Divisions Deep at Arab League Meeting

CAIRO — Arab countries appeared deeply divided on Wednesday over how to respond to the latest escalation in fighting between Israel and Hamas, with sharply differing comments from foreign ministers at the opening of an emergency Arab League meeting here.

Moderate Arab states generally allied to the United States blamed Palestinian disunity for the crisis and more radical states, some of whom did not attend, urged collective action to defend the Palestinians against Israel.

In the most striking comments, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, criticized the Palestinians for their inability to remain united behind President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah — an implicit condemnation of Hamas, which took over Gaza entirely in 2007 in a brief but violent civil war with Fatah. Normally, during periods of Israeli-Palestinian fighting, Arab leaders only condemn Israel.

“This terrible massacre would not have happened if the Palestinian people were united behind one leadership, speaking in one voice,” Prince Saud said at the league meeting’s opening. “We are telling our Palestinian brothers that your Arab nation cannot extend a real helping hand if you don’t extend your own hands to each other with love,” he said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/01/world/middleeast/01arab.html?_r=1&ref=middleeast

They have radical Islamist groups trying to start revolutions in their nations, and they need an end to this. They'd love to see Fatah take over Gaza, and have the West funnel money into the region after a two-state peace treaty is signed.

Especially since the declining price of oil is hurting their ability to continue to fund the Palestinian-Israeli war.

totally out of touch with their respective peoples. Saudi Arabia condemnation of Hamas has little to do with Hamas itself, but with the Wahhabi historical hostility to the Shia, and Saudi Arabian monarchy fears of Iran.

that aligns Iran and Hamas more so than religious affinity.

Speaking as a black-hearted running-dog of capitalist reaction, of course....

How small a minority are they? I can't find any specific info online.
Thanks in advance.

but his sense was anecdotal. His neighbor growing up was part of a large Shia family....

Like with Christians in Gaza, there were never really any issues.

This Wikipedia page says there are 21,760 Shia Muslims in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza combined.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Islam

whether expected or un to cause division between Arab countries that were beginning to unify.

The various religious and political factions never got along before there was an Israel.

The suicide bombings of Shia vs. Sunni has nothing to do with Israel.

It is their own internal divisions and hatred, and Israel can be a convenient scapegoat, but they'd be at each other's throat whether or not Israel was in the picture.

Nice try though.

Not to mention the recent draft by the Arab League for a peace agreement between Israel and Palestine. As to Sunni/Shia strife which is right now mostly centered in Iraq, I did not mention that albeit you are right it does have nothing to do with Israel it is your President that brought that one to a head, but it was a nice try at distraction.

but thank you for the obvious admission that Israel's supporters do not want Arab countries unified and prefer them fighting each other. Seems 20 or so years ago that same meme was floated and sunk where Germany was concerned.

within the Arab world.

Is there any surprise that countries with US-backed dictators and monarchs blame the victims?

Another is that governments which are hostile to fundamentalist revolutionary movements, and feel their best interests served by an absence of open conflict with Israel, line up against such a group's present engagement in pressing such a conflict to no good purpose.

Justice is something people should be damned careful about asking for: few people could stand receiving what they actually deserve....