Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Dec. 18, 1997, edition 1 / Page 7
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7A INTERNATIONAL / The CharloHe Post Thursday, December 18, 1997 Israelis dismiss Farrakhan By Dafna Linzer THE ASSOCIATED PRESS GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Louis Farrakhan was welcomed Sunday in Palestinian lands dur ing an unexpected visit, but was rebuffed by Israel, which said no Israeli official would meet with the Nation of Islam leader. The fiery black leader later cut short his surprise visit and left for Jordan. Farrakhan, who had said he would visit Israel next month, arrived Sunday in the West Bank via Jordan, saying he hoped to contribute to the Israeli- Palestinian peace process. “During the Christmas season ... it is my hope that this troubled area in the world that needs peace as much as any part of the earth will find peace and good will,” he told reporters in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Asked about his frequent remarks disparaging Jews and Judaism, Farrakhan said, “I think that I have been critical of some aspects of Jewish behavior toward black people.” But he added: “I have never been and am not now anti-Semitic; I do not hate the Jewish people.” But Farrakhan, who had said he hoped to visit JerusEdem on Monday and pray at the Al-Aqsa mosque, one of Islam’s hohest sites, instead canceled the visit. “We have come to this holy land in the interest of peace,” said Farrakhan as he boarded a bus that was to take him to the AUenby Bridge and into Jordan. “We do not vzish to incite the Israeli people to do anything that would injure relationships in the United States any further,” he said. The Chicago-based Farrakhan is on a 52-nation tour that will take him to many countries criti cized by Washington, including Libya, Iran, North Korea and Cuba. The State Department advised Farrakhan that those governments may use his visits for anti-U.S. propaganda. Farrakhan’s stop here comes at a time when the Palestinians are hoping U.S. pressure will elicit concessions from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and get the peace process moving again. The U.S. Embassy refused com ment Sunday on Farrakhan’s arrival in Palestinian territory. In Ramallah, the Nation of Islam leader, wearing a dark suit and his trademark bow tie, ate lunch with Palestinian Cabinet ministers and legislators. He went to Gaza City afterward for a meeting with Yasser Arafat. “We are very happy to have this opportunity to meet our brother in our land,” Arafat said. “We spoke in detail of all the difficul ties we are facing and how to push forward the peace process.” After their meeting, Farrakhan suggested Israel was to blame for the crisis in the peace talks. But in an apparent reference to ter rorist attacks by Islamic mili tants, he condemned “any behav ior that takes the fives of inno cent people for political purpos es.” Arafat gave Farrakhan a model of Islamic shrines in Jerusalem. The U.S. Muslim leader's early arrival caught Israeli officials off guard, and came while the gov ernment was distracted by a con tentious debate over a troop-pull- back plan for the West Bank. Israel has not been enthusiastic about a visit by Farrakhan, who once referred to Judaism as a We’re more likely to die from cigarettes than from alcohol, cocaine, cracK heroin, homicide, suicide, car accidents, fire and AIDs. Combined. Our children face a lot of obstacles. Let’s not lose them to one so small. Cigarettes kill almost half the people who start smoking. Most smokers start by age 14. And the number of African-American : AMEIUCAN LUNG ASSOCIATION. of North Careina male high school students who smoke has nearly doubled, in just tour years. Learn the facts on smoking. Call 1-888-813-3003 for your free copy of the informative Clear The Smoke booklet. American Heart i Association * TAAABVCAN CANC« SOOETY' ga mitmicumcAto Harris Teeter Your Neighborhood Food Market Sale starts Wednesday, Pec. 17th AP PHOTO/RICK BOWMER Surrounded by bodyguards. Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan talks to the press Monday shortly before boarding a bus from Ramallah, West Bank to take him to the Allenby bridge crossing into Jordan. Farrakhan, who arrived unexpectedly in the West Bank on Sunday, left for Jordan saying he did not feel welcome in Israel and was concerned for his safety. “gutter religion.” Farrakhan said he hoped to meet the prime minister, but when asked if Netanyahu would receive Farrakhan, government spokesmEm David Bar-Illan replied: “Of course not.” Nor would any other Israeli official, he added. Farrakhan’s association with Moammar Gadhafi in Libya, Saddam Hussein in Iraq and the ayatollahs of Iran disqualify him from any role as peacemaker, Bar-Illan said. ‘To consider him a mediator would be an insult to one’s intelli gence,” he said. Bar-Illan noted that Farrakhan, as a U.S. citizen, did not need any special permission to enter the Jewish state, but some officials denounced his presence. Cabinet secretary Danny Naveh called it “intolera ble that he be walking around among us.” Israel’s Foreign Ministry demanded Farrakhan retract anti-Semitic remarks, calling them “harsh and insensitive.” However, ministry spokesman Aviv Shir-On said as long as there is no incitement and public order is maintained, Israel would not limit Farrakhan’s move ments. Wexvillbeclosed Thursday, December 25th Christmas Day ■%>vic SPECIAL Setni'Boneless Whole Hamilton Ham us All Purpose WHiite Potatoes 14S oz. 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Dec. 18, 1997, edition 1
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