On the World Summit
The World Bank emphasizes that rich countries must open their markets to exports from the developing countries and abolish their agricultural subsidies. The poor countries must strengthen the political institutions and the rights of possession. The delegates in Johannesburg should devote their time and energy to this. For the sake of the environment and the fight against poverty. But the prospects could have been better. The EU prefers to talk about other things. And U.S. President George Bush has declined the invitation. That's bad. But it is just as bad if the summit would wink at the problems that many of the Third World's leaders themselves are responsible for: Corruption, oppression and economic misgovernment.
-- Sydsvenska Dagbladet, Malmoe, Sweden
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On Israeli Arabs
Israeli (Arab) citizens are sitting in jails for inciting, transporting or otherwise aiding terrorist attacks. There was even an Israeli suicide bomber. According to data issued last month by the head of the Shin Bet (security service) Avi Dichter, approximately 100 Israeli Arabs have been arrested on suspicion of assisting attacks, from the beginning of 2001 until the end of last month.
Any attempt to besmirch an entire public, to the effect that it is a fifth column working to eliminate Israel, is both unfair and unfounded. The vast majority of Israeli Arabs are not involved in violent actions against the state and the Jewish public, even if considerable sections of the Arab sector identify with the struggle of the Palestinians in the territories against the Israeli occupation.
Anything touching on the network of relations between Jews and Arabs in Israel touches a raw nerve. While the Israeli establishment indeed sinned over the years in neglecting the Arab sector, responsibility must also be laid at the feet of the Israeli Arab political leadership. Almost all of those sitting in the Israeli parliament on behalf of Arab parties, choose to wave the flag of the Palestinian national struggle, not that of the struggle for equality and cooperation.
-- Maariv, Tel Aviv, Israel