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CounterPunch
December
16, 2002
The Biases of Elliot Abrams
by Dr. LAILA AL-MARAYATI
Although President Bush repeatedly says that the
US is not biased against Islam, the recent appointment of Elliot
Abrams to head the National Security Council's Near East and
North African office delivers exactly the opposite message to
the regions 250 million plus Muslims. Putting Abrams in charge
of the office that oversees Arab-Israeli relations and peace
promoting efforts in the region all but eliminates any possibility
for Bush to portray himself as an advocate for peace, justice
and reconciliation between Israelis, Palestinians and the neighboring
countries.
Like several of the other neo-conservatives
populating Bush's staff, he is a strong supporter of the ultra-right
wing in Israel. For two years, I worked with Abrams on the US
Commission on International Religious Freedom. From the vantage
point of the Commission, as an American and as a Muslim, I had
the unfortunate opportunity of witnessing -- clearly and unequivocally
-- the deep bias that Abrams brings to his new position. Perhaps
the most telling experience was a disastrous trip to the Middle
East, where Abrams provoked a diplomatic flap and alienated the
kind of people whose support we now need if we are to be effective
in fighting terrorism.
In the spring of 2001, the Commissioners
decided that a trip to the Middle East was in order, agreeing
to include Egypt and Saudi Arabia in view of the discrimination
against religious minorities, particularly Christians, in those
countries. Because the Commission had also addressed discrimination
in Israel against Muslims, Christians and non-Orthodox Jews in
previous meetings, naturally Israel would be added to the itinerary.
As Chairman of the Commission at the time, Abrams led the delegation
to Egypt and Saudi Arabia, but did not go to Jerusalem with three
of us as he was of the opinion that there are no problems with
religious freedom in Israel that would warrant the attention
of the Commission.
A brief look at the Country Reports on
Human Rights published annually by the State Department reveals
that the degree of discrimination against minorities in Israel
proper (not to mention the Occupied Territories) is at least
on par with if not worse than that experienced by Coptic Christians
in Egypt. Nevertheless, during Abrams chairmanship, the Commission
did not apply a uniform standard by which to judge religious
freedom violations of any given country, relying instead on personal
perceptions and preferences.
Bypassing Israel was not the only way
Abrams undermined the Commission's visit to the Middle East.
By failing to adjust his schedule, Abrams managed to snub the
leading Islamic cleric in Egypt, Sheikh Tantawi of al-Azhar,
which nearly created a diplomatic nightmare that was only narrowly
averted by the intervention of the US Ambassador. Ultimately,
under the leadership of Abrams, the Commission published reports
on over a dozen countries, including those visited throughout
the year, except for Israel.
Reasonable people can and do disagree
over many aspects of U.S. policy in the Middle East. But reasonable
disagreements should never include deliberate provocation of
political and spiritual leaders whose support and understanding
we Americans need if we are going to succeed in making the world
a safer place. The list of Abrams' problematic statements and
actions regarding Israel, Palestine, Islam and the Arab world
goes on, but the confidentiality agreement of the Commission
prevents further public disclosure.
With such unapologetic bias already demonstrated,
how can anyone expect Abrams to do anything but perpetuate the
status quo in favor of Israeli hegemony? While his is not an
elected position, he still is accountable to the American people,
whose taxes contribute to his salary and who care about US policy
in the Middle East.
During Ramadan, the Bush Administration
made overtures to the Muslim community by hosting Iftars at the
White House and State Department, followed by President Bush's
visit to a mosque and a positive speech about Islam on Eid-ul-Fitr.
The Administration better be prepared to spend even more time
and money on its public relations campaign to deal with the wake
left by Abrams as he embarks on diplomatic efforts abroad. However,
it may be that Bush's true intention is to send a message to
the world that, like Abrams, he endorses the current hard-line
Israeli posture at the expense of peace and security for Israelis
and Palestinians, going against US interests in stability for
the region.
As such, it doesn't take a brain surgeon
to understand why hostility towards the US is increasing in the
Middle East as Palestinians suffer more each day. Since this
Administration is willing to sacrifice human rights for other
strategic interests, it must be prepared to pay the price in
decreased popularity around the world. The only problem is that
average Americans who are affected by our foreign policy are
being served by those who are too willing to abandon the American
value of justice.
Bush's public relations team is engaged
in wishful, naive and patronizing thinking by suggesting to him
that superficial statements and gestures towards Muslims and
Arabs will make them view our government in a more favorable
light. By appointing Abrams to this post, the President has failed
to show to the world's one billion Muslims that he is sincerely
interested in peace, ending terrorism, and promoting peaceful
cooperation with our country. Instead, while the United States
says that its actions are directed against terrorists and not
Islam, Abrams' appointment makes those words appear as hollow
as a Trent Lott apology.
Dr. Laila Al-Marayati was an appointed member of the nine-person US
Commission on International Religious Freedom from 1999 to 2001.
She is based in Los Angeles.
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