a buffer zone (see the Blue line Israeli move into Lebanon for precedent, 1980s) in the name of keeping the fight out of their turf.
While fraught with political risk, it would be an ironic move considering Assad the Elder's moves into Lebanon a few decades ago.
Good fun, and by all means, play on!
They might want to cleverly infiltrate into Syria a few miles to create a buffer zone (see the Blue line Israeli move into Lebanon for precedent, 1980s) in the name of keeping the fight out of their turf.
While fraught with political risk, it would be an ironic move considering Assad the Elder's moves into Lebanon a few decades ago.
Good fun, and by all means, play on!
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Torygraph: Syria and Turkey are on the brink of all-out war
If anyone believed that Syria’s bloodshed would stay inside the country’s borders, the events of the last week should have put them right. I’m in southern Turkey, near the frontier with Syria, and this area feels like the new front line of the battle against Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Convoys of Turkish army vehicles ply the roads down to the border and, quietly, civilians are trickling away to safer areas............
If anyone believed that Syria’s bloodshed would stay inside the country’s borders, the events of the last week should have put them right. I’m in southern Turkey, near the frontier with Syria, and this area feels like the new front line of the battle against Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Convoys of Turkish army vehicles ply the roads down to the border and, quietly, civilians are trickling away to safer areas............
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Is Syria in any position to threaten or even defend against the military forces that Turkey might use?
Do we know for certain who is firing those mortars into Turkey? It might be an excellent way to get Turkey to do the work the Syrian rebels might be incapable of doing?
My enemy's enemy is my friend
Do we know for certain who is firing those mortars into Turkey? It might be an excellent way to get Turkey to do the work the Syrian rebels might be incapable of doing?
My enemy's enemy is my friend
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Counter battery computers doesn't tell you who fired what, just from where
but I believe the Turkish military did an analysis of the craters and once
determined what was what, used Radar to direct counter battery fire to
a very local area, that being an Assad military base.
They could have done a lot more.
I think Syria is really game taking on Turkey (and NATO ?)
at this point in time.
Counter battery computers doesn't tell you who fired what, just from where
but I believe the Turkish military did an analysis of the craters and once
determined what was what, used Radar to direct counter battery fire to
a very local area, that being an Assad military base.
They could have done a lot more.
I think Syria is really game taking on Turkey (and NATO ?)
at this point in time.
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I am aware of the technology that can detect locations but it cannot tell who pulled the trigger 
From what I understand, these mortars are only ingressing by a hundred metres or so but the bottom line is they are inbound from Syria and landing on Turkish sovereign soil.
I find it somewhat ironic that when the UK and the US asked Turkey to allow their troops to pass through Turkey to attack the Northern part of Iraq... Our NATO ally told us to take a hike!!!
I am NOT saying it is the Syrian rebels or who said the CIA???
I just find it hard to believe that Syria with all her problems would want to annoy a Muslim neighbour?
From what I understand, these mortars are only ingressing by a hundred metres or so but the bottom line is they are inbound from Syria and landing on Turkish sovereign soil.
I find it somewhat ironic that when the UK and the US asked Turkey to allow their troops to pass through Turkey to attack the Northern part of Iraq... Our NATO ally told us to take a hike!!!
I am NOT saying it is the Syrian rebels or who said the CIA???
I just find it hard to believe that Syria with all her problems would want to annoy a Muslim neighbour?
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It seems insane the Syrian government would wish to provoke Turkey into entering the war against them! You would think they would do all they could to prevent that. The only ones who gain from full Turkish military action are the rebels. Maybe its them doing this to get what they want. Or possibly a military unit acting without government approval. It all seems so convenient!
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
I just find it hard to believe that Syria with all her problems would want to annoy a Muslim neighbour?
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I was recently struck by some photos and reports I saw on the al-Arabiya network, the most respected news outlet in the Middle East. There was a starving child in Yemen, a burnt-out ancient souk in Aleppo, Syria, car bombs in Iraq and destroyed buildings in Libya.
What links all these images is that the destruction and the atrocities were not perpetrated by an outside enemy. The starvation, the killings and the destruction in these Arab countries were carried out by the same hands that are supposed to protect and build the unity of these countries and safeguard their people. Who, therefore, is the real enemy of the Arab world?
Many Arabs would say it is Israel — their sworn enemy, an enemy whose existence they have never recognised. From 1948 to today there have been three full-scale wars and many confrontations. But what was the real cost of these wars to the Arab world and its people? The harder question that no Arab wants to ask is: what was the real cost of not recognising Israel in 1948 and why didn’t the Arab states spend their assets on education, healthcare and infrastructure instead of wars? But the very hardest question of all is whether Israel is the real enemy of the Arab world and the Arab people.
Hundreds of billions of dollars were wasted and tens of thousands of innocent lives lost fighting Israel. The Arab world, though, has many enemies and Israel should have been at the bottom of the list. The real enemies of the Arab world are corruption, lack of good education, lack of good healthcare, lack of freedom, lack of respect for human lives and, finally, the many dictators who used the Arab-Israeli conflict to suppress their own people. These dictators’ atrocities against their own citizens are far worse than all the full-scale Arab-Israeli wars.
In the past, we have talked about Israeli soldiers attacking and mistreating Palestinians. We have seen Israeli planes and tanks attack Arab countries. But these attacks in no way match the current atrocities being committed by some Arab states against their own people.
