Jordan's largest
political party, the Islamic Action Front (IAF), on Monday strongly attacked
Arab leaders for receiving US President George W Bush after what was largely
perceived in the Arab world as extremely biased speech before the Israeli
Knesset.
"Welcoming the war criminal Bush in Arab capitals has left deep wounds
with Arabs and Muslims, given his speech in the Zionist entity where he clearly
adopted (Israeli) policies at the expense of Arab rights," said Mohammad
Bozour, who is in charge of the Arab and Islamic File at the IAF Executive
Bureau.
"We are astonished to see Bush received with this hospitality in Arab
capitals after directing this slap at Arab leaders," he added.
On Sunday, Bush wound up what appeared to be a farewell trip to the Middle East
that took him to Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
In his speech before the Israeli parliament marking the Jewish state's 60
anniversary, Bush expressed what Arab commentators considered unprecedented
support to Israel at a time when Palestinians marked the Nakba "Day of
Tragedy."
"The official welcome accorded to Bush implies giving up the Palestinians'
rights in regaining their land, exercising sovereignty over Jerusalem and the
return of refugees," Bozour said.
He urged Arab leaders to stop their support for peace negotiations with Israel and to extend backing to militant resistance "because it is no longer
convincing for Arab and Muslim peoples to speak about the peace process,"
he added.
The IAF comments came in reference to Bush's speech before the World Economic
Forum conference at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el- Sheikh on Saturday where he
urged Arab countries to unite against Palestinian Islamist group Hamas,
Lebanese Islamist group Hezbollah as well as against Syria and Iran, dpa reported.
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