Oman closes office in Israel; Syrian TV first; Million Iraqis ready to fight
Regional-Israel, Politics, 10/13/2000

In the first Arab reaction which surpasses mere demonstration and humanitarian aids to the Palestinians and of a political dimension, Oman has announced the closure of its trade office in Tel Aviv as well as the Israeli office in Muscat.

Also, demonstrations staged Mauritania's streets calling on the government to boycott relations with Israel whereas the Syrian TV for the first time screened scenes from the Palestinian TV of the Israeli raids against the occupied territories.

Baghdad, on the other hand said that more one million Iraqis volunteered for " Jihad" (to struggle or fight) for the sake of Palestine.

In Muscat, the Omani news agency reported a statement released by the foreign ministry. It said: " The Sultanate closes off its trade office in Tel Aviv and the Israeli trade office in Muscat," and the decision was taken on the ground of " the support of Oman to the question of the Palestinian people and their inalienable rights." The statement added " just and comprehensive peace will be always the focal interest of the Sultanate but according to the criterion which help the oppressed, preserve the holy sites and return back rights to its owners."

Worthy mentioning that Qatar and Oman are the only members in the Gulf Cooperation Council GCC which host in their territories two Israeli trade representation offices but without establishing trade relations with Israel.

In Nouakchott, thousands of Mauritanians demonstrated in response to the call made by the opposition parties, calling on the government to boycott relations with Israel.

Simultaneously the ruling party in Mauritania, which is considered the third Arab state following Egypt and Jordan which has complete diplomatic relations with Israel, called for a demonstration to back the Palestinians on Saturday. The statement by the democratic forces federation said that the people of Mauritania call on the authorities to end normal relations with Israel and that such relations should not exist without Israel's complete withdrawal and its acceptance of a Palestinian state.

In Damascus, the Syrian TV, and for the first time screened scenes from the Palestinian TV about the Israeli raids. An official at the Syrian TV said that this step aims at " briefing very quickly the public opinion on the raids and backing of our people in Palestine, regardless to their different view points between Damascus and the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat."

In Baghdad an official source at the ruling Baath party, refused to be identified, said that number of Iraqis who volunteered to fight with the Palestinian people in response to the call made by the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein reached more than one million. He said " the turnout on the volunteering centers is great and increased daily. A matter which makes it difficult to know the number of the volunteers precisely. " He said that the volunteers are " from both sexes and of various ages."

Previous Stories:
  Laya Rabin and peace with Syria   (10/2/2000)
  New Israeli settlements in the Golan   (9/28/2000)
  Oman's foreign minister meets with Barak   (9/20/2000)
  Holland gives asylum to three Iraqis expelled from Israel   (6/26/2000)
  Mauritanian opposition condemns rapprochement with Israel   (4/11/2000)
  Israeli- Mauritanian society established   (4/10/2000)
  Two Omani diplomats arrive in Israel   (1/7/2000)
  Report: Israel to ask Iraq for compensation   (11/20/1999)

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