Subscribe Today
Request a Clip
Following are excerpts from a TV show featuring Kuwaiti journalist Sami Al-Nisf, which aired on Abu Dhabi TV on December 5, 2010.
Sami Al-Nisf: Some people in the Arab region promote the idea that they have the same enemies as us in the Gulf, and we accept that. The Palestinian brothers – Yasser Arafat and others – said: "Part of our land is occupied by Israel, and therefore, Israel is our enemy, and it should be your enemy as well." We have no problem with that.
But when someone like Saddam occupied Kuwait in its entirety, not just part of it, the previous president, Yasser Arafat, nevertheless publicly declared his friendship with that enemy. In other words, our enemy is your enemy, but your enemy is our friend. This is being repeated these days.
TV host: Where?
Sami Al-Nisf: Some Arab countries, which have lands occupied by the same enemy, by Israel, justly demand that we be enemies of Israel. But at the same time, they publicly declare their friendship with the country [Iran] that occupies the three UAE islands.
Take, for example, the Israeli nuclear issue. They demand that we oppose it, because Israel is the enemy of the Arabs. But the same country that makes this demand is promoting Iran's nuclear cause.
TV host: Who do you mean exactly?
Sami Al-Nisf: Obviously, Syria... Furthermore, the documents that have been leaked include a statement by the Syrian leadership that even if Iran manages to produce a nuclear bomb, it will not use it against Israel. Who will it is be used against, then? Against us, the Gulf countries.
TV host: Is this a concern for you in the Gulf?
Sami Al-Nisf: Very much so.