politicalpartypoop.com

Found via the Little Green Footballs headlines box (on the sidebar)  

When Jordan’s King Abdullah addressed a joint session of Congress, he predictably chose to blame all of the world’s problems on Israel—and did not even mention Hamas: Jordanian King’s Address to Congress Draws Criticism For One-Sided Mideast Peace Outlook.

WASHINGTON —  Top House Democrats said Wednesday they are “disappointed” with Jordanian King Abdullah’s address to a joint meeting of Congress in which he singled out the plight of Palestinians without mentioning the role of Palestinian groups in preventing a Mideast peace.

In a room with a number of pro-Israeli politicians, the king devoted his speech to discussing an end to the conflict in the Middle East, but he focused primarily on the needs of the Palestinians and suggested that Israel was holding up the peace process.

At no point did he discuss the role of Hamas, the U.S.-designated terror group that is the majority partner in the Palestinian government. Hamas has refused to recognize Israel or change its charter calling for the destruction of the Jewish state.

“I meet Muslims thousands of miles away who have a deep, personal response to the suffering of the Palestinian people. They want to know how it is, that ordinary Palestinians are still without rights and without a country. They ask whether the West really means what it says about equality and respect and universal justice,” he said.

At least one Congressman was ecstatic at the King’s standard-issue “Arabs hate Israel” speech, though.

Abdullah set the tone for his 30-minute speech at the outset when he noted the historic make-up of the 110th Congress, which “welcomes its first woman speaker and its first Muslim-American member of Congress.” …

Minnesota Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison is the first Muslim member of Congress. Upon Abdullah’s recognition, he shook hands with his seated neighbors, Reps. John Lewis, Rahm Emanuel and Hoyer.

At the end of the speech when the king offered a traditional Arabic greeting for peace, Ellison vocally responded in kind. He was the only attendee to do so and gave an embarrassed laugh as people turned to look at him.

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 8th, 2007 at 12:59 pm and is filed under Uncategorized.
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