Jordanian press urges Arab boycott of Sharon's "extremist" government
AMMAN, March 8 (AFP) - Jordanian newspapers exhorted Arab leaders Thursday to boycott any envoy from the new government of hawkish Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, which they accused of "war-mongering".
Source: The Revival's original website
"We are full of pessimism towards an Israeli government led by Sharon that calls for war, expansion and terrorism," Al-Dustour Arabic-language newspaper said in a front-page editorial.
"We fear an Israeli military escalation in Palestinian territories and on the northern borders with Lebanon and Syria," the newspaper said.
"That is why we appeal to Arab leaders expected to meet in Amman to adopt a united and effective policy in the face of the challenge represented by Sharon and his extremist, rightwing government, and to refuse to open their doors to any of his envoy or agents," it said.
Arab leaders meeting in Jordan March 27 for a summit to "provide every possible aid to the Palestinian people, Syria and Lebanon against (Israeli) threats", Al-Dustour said.
The Arabs, it said, "should not be fooled" by Sharon's calls for peace and his conditions that the five-month-old Palestinian uprising be stopped before peace talks can resume.
"Despite the fact that the new government includes a few moderates such a (Nobel Peace laureate) Shimon Peres, it remains a rightwing, extremist government, obssessed with the desire to impose Israeli peace with force and to achieve security through repression, violence and organised terrorism," Al- Dustour said.
Al-Rai newspaper said the new government revealed its "warmongering" attitude even before it was overwhelmingly confirmed by the Israeli Knesset, or parliament, Wednesday evening.
"They beat the drums of war as the world calls for peace," said Al-Rai, which often reflects official Jordanian policy. "Before the Sharon government received the Knesset's confidence ... Public Security Minister Uzi Landau called for an offensive against the Palestinian intifada (uprising)," Al-Rai said.
Speaking to Israeli public television Wednesday, Landau said: "It is not enough to build defensive walls, we must take the battle into the adversary's camp.
"The outgoing government has not really combatted terrorism, and it is time to take measures against it," Landau added, without specifying what action he was advocating.
Al-Rai and Al-Dustour carried agency dispatches on their front pages about Sharon's confirmation, with the first saying in bold red print:
"Intransigent and hostile programme for the Sharon government".
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