In Syria, the atrocities are beyond imagination. Aren’t the Iraqis the ones who are destroying their own country? Why would Iraqi brains leave Iraq in a country that makes $110 billion from oil exports? Wasn’t it Tunisia’s dictator who was able to steal $13 billion from the poor of his country? How can children starve in Yemen if their land is the most fertile in the world? Why have the Lebanese failed to govern one of the tiniest countries on the planet?
On May 14, 1948, the state of Israel was declared. On May 15, the Arabs declared war on Israel to win back Palestine. The war lasted for nearly ten months. The Arabs lost and now call it Nakbah (catastrophic war). The Arabs gained nothing and thousands of Palestinians became refugees.
In 1967 the Arabs went to war with Israel again and lost more Palestinian land, creating more refugees who now live at the mercy of the countries that host them. The Arabs called this war Naksah (setback).
The Arabs have never admitted defeat in either war. And now, with the Arab Spring, the Arab world has no time for the Palestinian refugees or the Palestinian cause because many Arabs have become refugees themselves and are under constant attacks from their own forces. Syrians are leaving their own country not because of Israeli planes dropping bombs on them but the Syrian Air Force doing so.
If many of the Arab states are in such disarray, we should contrast them with Israel. It now has the most advanced research facilities, top universities and infrastructure. Many Arabs don’t know that the life expectancy of Palestinians living in Israel is far greater than in many Arab states and they enjoy far greater political and social freedom than many of their Arab brothers. Even the Palestinians living under Israeli occupation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip enjoy more political and social rights than in some parts of the Arab world.
The Arab Spring showed the world that the Palestinians are happier and living better than their Arab brothers who fought to liberate them from the Israelis. It is time to stop the hatred and wars and create better living conditions for future Arab generations.
Abdulateef al-Mulhim is a former commodore of the Saudi Navy. This is an edited version of an article that first appeared in Arab News
What links all these images is that the destruction and the atrocities were not perpetrated by an outside enemy. The starvation, the killings and the destruction in these Arab countries were carried out by the same hands that are supposed to protect and build the unity of these countries and safeguard their people. Who, therefore, is the real enemy of the Arab world?
Many Arabs would say it is Israel — their sworn enemy, an enemy whose existence they have never recognised. From 1948 to today there have been three full-scale wars and many confrontations. But what was the real cost of these wars to the Arab world and its people? The harder question that no Arab wants to ask is: what was the real cost of not recognising Israel in 1948 and why didn’t the Arab states spend their assets on education, healthcare and infrastructure instead of wars? But the very hardest question of all is whether Israel is the real enemy of the Arab world and the Arab people.
Hundreds of billions of dollars were wasted and tens of thousands of innocent lives lost fighting Israel. The Arab world, though, has many enemies and Israel should have been at the bottom of the list. The real enemies of the Arab world are corruption, lack of good education, lack of good healthcare, lack of freedom, lack of respect for human lives and, finally, the many dictators who used the Arab-Israeli conflict to suppress their own people. These dictators’ atrocities against their own citizens are far worse than all the full-scale Arab-Israeli wars.
In the past, we have talked about Israeli soldiers attacking and mistreating Palestinians. We have seen Israeli planes and tanks attack Arab countries. But these attacks in no way match the current atrocities being committed by some Arab states against their own people.
In Syria, the atrocities are beyond imagination. Aren’t the Iraqis the ones who are destroying their own country? Why would Iraqi brains leave Iraq in a country that makes $110 billion from oil exports? Wasn’t it Tunisia’s dictator who was able to steal $13 billion from the poor of his country? How can children starve in Yemen if their land is the most fertile in the world? Why have the Lebanese failed to govern one of the tiniest countries on the planet?
On May 14, 1948, the state of Israel was declared. On May 15, the Arabs declared war on Israel to win back Palestine. The war lasted for nearly ten months. The Arabs lost and now call it Nakbah (catastrophic war). The Arabs gained nothing and thousands of Palestinians became refugees.
In 1967 the Arabs went to war with Israel again and lost more Palestinian land, creating more refugees who now live at the mercy of the countries that host them. The Arabs called this war Naksah (setback).
The Arabs have never admitted defeat in either war. And now, with the Arab Spring, the Arab world has no time for the Palestinian refugees or the Palestinian cause because many Arabs have become refugees themselves and are under constant attacks from their own forces. Syrians are leaving their own country not because of Israeli planes dropping bombs on them but the Syrian Air Force doing so.
If many of the Arab states are in such disarray, we should contrast them with Israel. It now has the most advanced research facilities, top universities and infrastructure. Many Arabs don’t know that the life expectancy of Palestinians living in Israel is far greater than in many Arab states and they enjoy far greater political and social freedom than many of their Arab brothers. Even the Palestinians living under Israeli occupation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip enjoy more political and social rights than in some parts of the Arab world.
The Arab Spring showed the world that the Palestinians are happier and living better than their Arab brothers who fought to liberate them from the Israelis. It is time to stop the hatred and wars and create better living conditions for future Arab generations.
Abdulateef al-Mulhim is a former commodore of the Saudi Navy. This is an edited version of an article that first appeared in Arab News
Slight thread drift but interesting view from a retired Saudi Commodore in The Times on line today.