In a March 28, 2011 article in the Jordanian daily Al-Dustour, columnist Hussein Al-Rawashdeh scathingly criticized Arab leaders and their policies, accusing them of oppressing and exploiting their citizens. He said that the Arabs should learn from countries like Israel, where no one is above the law, and gave as an example the trial of former Israeli President Moshe Katzav, recently sentenced to seven years in prison for rape and additional offenses. Al-Rawashdeh wrote that anyone accused of corruption should be prosecuted regardless of their position.
Following are excerpts from the article:[1]
"There are Several Arab Leaders Who Believe They are Above the Law, and Above the Demands and Needs of Their People"
"The former Israeli president, Moshe Katzav, was in tears after the court convicted him of sexually harassing a clerk who worked for him when he was minister of tourism. However, [the tears] did not avail him, and the court sentenced him to seven years in prison, two years on probation, and a fine of $26,000.[2] The court also enabled the victim to sue him for damages.
"This is not the first time that Israeli officials have been investigated. In the past, ministers and ministry directors were accused and tried for financial crimes and administrative errors. Among them were [former prime minister Ehud] Olmert – who is still under investigation on accusations of corruption – and [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, whose excessive travels and lavish expenses have recently been exposed by [Israeli] media.
"It gives us absolutely no pleasure to laud our enemies and applaud this racist country, which practices a horrible kind of terror and oppression against our brothers in Palestine and elsewhere. However, we can consider [the Katzav trial] as a shining example of a country that strives for law and justice, at least for its own citizens. We can compare [Israel's] policy toward its leaders to the policy of Arab leaders toward their people.
"Unfortunately, however, this comparison shames [the Arab leaders], since nowadays there are several Arab leaders who believe they are above the law, and above the demands and needs of their people. They see the homeland as a private farm belonging to them and their sons, and believe that killing is the sole response to anyone who dares to criticize [the regime] or demand change. Israel, [on the other hand], presents us with a different model that we are not accustomed to, in which the law is above all and the official – regardless of his rank – is not immune to investigation, prosecution and punishment. Accountability is the duty of junior employees, let alone high-ranking ministers."
Arab Leaders' Lack of Accountability Leads to Uprisings
"Katzav's actions did not go beyond sexually harassing an employee of his office - an employee who kept silent for many years and did not go to the authorities, in order to keep her job. The man [only] erred, of course – yet his respected status and [high-ranking] position did him no good. [Moreover,] they did not just fire him, or reach a settlement with those [he harassed]. In our Arab countries, on the other hand, there are dozens and even hundreds of officials who 'sexually harass' their people, 'rape' their rights, and loot their money, yet none of us think to demand accountability from them, or even to intimate [that they are doing these things].
"I hope you don't ask me why several of our peoples rebelled against their regimes, why citizens committed self-immolation, and why we exposed the shameful acts and thefts perpetrated by certain presidents, all the while acting surprised as though we hadn't known about these [deeds]. I also hope you don't ask me why we are defeated and backward, and why we have become marginal nations [in the world], some of the poorest and most backward of the world countries. If you truly do not know why, wait until the first Arab leader is prosecuted, and all the cases of corruption, torture, and killing are opened up, and until you see all these people behind bars. Then you will know why blood has been flowing through the streets, and why we have been behind all these decades…"
Endnotes:
[1] Al-Dustour (Jordan), March 28, 2011.
[2] Katzav was convicted March 22, 2011 of rape, sexual harassment, committing an indecent act while using force, harassing a witness, and obstruction of justice. He was sentenced to seven years in prison and two years on probation. Additionally, he was ordered to pay the woman he raped NIS100,000 and another woman NIS25,000.
