"It is clear that whoever wins the race to the White House is going to put even less pressure on Israel than Bill Clinton [has done]. Al Gore, because with Joseph Lieberman as his vice-president, there will be an emotional commitment to it. George Bush Jr., because there will be an ideological one." –Jeddah Arab News, November 3, 2000.
"The one thing that the U.S. Democrats and Republicans have in common is that both cling to an anti-Iraq and anti-Arab line, and a staunchly pro-Israel line." –Baghdad Babil, August 17, 2000.
"We place little hope in either of the candidates." –Iraqi deputy prime minister Tareq Aziz, quoted by Jordan Times, October 3, 2000.
"In view of the Arab [political] inferiority, there is no difference between Lieberman and Cheney, nor between Gore and Bush. At the end of the day, they are all Liebermans." –Al-Quds Al-Arabi, August 14, 2000.
II. ATTITUDES TOWARD THE GORE-LIEBERMAN CAMP
"Both are Israelis, [the only difference is that] one of them is also a Jew." –Al-Ayyam (Palestinian Authority), August 9, 2000.
"If Gore and Lieberman succeed, the road will be paved for the realization of the Zionist dream–instead of having America ruled by a man who supports Israel, have the president of the U.S. himself be a Zionist Jew whose entire loyalty is not to the American people, but rather to the Zionist way and to the Jewish people." –Abbas Al-Tarabili, the editor of the Egyptian opposition paper Al-Wafd.
"I am afraid that the Jewish dream of controlling the world will be achieved through controlling the United States. If the Gore-Lieberman alliance wins over the Bush-Cheney alliance and then Gore resigns or dies, Joseph Lieberman will become president." –Karim paqraduni, Lebanese writer,Al-Sharq al-Awsat (London), September 13, 2000.
"The Arabs are going to a face harsh period because of Lieberman's zealous support of the Hebrew state and his hostility towards the Arabs. Therefore, we should anticipate an American policy that will be even more antagonistic to the Arab governments."–Al-Quds Al-Arabi (London), August 9, 2000 .
III. ATTITUDES TOWARD THE BUSH-CHENEY CAMP
"More wars, more bloodshed if Bush wins!" –Tehran Tehran Times (Internet Version), August 2, 2000.
"Republicans have always fanned the flames of war in various parts of the world for the same, that is, boosting the military-industrial complex." –Tehran Tehran Times (Internet Version), August 2, 2000.
"Cheney is known for his hostility to the Jewish lobby and Israel." –London Al-Sharq al-Awsat (Internet Version), September 13, 2000 .
"For the first time, the multicolored and multifaceted Arab lobby has the chance to impose its presence and to play an advanced role on the U.S. election map. The Arab lobby has only to support strongly the Bush-Cheney alliance. This would be a rare opportunity to strengthen the Arab role in the U.S. decision-making process in the event the Republican alliance wins. " –Karim paqraduni, Lebanese writer,Al-Sharq al-Awsat (London), September 13, 2000.
"The Palestinians, Syrians, and Lebanese must rally around one strategy, which is to demand their minimum rights in return for giving a precious election gift to Al Gore. Otherwise, it is better to wager on the arrival of George Bush to the White House to resume the negotiations on all the tracks." –Karim paqraduni, Lebanese writer,Al-Sharq al-Awsat (London), September 13, 2000.
IV. ON U.S.-ISRAEL RELATIONS
"The Jewish lobby is the Caligula of the United States and has transformed Congress into its very own personal property." –Ad Dustour (Amman), September 15, 2000.
"The candidates for the American presidency are competing for Israel’s blessing. There is no American policy in the Middle East, but an Israeli policy carried out by the United States." – Al-Baath (Damascus), quoted by Jordan Times, October 3, 2000.
"The United States is now passing from . . . indirect Judaisation to . . . direct and open Judaisation." –Jalal Duweidar, editor of the Egyptian government paper Al-Akhbar, August 9, 2000.
V. ON SENATOR LIEBERMAN'S NOMINATION AS THE DEMOCRATIC VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
"With this decision, Al Gore revealed his ugly face, closing the circle of submission begun by Clinton when he gave all the important strategic positions in his administration to American Jews… With this decision, Gore declares that he has completely sold himself to Israel and the Jewish lobby in the hope that they will support him in his campaign to reach the White House." –Al-Akhbar (Egypt), August 9, 2000.
"Lieberman is a friend of Egypt and joined other senators last July in urging President Bill Clinton to go ahead with implementing a free-trade framework agreement with Egypt." –Osama al-Baz, Mubarak’s political advisor, MENA (Cairo), August 9, 2000 .
VI. ARAB INTERNET POLLS
Which candidate poses the greatest threat to Arab interests if elected president of the United States? (from 5,712 responses at Arabia.com ):
Al Gore 83% George W. Bush 6% Ralph Nader 3% All of them 9%
Who should Arab-Americans vote for in the U.S. elections? (from 1,846 responses at Arabia.com):
George W. Bush 40% Al Gore 9% Ralph Nader 30% None of them 21%
This report was prepared by Elena Pavlova.
Policy #500
