Doaa El-Bey looks at the ripple effect caused by the entrance of El-Baradei into Egypt's political scene and the Iraqi elections which could be the country's last before the withdrawal of US troops The attack by Israeli settlers on Al-Aqsa Mosque and other Islamic sites was regarded as another attempt to further escalate tension and left many commentators and writers demanding a serious Arab and Islamic stand rather than mere denunciation. The editorial of the Palestinian political daily Al-Quds said the fresh Israeli aggression against the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the attacks on worshippers by Israeli security bodies represented the latest in a series of dangerous escalations over the past few weeks, indicating the Israeli intention to expand the conflict. Perhaps the Palestinian, Arab, Islamic and international reaction to the Israeli assault necessitated immediate intervention from the UN Security Council not only to denounce the Israeli aggression, but to take deterrent measures to prevent the repetition of such practices. Thus the edit called on the Arab and Islamic worlds to hold an emergency summit that would come out with clear demands to the international community. "It is high time the Arab and Islamic worlds test the credibility and seriousness of Europe and the US in ending the Israeli occupation which is the real cause of instability and the absence of peace and security in the region." The Qatari daily Al-Raya wrote that soon after the Israeli authorities had decided to list the Ibrahimi and Bilal Ibn Rabah mosques as Israeli heritage sites, a group of Israeli settlers protected by the Israeli police tried to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque, but were blocked by Palestinian protesters who rushed to protect their Islamic shrine. "What happened in Jerusalem, Hebron and Bethlehem shows Israeli indifference to the sentiments of the Arab and Islamic worlds and disrespect for the people's culture and international laws." The editorial called on the Palestinian, Arab and Islamic peoples to stand united against the ferocious Zionist aggression which aims to wipe out the Palestinian, if not the Islamic, identity. It also called on governments to stand up to the aggression by taking effective measures to defend the Islamic shrines and support the Palestinian people. The editorial of the United Arab Emirates daily Al-Bayan said it was not the first time Al-Aqsa Mosque had been attacked by the Israelis. Every now and then, Israeli forces launch an attack on Al-Aqsa and other Islamic sites, a scene repeated many times ever since the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. But, the editorial added, Israeli aggression has witnessed a noticeable escalation in the last few days in an extremely provocative way. Furthermore, under false pretenses, the Israeli government started a plan to annex disputed shrines and list them as Israeli holy and historic sites. It started with the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron and the Bilal Ibn Rabah Mosque in Bethlehem. The Israeli prime minister confirmed that the list is still open, which means that more sites are to join the list in the future. "Israeli intentions at the Islamic sites in the occupied territories are old and well-known. But it has recently entered a dangerous and decisive phase. It became more organised and focussed on igniting war in the region," the edit said. Although the edit regarded the denunciation of the Israeli acts as important, it was not enough. The Israel aggression should be deterred, the edit concluded. The Syrian political daily Tishreen noted that the language of peace is subsiding and the language of war is increasing as a result of Israeli practices. "Everything indicates that Israel is continuing its aggression and judaising policies without any restraint. And this goes hand in hand with its threats, assassinations, blockades and provocations of the Arab and Islamic worlds." Meanwhile, Arab states refrained from directing any similar threats to Israel, indicating they still consider peace as their prime option and tool to regain their occupied land. But how can they achieve that goal when Israel insists on war, the edit asked. Although the advent of the Obama administration spread hope for peace it was soon dashed by Israeli aggression and rejection of peace. As a result the language of war is casting a pall over the region at the expense of peace. Iraq's upcoming elections were regarded by many writers as a significant event that would have a great impact on the future of the country. Abdel-Rahman Al-Rashed wrote that in a few days time, Iraqis will write their political destiny -- either a new prosperous era or the last elections the state will ever have. That's why the vote is being called decisive. Al-Rashed did not expect the experience of Nuri Al-Maliki's government, which ruled Iraq for the last four years, to be repeated even if Al-Maliki was re-elected, because of many factors, including the withdrawal of US troops, and the weakness of the US presence because of dwindling US interest in Iraq ever since Barack Obama became president. These factors, as Al-Rashed added, led to the gradual external interference in Iraq especially from Iran which managed to force two candidates out of the elections. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad asked who had the right to take part in the Iraqi elections, a remark regarded as provocative by Iraq's neighbouring countries. Whatever the outcome of the elections, Al-Rashed said, the facts created on the ground after the fall of Saddam Hussein will not be easily preserved and the conflict on the external as well as internal level will be more ferocious. He expected that the people would participate in the elections. "Regardless of who wins the majority, the success of the elections will give hope that the boat carrying the country will withstand the coming storm and reach the shore safely," Al-Rashed wrote in the London-based political daily Asharq Al-Awsat.
