Why Arab Claims Of Israeli War Crimes Should Not Be Taken Seriously

Via Soccer Dad on Twitter--

The Washington Post last year noted in an editorial about the Arab League summit meeting why the Arab world's alleged outrage at Israeli war crimes should not be taken seriously:

So it was interesting to see what else was in the latest statement issued by the kings, princes and authoritarian presidents of the Middle East and North Africa. First there was a call on "the international community to prosecute those responsible" for alleged "war crimes" committed by Israel in its recent offensive in Gaza. Then came an ardent defense of Sudanese dictator Omar Hassan al-Bashir -- who was welcomed to the Doha summit despite an outstanding arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court on multiple war crimes charges.


"We stress our solidarity with Sudan and our rejection of the decision" of the ICC, said the communique, which Mr. Bashir welcomed in a bombastic address to the summit plenary. Leader after leader declared fealty. "We must also take a decisive stance of solidarity alongside fraternal Sudan and President Omar al-Bashir," said Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Mr. Abbas is hoping that the Obama administration will pressure Israel to stop building "illegal" settlements in the West Bank; the next time he utters the phrase "double standard" in the presence of a U.S. diplomat, we suggest a query about Mr. Bashir.

And of course, it is not surprising to see the worlds favorite moderate peace partner, Mahmoud Abbas, tagging along. Actually, Abbas has alot of faith in accused war criminal al-Bashir:

In a letter to the Sudanese president, Abbas wrote that he and Palestinians “have complete faith in the wisdom of President Omar Al-Bashir.”

The Washington Post notes the degree of the hypocrisy:

To be sure, some human rights groups have alleged crimes by Israeli forces in Gaza. But, according to Palestinian accounts, 1,409 people were killed during the offensive, of whom a substantial number were armed Hamas fighters. In contrast, the United Nations has reported more than 300,000 civilian deaths in Darfur as a result of the genocidal campaign sponsored by Mr. Bashir. Scores of villages have been systematically burned, and thousands of women systematically raped. Mr. Bashir responded to the ICC's arrest warrant last month by expelling international aid groups from Darfur. The result has been growing food and water shortages and new epidemics, according to the Enough Project.

That is the man whose "wisdeom" Abbas has complete faith.
That is the moderate peace partner that the world has foisted upon Israel.

And lest you think the Washington Post will always be so clear-eyed on matters pertaining to the Middle East--note that the editorial came out last year on April 1.

Technorati Tag: Darfur and Omar al-Bashir.