Arab sources criticize Kuwait for snubbing Arafat, shaking hands with Barak

Arab sources criticized Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Saad al-Abdullah al-Sabah for refusing to shake hands with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat at the funeral of King Hassan II, while greeting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak.

The sources told ArabicNews.com that Kuwait is acting away from Arab trends and that Kuwaiti justifications are weak, confirming that they saw Sheikh Saad warmly greeting Barak.

The sources added that if Sheikh Saad greeted Barak, he should shake hands with Arafat, as Arafat did not occupy Kuwait, and all that happened was that Arafat opposed the international intervention to liberate Kuwait, demanding its liberation.

The Kuwaiti newspaper al-Qabas reported yesterday that the Kuwaiti crown prince refused to shake hands with Arafat, adding that when Arafat approached him at the funeral, Sheikh Saad pressed his hands to his bosom saying to Arafat: "We do not want any embarrassment, please stay away. Kuwait does not deserve the stand that Palestine adopted during the Iraqi invasion."

Kuwaiti official sources announced that Sheik Saad unknowingly greeted Barak.

The Kuwaiti newspaper al-Rai al-Am quoted sources as saying that it was a spontaneous handshake which lasted only a few seconds between Barak and Sheikh Saad.