This would be funny if it wasn’t so sad. Via Martin Kramer, From Al Ahram
This is tricky. Syria is tricky,” said another Arab League official. He added: “Syria is different from any other Arab country.”
According to this Arab League official, as well as Arab diplomats, the reason that “Syria is different” is the over three-decade Israeli occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights.
Being a country under Israeli occupation, Arab diplomats agree, gives the ruling regime in Damascus a certain particularity the country is in effect in a state of war.
This does not cancel the Syrian right to democracy. “But you just have to worry about whether or not Israel has a hand in what is going on,” said one Arab diplomat.
The same diplomat added that he has no information on any Israeli intervention in the current demonstrations: “none”. He also said that no other Arab state has tabled any credible information to suggest that Israel is instigating current calls for reform in Syria.
Kramer writes: That’s right, the Golan Heights—0.65% of Syria’s land mass—is in Israel’s usurping hands. So fire away at those protesters! Asad has a license.
Mr. Goldberg: reminder on a basic grammar point, a contrary to fact condition requires the imperfect subjunctive, "this would be funny if it WEREN'T so sad."
Otherwise, the song would be "If I was a rich man . . ."
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOh, but this misunderstates the problem. It's not just the .65%, it's the remaining 100% of Israel that is under Israeli occupation.
Do you think this Arab League "official" disagrees?
How many "Syrians" or "Arabs" would accept 100% of Syria under Syrian occupation in exchange for a peace treaty with Israel? How many "Saudis"? How many Israelis?
I am so tired of using quotes around so many middle eastern terms. What will it take to impose the Treaty of Westphalia from the Azores to the Indus?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseA studio guest (a British Palestinian) on the BBC's "The World Today" on 26/3 made precisely the same charge: that Israelis could be behind the protests in Syria. Loathsome. She was immediately taken to task by another guest and attempted a retreat.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abusethis would be funny if it WEREN'T so sad.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHmmn. I posted two comments re the basic grammar error; "If it weren't true" is the proper usage. They haven't shown up and I suspect this one won't either. Why not post them? I'll gladly stand corrected if I'm wrong, and I'm not singling out this blog or Mr. Goldberg - I'm a grammar nag period. I think if someone is making a living as a writer grammar counts.
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