Introduction
When Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan walked out of the World Economic Forum's annual meeting at Davos, Switzerland, the Syrian press called on Arab League Secretary-General 'Amr Moussa to resign, on the grounds that he had not followed Erdogan's example. Articles in the Syrian papers and on Syrian websites urged the Arab countries to expel Moussa from the Arab League, accused him of having been bribed by Saudi Arabia and by the the leader of Lebanon's Al-Mustaqbal movement, Sa'd Al-Hariri, and claimed that he represented Egypt's position, not the Arab League's.
Moussa came under fire also - and primarily - on account of the role he had played in thwarting Syria's and Qatar's efforts to convene an emergency Arab summit in Doha, as a means to assist Hamas during the Gaza war. Thus, the Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar reported that Moussa had delayed releasing the names of the countries that supported the summit so as to allow Egypt and Saudi Arabia more time to pressure them not to attend - thereby preventing Syria and Qatar from obtaining the quorum stipulated by Arab League regulations for convening an emergency Arab summit. [1]
In an interview with Al-Jazeera TV, Moussa acnowledged that the current rift in the Arab world had made it difficult for him to continue in his position, and that someone else might be a better candidate for the job. He explained that he had remained at the Davos meeting because he wanted "to respond to Israel's lies," and to not miss the opportunity to publicize the Arab position from such an important podium. Regarding the allegations that he had accepted a bribe, Moussa asserted that all gifts given him had been sent on to the Arab League, and added: "This is cheap talk indeed…" In response to the claim that his views concurred with the official positions of Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Moussa stated: "I see no dishonor in this." [2]
Following are excerpts from articles in the Syrian press criticizing 'Amr Moussa:
Syrian Government Dailies: "Oh You Who Speak in the Name of the Arab People…Your Day Will Come! An Arab Does Not Renounce Revenge; Wait and See! "
In an article in the Syrian government daily Teshreen, columnist Anisa 'Aboud contended that Moussa represented only the Egyptian position, and wondered why he had not thrown a shoe at Peres, as had happened to President Bush in Iraq: "The secretary-general of the Arab League, [an organization] that is expected not to recognize the terrorist Israeli [state], acted in Davos as if he represented not the [Arab] League but the Egyptian regime alone…
"[Amr Moussa], why didn't you walk out together with Erdogan, to protest against Peres's lies?! Why didn't you leave before him, or [at least] follow him?! Is it because you have [mutual] interests with the murderer?! [But] doesn't Turkey have important [mutual] interests with Europe and the U.S.?! How do you propose to answer these questions? Will you shower smiles [all around] as usual, or will you become angry and evade the question, calling, 'Next question, please.…
"Why didn't 'Amr Moussa walk out or throw a shoe at Peres [as the Iraqi journalist Muntazir] Al-Zaidi [did to Bush]?! Why do you make light of our honor, heritage, and [spilled] blood!? Oh you who speak in the name of the Arab people, who abuse them, [and] who are appointed over them against their will! We are sick and tired of you!... Your day is sure to come, for we still believe that an Arab does not renounce revenge. Wait and see!" [3]
In an article in the Syrian government daily Al-Thawra, Syrian TV director and columnist Diana Jabour discussed how Moussa's stance vis-à-vis Israel had changed over the years: "[Egyptian singer] Sha'bula (Sha'ban 'Abd Al-Rahim)… gained popularity when he released his famous song 'I love Amr Moussa and hate Israel,' since [through it] he expressed, in the [language] of the street, the attitude of the entire Arab nation towards the country of oppression [Israel], and its esteem [for] all who opposed Israel…
"At that time, 'Amr Moussa was foreign minister of Egypt, which was bound to Israel by peace agreements. Nevertheless, the positions he held made him a hero of his time…
"What has happened to the man? Is he the same man? Why did he suffer Erdogan to leave Davos on his own?... Haven't we had enough of the so-called moderate Arab regimes, which are simply sick?!...
