Libya wants her Jews back - but do the Jews want Daffy?

Our man Daffy, is up to high jinxs again and hilarity ensues. Apparently, he wants Libya's Jews back. The Jerusalem Post:

Before leaving Rome on Saturday, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi met with about 300 Italian expatriots expelled from his country in 1970, and an unofficial group of five Jews of Libyan origin.

The official Libyan Jewish representatives had turned down Gaddafi's invitation for a Saturday meeting because "we cannot bow our heads and desecrate the Sabbath," Shalom Teshuba, vice president of the Rome Jewish community, stated in a note delivered to Gaddafi. Teshuba's letter reviewed a century of Libyan Jewish history and included a request for talks aimed at restitution and restoration of family and religious heirlooms confiscated after the massacres and expulsions in 1967.

The five unofficial Jewish representatives who walked to the meeting included distinguished peace activist and Jungian psychoanalyst David Gerbi. Clothed in the traditional white cassock, cap and pin-striped gilet typical in pre-'67 Libyan Jewry and wearing a Magen David around his neck, Gerbi asked Gaddafi to permit the restoration of the Sia Dar Bisni Synagogue in Tripoli, for which he had personally gathered funds. The community left behind over 47 synagogues, several of great historic and religious significance. He also asked that six mezuzot he had brought to Libya for this purpose in 2007, when he was arrested and bereft of his belongings, be returned to him.

Both the Italian Catholic and Jewish guests were invited to speak publicly, and were greeted individually by Gaddafi. The Libyan leader recalled the late Raffaele Fellah, a former president of the World Organization of Libya Jews. When told of his death, Gaddafi said, "Mercy to his soul," and praised Fellah's attempts at mediation. He added, however, that these attempts had brought no results because "he tied the Jewish question to that of Israel."

(...)Gaddafi reiterated his invitation to all to come back to Libya, and again stressed that priority would be given to Italian enterprises over other nationalities.

The question becomes – has Daffy run out of local whipping boys?

He’ll huff, and he’ll puff, and blow you off..even if you turn off his mike

In life, there are few certainties, but just as birds got fly and bees got to sting – what would an Arab Leadership Summit be without our man Daffy pitching a fit and walking out? Ha’aretz:

Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi stormed out of an Arab summit on Monday after denouncing the Saudi king and declaring himself "the dean of Arab rulers." Gadhafi disrupted the opening Arab League summit in Qatar by taking a microphone and criticizing Saudi's King Abdullah, calling him a "British product and American ally."

When the Qatari emir tried to quiet him, the Libyan leader and current Africa Union chairman insisted he be allowed to speak. "I am an international leader, the dean of the Arab rulers, the king of kings of Africa and the imam (leader) of Muslims, and my international status does not allow me to descend to a lower level," Gadhafi said.

He then got up and walked out of the summit hall. The Libyan leader is known for his unpredictable behavior, and it's not clear whether he will rejoin the two-day summit aimed at ending Arab feuds.

Imagine – how he would act if he had Alzheimer’s? On second thought, I don’t think we’d all know the difference….

Dafur – blame the Jooooos.

My favourite international deep thinker is at it again. This time he’s blaming the Dafur crisis on Israel, yes – that’s right - Israel. Ha’aretz.

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, the current African Union president, on Tuesday accused "foreign forces" including Israel of being behind the Darfur conflict.

Judges from the International Criminal Court are due to announce on March 4 whether they will issue a warrant for the arrest of Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir over allegations that he masterminded genocide in Sudan's Darfur region. UN diplomats have told Reuters the warrant will be issued.

But Gaddafi, addressing a meeting on ways to expand cooperation between the United Nations and African Union, urged the Court to stop its proceedings against Bashir: Why do we have to hold President Bashir or the Sudanese government responsible when the Darfur problem was caused by outside parties, and Tel Aviv [Israel], for example, is behind the Darfur crisis?"

Gaddafi suggested without presenting any evidence that the Israeli military was among those stoking the conflict: "It is not a secret. We have found evidence proving clearly that foreign forces are behind the Darfur problem and are fanning its fire," Gaddafi said, according to the Libyan state news agency Jana. "We discovered that some of the main leaders of the Darfur rebels have opened offices in Tel Aviv and hold meetings with the military there to add fuel to the conflict fire."

Good thing ‘blame the Jooos’ is not a drinking game or I’d never spend a day in my life sober, but - my what busy people those Elders are.

