Hamas hails Clark's stand against Israel 19 July 2004 By LEAH HAINES
New Zealand has an unexpected friend in Hamas, a militant Islamic group feared in the Western world, which has thanked this country for its diplomatic slap to Israel over the spy passport scandal.
Word of Hamas' endorsement will spread quickly throughout the Islamic world and will bolster the safety of Kiwi troops working in Iraq, according to Victoria University religious terrorism expert Jim Veitch.
Citing a statement from the Hamas stronghold of Gaza, the Islamic resistance movement's website says Hamas "has highly appreciated the daring position of the New Zealand Government against the Zionist entity".
Professor Veitch said: "To do something like that almost offers (Kiwi troops) protection. Groups inside Iraq are really picking off the partners the United States has... Maybe New Zealand has offered itself some sort of protection."
Prime Minister Helen Clark delivered a stinging rebuke to Israel over its refusal to apologise for, or explain the actions of, two suspected spies convicted of trying to obtain a false New Zealand passport.
The actions of Uriel Kelman and Eli Cara were a deliberate breach of New Zealand's sovereignty, she said, before unleashing a barrage of diplomatic sanctions and suspending high-level visits to and from Israel.
Hamas said her response was a model for all countries to follow, citing New Zealand's "stand in adopting firm measures against the Zionist entity's violations of laws on foreign lands to achieve certain targets".
Miss Clark would not directly comment on the endorsement yesterday, saying only that if Hamas agents had committed the same crimes, they too would suffer the consequences.
A spokesman for Miss Clark said the Government had not had any official contact with Israel at the weekend and was still waiting for an apology.
Israel is sticking to its policy of neither confirming nor denying the identity of its secret agents, though many Jewish media commentators are largely resigned to the diplomatic slap, many describing the affair as an embarrassment for Israel.
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Fahrenheit 9/11" is making mega-bucks in American theaters and — with some help from terrorists who also are Michael Moore fans — it could prove a blockbuster in the Middle East too.
The film industry publication Screendaily.com reports that the movie will soon debut in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain.
“In terms of marketing,” Screendaily.com announces, Mr. Moore “is getting a boost from organizations related to Hezbollah.”
Yes, that Hezbollah: the Syrian- and Iranian-backed terrorist group that pioneered suicide bombings against Americans more than 20 years ago in Beirut, the terrorist group second only to al Qaeda in number of Americans murdered, the terrorist group that now operates against the US in Iraq, the terrorist group Richard Armitage, deputy secretary of state, dubbed the "A-Team of terrorists" — more skilled and cunning than almost any other.
“We can't go against these organizations,” explains Gianluca Chacra, the managing director of Front Row Entertainment, the UAE-based firm releasing Moore's flick in the Middle East.
Mr. Chacra added: “Having the support of such an entity in Lebanon is quite significant for that market and not at all controversial. I think it's quite natural.”
