Palestinian Refugees: Why Should Iraq Be Disarmed, but Not Israel - 2003-03-30

Palestinian refugees: Why should Iraq be disarmed, but not Israel - 2003-03-30. Lori Kassman, Voice of America, translated by Kiyavash. In Jordan, Palestinian refugees are concerned about the implications of the war in Iraq on Middle Eastern peace, despite promises from the U.S. and Britain to expedite peace in the region. Palestinian children playing in a schoolyard near the Baqa'a refugee camp seem oblivious to another war in the Middle East. However, some parents, like Ameera, believe their children are well aware of the dangers surrounding them. Ameera said, "The children are terrified. When I leave home to shop, my 4-year-old daughter tells me to be careful. A war might start. Don’t be late coming back." Ameera mentioned that her other child, who is 10, confuses discussions about Iraq with the violence he has heard and seen in Palestinian territories, thinking that the violence will reach him in Jordan. Unlike the previous Gulf War, very few Palestinians openly express support for Saddam. However, they criticize the U.S. efforts to wage war against Saddam. In the crowded market of the refugee camp, an elderly woman sitting in a black tent by the sidewalk sells fruit from a basket on her lap. She calls the war against Iraq a war against Muslims, although U.S. and British officials have repeatedly denied this. "We are Arabs. Iraq is an Arab country. We do not want war against Iraq. We want peace. Why don’t they go after Israel?" 28-year-old Emad reflects the growing despair about the future of peace in the Middle East, saying, "On television, we see images of Palestinians being injured or killed by Israelis. The U.S. must stop Israel." Emad is upset that the war against Iraq diverts attention from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the desire for a Palestinian state. Emad is one of hundreds of thousands living in the Baqa'a camp. They, or their parents and grandparents, left their homes during the Arab-Israeli wars in 1984 and 1967. The debate over their right to return is one of the main obstacles to achieving comprehensive peace between Arabs and Israelis. George Bush has invited both sides to a peace agreement based on the establishment of two independent states, Israel and Palestine. Many Palestinians are skeptical. A new anti-war song by Egyptian singer Shabaan Abdel Rahim about Western double standards is very popular in the camp and region. He sings: "Enough, enough, they want to disarm Iraq. Fine. But why don’t they disarm Israel too?" The owner of a record shop says he has stopped following news about the war against Iraq and is not upset about Saddam going. However, he is concerned about the war's effects on Jordan. He mentioned that Jordan's economy is still suffering from the 1991 Gulf War and complained that many young people in the camp are unemployed. He said life is already hard enough, and war only makes it harder.