United States of Africa

Our man Daffy has a new title, position, and some spiffy new duds. BBC reports:

Col Gaddafi was elected by the heads of state of the 53-member union behind closed doors at a summit in Ethiopia. A BBC correspondent at the summit says Col Gaddafi was seen to be the obvious choice, but some delegates are uneasy about his nomination. Col Gaddafi replaces the Tanzanian President, Jakaya Kikwete. Wearing a golden brocade robe and cap, Col Gaddafi sat with the traditional African leaders who accompanied him at the front of the room, rather than in the seat for the Libyan delegate.

"I shall continue to insist that our sovereign countries work to achieve the United States of Africa," he said in his inaugural speech. But he admitted that African leaders were "not near to a settlement" on the issue. He told fellow summit leaders that his unity project would be approved at the next meeting in July unless there was a majority against it, reports the BBC's Elizabeth Blunt from Addis Ababa.

The AU normally relies on consensus in reaching decisions, but Col Gaddafi introduced what he described as the Islamic concept that "silence is approval," she said. Under this principle, at least two-thirds of AU leaders would have to actively oppose Col Gaddafi's proposals, rather than simply ignoring his ideas, she added.

The Globe and Mail reported his arrival to take the chair of the AU:

Once ostracized by the West for sponsoring terrorism, Mr. Gadhafi has been trying to increase Libya's presence on the global stage and its regional influence — mediating African conflicts, sponsoring efforts to spread Islam on the continent and pushing for the creation of a single African government.

He attended the session dressed in a gold-embroidered green robe and flanked by seven extravagantly dressed men who said they are the “traditional kings of Africa.” Mr. Gadhafi told about 20 of his fellow heads of state that that he would work to unite the continent into “the United States of Africa.”

Mr. Gadhafi arrived at the summit Sunday with the seven men, one carrying a 4-foot gold staff, and caused a stir when security officials did not admit them because each delegation gets only four floor passes. All seven “kings” were seated behind Mr. Gadhafi when he accepted the chairmanship. “I think the coming time will be a time of serious work and a time of action and not words,” he said.

And can you imagine what our man Daffy will come up with next? Frankly, I'm stumped but how long before self-declared divinity comes next?

Our man Daffy

Is at it again. Libya’s favourite strongman hits the lecture circuit and gives his spin on settling a host of Mid-East issues via satellite to a group of Georgetown university students. Ynet News:

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi advised US President Barack Obama on Wednesday to give Osama bin Laden a chance to reform, telling the new president that America's most wanted man was looking for "dialogue".

Give ben Laden a chance to reform – priceless, absolutely priceless but it gets better:

In a speech outlining his views on how to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Gaddafi called for the creation of one state rather than two nations living side by side. "We can call it Isratine," he said.

Why not just call it Ovaltine and be done with it? And if the Jews refuse to accept the new state of Isratine Gaddafi channels Michael Chabon:

If Jews did not accept a one-state solution, he said they could move to Hawaii, Alaska or an island in the Pacific. "They could live peacefully in an isolated setting."

Imagining paying for this kind of an education? Priceless, absolutely priceless.

I'm conflicted

Of all the current despots still ruling, a personal favourite of mine has long been Moamer Gadaffi of Libya. Usually, when a military coup is successful the leader of the coup appoints himself General and Leader, but not Gaddafi. He only aspired to only a ceremonial Colonel-hood and holds no “official” other titles.
Then there is his Amazon guard which travels with him everywhere and his general sense of audacious behaviour. Not the least is his unfailing ability to piss off the entire Arab League on a regular basis. If he was a Jew it could be easily understood, but in an Arab gentile - it really takes a special talent.

Ha’aretz is reporting that Lebanese Shi’ites are busy plotting their revenge on the Colonel:

Lebanon has indicted Libyan leader Moamer Gaddafi and is seeking his arrest for his alleged role in the disappearance of a Lebanese Shi'ite Muslim leader in 1978, according to Lebanese local radio Wednesday.

Lebanese Shi'ite leaders have long accused Libya of kidnapping Imam Musa al-Sadr and two of his aides during a visit to the North African country. Libya has denied such a charge on several occasions. Lebanon's public prosecutor said in August 2004 he would open the investigation after looking into new evidence. "We decided ... to accuse Moamer Gaddafi ... of inciting the kidnapping ... of Imam Musa al-Sadr," radio stations quoted court documents.

Al-Sadr was the Iranian born founding member of the Lebanese Amal movement. I say good luck with all of that but really the problem is - who does one root for in a case like this?

