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Arab/Muslim States

Dictatorships observe democracy in action


By Stan Goodenough
February 11, 2009

Arabs in states throughout the Middle East - none of whom enjoy the freedom of democracy - watched and commented Tuesday as citizens on the tiny Jewish state in their Muslim midst voted for a new government.

According to Ynetnews, journalists in a number of Arab countries displayed a keen interest in the Israeli political process, though from a critical and condemnatory rather than envious point of view.

All reportedly drew similar conclusions: The contest was between "right wing" Kadima Party chairwoman Tzipi Livni and "extreme right wing" Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu.

The even more extreme Israel Our Home Party leader Avigdor Lieberman was also in the mix, and looked set to emerge the "big winner" as the Jewish state swung hard right.

Typically hysterical was the Syrian government mouthpiece, Tishrin, which called the Israeli prime ministerial candidates "terrorists whose hands are stained in the blood of Palestinian children" and who, the paper said, had even repeatedly emphasized their successful smashing of the Gaza terrorists last month in their election campaigns.

"Each of the political parties struggling against each other in the Israeli political arena is trying to prove it can kill more and complete the Zionist plan that effects the entire region…and this is the main problem," the article continued.

It chastised those Arabs and the international community for focusing attention on the Israeli election "instead of dealing with the tragedy in Gaza and its consequences."

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