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The Cultural Gap between the West and the Muslim World

(Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs-Hebrew) Zvi Mazel - While the West regards the elimination of bin Laden an important step in the fight against terrorism, in Arab and Muslim countries there were mixed reactions. In Lebanon, President Michel Suleiman (a Christian) and Druze politician Walid Jumblatt praised the U.S., along with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. However, the reactions of many other countries such as Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates were much less apparent. Egypt, which only three months ago led the fight against terrorism in the Arab world, decided not to comment officially. Islamists like Hamas, the armed wing of Fatah, and many Salafist organizations condemned the U.S. Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh described bin Laden as a "holy Muslim warrior." Only if major educational reforms are executed in the Muslim world can we expect different reactions; otherwise, the cultural gap between the West and the Islamic world will remain wide. The writer served as Israel's Ambassador to Egypt and Sweden.
2011-05-13 00:00:00
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