"Whether or not we support [someone,] and how we relate to him… depends on… his position vis-à-vis Israel, which is our enemy." [4]
Al-Watan: "Moussa Must Resign"
In an editorial, the Syrian daily Al-Watan called on 'Amr Moussa to resign, and insisted that if he failed to do so of his own accord, the Arab countries must ensure that he is removed: "It has become crystal clear that Arab League Secretary-General 'Amr Moussa is not capable of defending Arab causes, especially the Palestinian cause, and that the time is ripe for this high-ranking Arab official, whose positions are ignoble, to leave Arab League headquarters and join the financial institutions, from Beirut to Riyadh, that have been supporting him. Let us stop here and try to salvage [the remnants] of the reputation that the Arab League has managed to preserve, after being ruined by Moussa's behavior over the past years, and especially over the recent months, during the Gaza offensive…
"Erdogan left the [Davos summit] to protest against Peres's lies and insolence, as well as against the chairman's bias towards Israel and its president. Moussa, on the other hand, felt that none of this concerned him. As soon as [U.N. Secretary-General] Ban Ki-Moon told him to sit down, he did so unquestioningly. Perhaps even following the session, in the corridor, Moussa and Peres kissed one another, and the former complimented the latter on his outstanding performance, expressing dismay at Erdogan's behavior…
"Having contributed to the failure [to secure the required] quorum at the Gaza summit, and having played a 'significant' role at the Sharm Al-Sheikh summit, which was dedicated to the siege on the Palestinian resistance and to depriving the resistance of its weapons, no option remains for [Moussa] but to resign, to apologize to the Arabs for his actions, and to leave the office to which he is not entitled. If he refuses to do this, and continues to hold onto his chair, the Arab states must file a motion for his removal at the upcoming [Arab] summit at Doha. We are fed up with debility, with eating crow, and with humiliation. It is time we had a secretary-general who is Arab in the full sense of this word." [5]
Syrian Regime-Affiliated Website: Moussa Is a Disobedient, Deceitful, Wretched Functionary
In an article posted on the news website Champress.net, which is affiliated with the Syrian regime, website editor-in-chief 'Ali Jamalo accused Moussa of accepting a bribe from Sa'd Al-Hariri, and called for him to be removed from his post: "'Amr Moussa has crossed all boundaries! Expelling him from the Arab League has become an urgent imperative. What right has he, as secretary-general of the Arab League, to sit on a podium next to the chief murderer, Shimon Peres?! What right has he to sit [next to Peres] as representative of the Arab League, in which the absolute majority of member countries regard associating with Israel as a legally punishable crime?!
"Yesterday, we observed an unforgettable scene! The Arab League secretary-general sat side by side with the president of the racist Zionist entity - occupying the same podium at the Davos summit. This is not only a clear violation of the Arab League's charter and regulations, but a crime that warrants action in the Arab League by the member countries to expel this functionary, who is guilty of associating with the enemy. To add to the absurdity of the situation, at that same session Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan taught the Israeli murderers, foremost among them Peres, a memorable lesson…
"Thank you, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. You restored our honor, after some of the Arabs forgot what that means. Thank you, great Turkish people! You have reinstated the meaning of consanguinity, and of geographical and historical ties, after several sick [moderate] Arabs sold [these values] on the slave market. By sitting defeated next to the murderer, whose hands still reeked of blood, the Arab League secretary-general acted disgracefully - while being expected to stand up for the Arab values. Davos revealed the profound deficiency in the functioning of the Arab League, whose agenda has been [sabotaged] by this disobedient functionary, whose [allegiance] can be bought cheaply.
"The events that preceded the Doha summit exposed the doings of this deceitful functionary, who… had misled several Arab countries, and through this, prevented the quorum [required by the Arab League regulations from being attained], with the aim of forestalling the summit. [But] even before this, the role this wretched functionary played in the Lebanon crisis had also come to light: Newcomers to Lebanese politics, such as Sa'd Al-Hariri and his ilk, managed to stain the honor of the Arab League by bribing its secretary-general and several of his employees. Several [Arab League] member countries have sufficient evidence of this ethical and political outrage. Moreover, Sa'd Al-Hariri himself, at one of his night parties, bragged to some of his buddies and Atari [video] game partners that he had sent the Arab League secretary-general two million dollars in cash…
"'Amr Moussa has crossed all boundaries. Noble Arabs must tell him 'enough!' by expelling him, exposing his conduct, condemning him, and making a laughingstock and an example of him. Today, 'Amr Moussa, representing [all] Arabs, sits next to the Israeli president; tomorrow he will propose that this racist entity be granted membership in the [Arab] League - [an organization] which we want to be Arab, but which 'Amr Moussa, along with the representatives of sick Arab [states], wants to be Hebrew…
"Oh Arabs, say 'enough!' to this fool, for he has crossed all boundaries." [6]
*O. Winter is a Research Fellow at MEMRI.
Endnotes:
[1] Al-Akhbar (Lebanon), January 16, 2009. See also MEMRI Inquiry and Analysis No. 492, "An Escalating Regional Cold War - Part I: The 2009 Gaza War," February 2, 2009, An Escalating Regional Cold War – Part I: The 2009 Gaza War.
[2] Al-Masri Al-Yawm (Egypt), February 9, 2009.
[3] Teshreen (Syria), February 2, 2009.
[4] Al-Thawra (Syria), February 1, 2009.
[5] Al-Watan (Syria), February 1, 2009.
[6] Champress.net, February 1, 2009.