Forget Madonna

Suha Arafat is the real material girl and should be a role model to gold diggers everywhere. She has been expelled from Tunisia but not to worry because she has the Colonel coming to her rescue reports Ynet News:

Libya's leader Muammar Gaddafi has purchased a home on the island of Malta for Suha Arafat, the widow of late Palestinian Chairman Yasser Arafat, the London-based al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper reported Wednesday morning. According to the report Gaddafi has decided to care for all of Suha Arafat's needs after she and her daughter were recently expelled from Tunisia.

Palestinian sources in Ramallah told the newspaper that the house, which is located in Valletta, one of the Maltese capital's most prestigious neighborhoods, is valued at one million euros. Sources also reported that the Libyan leader sent his son, Saif al-Islam, to oversee the purchase of the house and to provide all Arafat's security needs in coordination with the Maltese government. Meanwhile, three bodyguards have been appointed to protect Suha and her 13-year-old daughter Zahwa.

Arafat left Tunisia several months ago where she had been residing even before the death of her husband. Two months ago the Tunisian press reported that the local authorities had revoked her citizenship; however the reason was not given.

Now we know how Suha will manage to keep her millions in American aid money but odd about Hamas not offering to put her up in Gaza City.

Libya stirs the pot

Libya is threatening to expel all Palestinians refugees reports Ynet News:

Libya's leader Muammar Gaddafi has decided to boycott the Arab League's summit, set to be held in Riyadh at the end of March, in response to what he considers as the Arab leaders' plan to "sacrifice" the refugee issue in order to please Israel.

Gaddafi is worried that in the framework of the Saudi peace initiative, Arab leaders would concede the refugees' right of return, and agree to have them naturalized in their countries of residence, in a bid to encourage Israel's cooperation with the peace plan.

Libyan newspaper al-Jamahiriya reported this week that Libya may begin deporting Palestinian refugees soon, in protest of the Arab plan. "Libya will never cooperate with a concession of the refugees' right of return, and will not allow for the settling of refugees far away from their homeland," the paper stated. "Libya is in negotiations to allow thousands of Palestinians who reside within its territory to move to the Gaza Strip through Egypt, before the plot to settle them in the Arab countries materializes," it added.

And before anyone thinks Gaddafi’s all bluster and noise; I should point out Gaddafi did expel thousands in 1995 once the Oslo peace accords were officially signed.

I have always had a problem with the so-called Right of Return because, well, there is no such right. The international rational for allowing the Jews to attempt to create a state in 1948 was to establish a Jewish homeland and while some may pretend it was a humanitarian gesture by the international community in response to the suffering of the Jews during the holocaust I am considerably more cynical.

I believe the idea of having to repatriate Jews back to their alleged countries of origin was a thought that most post-war nations found innately repellent. Better to allow them an opportunity to attempt to establish their own state within the Palestine Mandate.

Certainly, my own country (Canada) in 1947 held a decided preference for German immigration over any significant Jewish immigration. The phrase ‘none is too many’ comes readily to mind. I suspect that very few in the international community expected the fledging state of Israel to either survive its first few years - let alone to still be standing strong in 2007.

You can argue that the establishment of the state of Israel by the international community was immoral and a mistake. Not necessarily what I believe, but one can put forth that argument. What I find interesting in today’s debate, which is most often overlooked or discounted in debates in 2007, but most definitely wasn’t in 1947, was the need for creating a Jewish homeland. Not a secular democracy or an Arab Muslim/Christian state but a homeland for the world’s Jews.

When Transjordan was established within the Palestine Mandate it was resolved that it would not be open to any Jewish immigration. A complete ‘Jew free zone’ if you will was created within the Palestine Mandate. And odd as it may seem today, I have yet to hear any objections to the immorality of that concept or anyone questioning the legitimacy of the Jordanian state.

So if the underlying rational for the state of Israel is to be the world’s homeland for the Jews; why hasn’t a quick end to the alleged “right of return” for Palestinian Arabs occurred within the international community? I suspect if one were to ask Palestinians living in refugee camps if they wanted to live as a minority in a Jewish state the answer would be a resounding “no”. Even today in Israel, there is a noticeable sense of unease among even prominent Israeli Arabs with the idea of living in a homeland established for and by Jews.

And you know, I don’t believe translating a verse from Hebrew into Arabic and singing one refrain in Arabic from the Hatikva would make any Israeli Arab feel more comfortable within the Israeli state. Meir Kahane might be more right on this than most people are comfortably admitting or allowing.

For the right of return or even just compensation to be paid to those Arabs displaced within the Israeli state when there is no corresponding right or discussion of compensation for the Jews who were expelled from Arab countries since 1948 is unconscionable. The UNRWA never did establish permanent refugee camps in Israel for Jews - in spite of the fact that nearly a million destitute Jewish refugees were absorbed by the Israeli state since its conception.

