COMMON SENSE
By Hassan Al-Haifi
We would like to warn Mr. George Bush that the word peace is not in the Zionist Dictionary. We should not expect that there is any way for Israel to accept peace with the Palestinians, because Zionism first of all does not recognized the existence of Palestine, nor does Zionism recognize the existence of the Palestinian people. As far as Ariel Sharon is concerned all he is doing in Palestine is cleaning away the historical debris left over from centuries of human existence, by killing and destroying and uprooting anything that has to do with the Palestinians, including acres and acres of olive trees everyday.
For five weeks, Israel has been left all alone to do whatever it likes on anything Palestinian that remains in Palestine without one suicide attack. It was a deliberate and calculated move, in the hope that the Israelis can taste peace for a while, so that they will see the light that peace is possible in the Holy Land. But alas, the Israelis continued killing Palestinian women and children "an error, which the Israeli Defense Forces regrets", on a daily basis, for five weeks and the Palestinians remained idle, hoping that the world will realize that the Palestinians can easily opt for peace, if they are allowed to live normal dignified lives, as any people are entitled to do. But, Sharon saw no reason to discontinue his diabolical systematic mission of annihilating the Palestinian people continuing to bank on a theme that Zionism created: terror, terror and more terror. Using everything at the disposal of the Zionist thugs, the Israeli army continuously encroached, penetrated and destroyed for weeks, while the whole world watched without so much as saying to the Israelis, "Enough is enough!"
When the frustrated Palestinians saw themselves, their homes and livelihoods destroyed systematically in such a cruel and inhumane manner, with the world not even stirred by this daily carnage, it was inevitable for them to say: "We have nothing to loose!" and reverted back to the only means available to express their discontent at this erasure of their being and identity. Why should it be all right for Israelis to enjoy peace and prosperity on stolen land and the owners of this land become subjected to the cruelest ethnic cleansing campaign ever concocted? Thus, the Palestinian suicide campaigns had to be resumed after a five-week lull of adhering to a cease-fire, which the Israelis paid no mind to, or should even the slightest intentions of doing so.
Again, we emphasize that we are not in favor of any civilians being targeted by any side in any conflict. However, we must bear in mind that the Israelis bear full responsibility for their own safety, especially when considering that they are the ones, who chose the position of being robbers of land that does not belong to them in any way, shape or form, and they all know this very well.
Furthermore, one is rather amused at the logic put up by the Israelis that it is the Palestine Authority that is responsible for what is happening to our "civilians", since they were unable to suppress the suicide bombers. The Israeli Army is already occupying the remaining Palestinian territories, with its entire war arsenal deployed in every population center in and around the West Bank and Gaza. In addition, the Israelis have already destroyed any semblance of a Palestinian security apparatus, and therefore are not justified by any claims that it is the Palestinians who should guarantee the security of civilians in Israel, when they themselves are in full control of the security situation in both Israel and the Palestinian territories. Thus, the Israelis are logically responsible for the death of their own people, as well as the death of hundreds of Palestinians! Surely, Ariel Sharon is not stupid enough to realize that he is the cause d'être of all the mayhem that exists in the Holy Land today and after all this time, it is up to the rest of the world to really see things in their right perspective.
Many Arabs used to object to the suicide bombings, as an appropriate form of resistance against the cruel and deliberate occupation of the Palestinian territory, not to mention the continuing settlement build-up. But after watching the Israelis continue their genocide relentlessly for over five weeks of free peace, most Arabs are now saying to the Palestinians: "Give'm All You Got! We are with you all the way, notwithstanding the positions of Mr. Bush or our governments!"

Will September 11 negative impacts on Yemenis make the upcoming period intense?

BY HASSAN AZZAEDI
h_alzaidi@maktoobb.com
A year has passed since the September 11 attacks in New York City and Washington DC. have taken place. Such attacks are bloodcurdling and horrible acts. Different countries have been negatively affected by such acts, locally and internationally.
Such attacks have not been experienced in the US history. The US reaction has been very strong and as a result it has sought to launch anti-terrorism war against countries that are thought be harboring terrorism. Fears and doubts on the part of the Arab and Islamic states have accompanied this war. Bin Laden, the main suspect as the mastermind of the attacks, has been only taken as a cover to launch war against Islam. While at the same time we find that Bin Laden has been also celebrating the elapse one year since the attacks have been carried out.
Few days ago, in a televised documentary film screened by Aljazeera TV. channel, we have learned that the US and Pakistani officials have already named one of the arrested men as Ramzi Binalshibah, a key al-Qaeda operative member thought to have played a leading role in the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. It is said that Ramzi is of a Yemeni origin and that he was suspected of having links with al-Qaeda along with other 8 Yemenis. Hence, the number of Yemeni suspects of having links with al-Qaeda has been increasing considerably which in turn has negatively affected Yemen and Yemenis in and outside their country.
Some 8 to 25 Yemeni nationals were inside the twin towers of the World Trade Center when the September 11 attacks took place. The material loss has been estimated at USD 15 million. In addition to this, more than 51 Yemenis have been killed or murdered as a result of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Yemen suspected of harboring terrorist elements
The negative impact on Yemenis abroad as a result of the September 11 attacks has not been the end of the road. Regardless of interrogating and questioning them at airports and border outlets, the Yemeni authorities have adopted strict measures against suspects to having links with al-Qaeda elements. It has cooperated with the US to track down terrorist elements.

Internal crises as a result of September 11 attacks
Human rights organizations studies have indicated that the number of detainees as a result of the September 11 attacks has reached 140. Around 27 Yemenis have been suspected of having links with al-Qaeda elements. In addition to this, Yemenis have been exposed to inhuman acts and harassment in different countries of the world, such as Pakistan, Afghanistan and the detainees in Guantanamo, where the number of the Yemeni detainees at Guantanamo base has reached 80 people.
In addition to this, capitals of some Yemenis have been frozen due to the September 11 attacks. But the question, which poses itself, will Yemenis and Yemen face a lot of troubles particularly after the USS Cole bombing incidents and the September 11 attacks?
Yemen is really in a very critical situation specifically, as we are approaching a crucial stage, that is, the upcoming parliamentary elections due in April in 2003. Let's wait and see!