NewsMine — war-on-terror — israel — hostilities — 2003 — 03-oct-syria-attack — Viewing Item

Lebanese ayatollah accuses US aiding syria attack Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1065627284029&p=1008596981749 http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1065627284029&p=1008596981749 Oct. 8, 2003 Lebanese ayatollah: US helped Israel attack Syria By ASSOCIATED PRESS BEIRUT, Lebanon A top cleric in the Shiite Muslim world accused the United States on Wednesday of conspiring with Israel to strike Syria and urged Arabs to revive an economic boycott of the Jewish state. "America, which is playing the role of a policeman in the world, wants Israel to be the region's policeman," said Grand Ayatollah Sheik Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah. "The matter is no longer a threat to one state, or a threat to the region only, because America and Israel constitute a danger that threatens the security of the entire world," Fadlallah said in a statement issued by his office. Israeli fighter-bombers hit what Israel called a training camp for Islamic Jihad militants about 15 miles (25 kilometers) from Damascus on Sunday. Villagers nearby said Palestinian militants had abandoned the camp years ago. The attack retaliated for a suicide bombing that killed 19 people in Israel on Saturday. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the bombing. U.S. officials have said that Israel did not inform Washington in advance of its retaliatory strike. Fadlallah, 68, enjoys wide respect among Shiites in the Arab world and is the top religious authority for Lebanon's 1.2 million Shiites. His rank of grand ayatollah is the highest a Shiite cleric can attain. During the Lebanese civil war of 1975-90, Fadlallah was linked to the militant group Hezbollah, which kidnapped Westerners and bombed the U.S. Embassy in Beirut. Subsequently, Fadlallah moved away from Hezbollah. Fadlallah said Sunday's airstrike on Syria was driven by Israel's "failure to stop the Palestinian uprising." "Field facts and political data after the aggression (on Syria) indicate that Israel was not alone in planning and coordinating the aggression, and that the U.S. administration was a real partner with it," Fadlallah said. U.S. President George W. Bush has said Israel's airstrike was part of an "essential" campaign to defend the country against terrorism. Fadlallah claimed the airstrike had been planned in "American and Israeli circles" a long time ago, and that Israel waited for the "right political time" to strike after receiving the "American green light." The ayatollah criticized Arab and Muslim countries for failing to take steps to stop Israeli attacks on Arabs and Muslims. "If Israel is besieging the Palestinians in all aspects (of life), why don't the Arabs use the simplest weapon - such as an economic and political boycott - against Israel?" Fadlallah asked rhetorically. An Arab economic boycott of Israel and its trading partners has faded to insignificance since Egypt in 1979, and Jordan in 1994, made peace with Israel and began trading with it.

Arafat installs emergency cabinet { October 5 2003 } Bush asserts israels right defense { October 6 2003 } Bush signals backing for syria { October 8 2003 } Egypt says arafat removal terrorist act House panel votes impose syria sanctions { October 8 2003 } Israeli forces battle gaza egypt border Israels attack step towards war { October 6 2003 } Lebanese ayatollah accuses US aiding syria attack Neo con fingerprints on syria raid Shots fired lebanese israeli border { October 6 2003 } State department criticizes syria { October 6 2003 } Suicide attack kills 19 { October 4 2003 } Syria threatens golan settlers if strikes again Syria vows to fight if israel attacks { October 8 2003 } Syrian hassad israel wants war { October 7 2003 } Syrian president accuses israel of warmongering { October 7 2003 } Us syria odds over resolution { October 6 2003 } Wider violence will follow israeli attacks { October 6 2003 } Files Listed: 18

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