It would have been reasonable to assume once the Oslo accords were signed by Israel and the PLO that a substantial return of Palestinian refugees among the various Arab refugee camps would be among the first orders of business by the Palestinian Authority but you would be dead wrong. The Palestinian Authority apparently believes the correct position is all or none.

According to the UNRWA figures, there are approximately 4.3 million Palestinians registered in refugee camps throughout the Middle East. Though, when one starts looking at those figures it becomes apparent that something is a little dodgy. Of those 4.3 million registered Palestinian refugees approximately 1.6 million are located in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Ask yourself why the UNRWA considers any Palestinian living in the Gaza Strip (an entirely “Jew free zone”) or even the West Bank as a bona fide refugee? Surely, if peace broke out and a second Palestinian state was established tomorrow; where exactly would those 1.6 million Palestinians return to? And it won’t be Tel Aviv. So how are they a refugees?

Ask yourself another question. Why does the Palestinian Authority allow the UNRWA to run refugee camps within the Gaza Strip and the West Bank? There really is one simple answer. Somebody else needs to pick-up the tab so the Palestinian Authority can continue ‘resisting the occupation’; otherwise, the PA might have to expend a great deal of time, energy and resources building the infrastructure of a state rather than just posturing a role. Furthermore, as long as someone else is picking up the tab, the PA can safely ignore the whole issue of returning Palestinians refugees from the camps in the Arab world and re-settling them in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

I suspect if the 2.7 million Palestinians were returned tomorrow to the West Bank or the Gaza Strip no one currently living in the West Bank or the Gaza Strip would be killing the fatten calf to welcome them back.

An outrageous tyrant for all seasons

Just as an impeding train wreck holds one attention so have I been long fascinated by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Only the Lord knows what he will say or do next – and even then the Lord probably has room for doubts. Usually, when a military coup is successful the leader of the coup appoints himself General and Leader, but not Gaddafi. He only aspired to only a ceremonial Colonel-hood and holds no “official” other titles.

A few years ago when than German Chancellor Schroeder came looking for business and political deals with Libya, the Colonel left no hospitality stone unturned. But then Gaddafi demanded compensation must be paid to the Libyan government before the two countries could go forward in any future negotiations or dealings. The Schroeder administration was flabbergasted as Gaddafi’s claim for compensation was based on the mining of Libyan sands by Rommel during WW2 which are apparently still maiming and killing Libyans today.

He was my personal choice for the next Secretary General of the United Nations. I couldn’t think of a world body that deserved his attention more than the UN. Besides think how impressive the photo-ops would be with Gaddafi framed with his all Amazonia body guards behind him or just traveling through the halls. As Secretary General, it would give him untold opportunities to press his claims for war reparations. Besides, it could also give him an opportunity to act as a mediator between his son (and rumored successor) and Canada.

So what has Gaddafi said now? Ynet News reports:

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi called to “allow Jews and Christians to visit Mecca and circle the Kaaba (cubical building surrounded by the Sacred Mosque).” These days Muslims all around the world are marking Eid al-Adha, the most important Islamic holiday. Some three million people have made the pilgrimage to Mecca.

Gaddafi believes the holiday offers a great opportunity to bring the three main monotheistic religions closer together. “Everyone has the right to stand atop Mount Arafat and circle the Kaaba,” he told the media.

Jews in Mecca! Bet that went over well with the House of Saud.

The Next Secretary General of the UN

The Saudi Arab News has an interesting opinion piece online:

DUBAI, 28 June 2006 — “Can an Arab be the next UN secretary-general?” This question could truly be a great reality TV show, even giving a run for “Superstar” (the Arab version of “American Idol”). In fact this issue has all the spice of an Indian curry and all the ingredients of a Korean kimchi to grab international headlines in the coming month.

After the Iraq war, the Arab public has viewed the United Nation as an organization which is powerless and lacks the will and muscle to control world affairs in general and the interests of Arab states in particular. Given this scenario, the nomination of an Arab for the post of UN secretary-general can send the right message to the Arab region. This can also herald a paradigm shift in the way Arab states envisage their role in multilateral institutions.

Kofi Annan’s term is ending on Dec. 31, and a handful of aspirants are already hard at work, advertising their qualifications at international summits and appealing for backing from Washington and other Security Council members.

I propose we all demand that Muammar al-Gaddafi should be the next Secretary General of the United Nations – afterall he holds no “public or official” posts and I cannot think of another world body that deserves him more.