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Gulf Arabs Criticize Palestinians

(Jerusalem Post) Khaled Abu Toameh - Several Gulf Arabs have launched unprecedented attacks on the Palestinian leadership, accusing them of "trafficking" in the Palestinian cause; depriving their people of international aid; financial corruption; and acting against the interests of their own people. The Palestinian people are accused of being "ungrateful" toward Arab countries that made many sacrifices on their behalf, gave them hundreds of millions of dollars and jobs. Popular hashtags trending on social media declare that "the Palestinian cause is not my cause." Gulf Arabs have also been voicing support for Israel by posting pictures of Israeli flags and video clips of Arabs praising the peace agreements with Israel and greeting Israelis on Jewish holidays. A Palestinian official told the Jerusalem Post: "Once, it was a taboo for Arabs to criticize the Palestinians or the Palestinian cause. Now the Arab media is filled with articles denouncing Palestinian leaders as traitors and liars and calling on Arabs to stop supporting the Palestinians." Hussam Arafat, a senior PLO official, said that Saudi Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz's criticism of Palestinian leaders last week on Al-Arabiya was a "firm message to the Palestinian leadership, a strong indication of the Saudi leadership's willingness and preparation for immediate and rapid steps towards normalization with Israel. This interview constitutes a dramatic and dangerous development in the traditional Saudi position toward the Palestinian issue, and it is a strong indication of significant upcoming Saudi political steps towards normalization with Israel."
2020-10-12 00:00:00
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