Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is promising greater cooperation with Arab nations on economic, political and cultural fronts.  Mr. Wen told the Arab League in Cairo Saturday that the key to better relations is "respecting diversity of civilizations." 

Premier Wen stressed China's role as "trusted brothers" of the Arab people and noted the history of trade between the nations dates back to the Silk Road. Mr. Wen said trade has soared in modern times, more than tripling between 2004 and last year, when it topped $132 billion.

The Chinese leader spoke in Cairo ahead of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, a major investment conference in the Egyptian resort Sharm el Sheikh.  He also held talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on bilateral ties.

But his speech to the Arab League focused mainly on cultural diversity and respect. 

He noted that China has 56 ethnic groups, and more than 20 million Muslims.  He elaborated in detail how the Chinese government helps ensure they have access to what he called Muslim food. 

Premier Wen also said the Chinese government works for the equality of all ethnic groups, a point disputed by China's Tibetan and Uighur dissidents, among others.  He added that he rejected linking terrorism to any ethnic group or religion, again a point debated by Muslim Uighurs who have been rounded up in anti-terror sweeps. 

The Chinese leader was given a warm reception in Cairo, with the audience applauding at various points in his speech.  But his reference to how every Chinese household has embraced the Arabic classic, 1001 Nights drew a gentle rebuke from Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa.

Amr Moussa said that while the stories include interesting historical ideas, that time is done and gone.  He pointed to the Arab world's contemporary exports, including scientific texts.

All the same, the Arab League chief noted that China is a development model to be emulated.

Color Daily Palestine

Palestinian officials say PresidentMahmoud Abbas does not plan to run for re-election in January.
He announced his decision at a meeting of theexecutive committee of thePalestine Liberation Organization, and is expected to give a speech on the issue later Thursday.
Palestinian officials say the executive committee is trying to persuade Mr. Abbas to reverse his decision.
Mr. Abbas has led the Palestinian peace effort withIsrael since becoming president of the Palestinian Authority in January 2005.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Arab foreign ministers in Morocco to discuss Israel's offer to limit the expansion of Jewish settlements. Clinton says Israel should reciprocate positive Palestinian moves to improve security.

Secretary Clinton says Palestinian President Mahmud Abass has shown "leadership and determination" to improve security, and Israel "should reciprocate."

Her comments in Jerusalem Saturday praising Israel's offer to limit the expansion of Jewish settlements were widely criticized in the Arab world.

Palestinian officials say the Obama administration is encouraging Israel to sidestep a 2003 agreement calling for a complete halt to those settlements.

Jordan and Egypt issued statements critical of the apparent shift in U.S. policy. Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa is "deeply disappointed" and says "failure is in the atmosphere" regarding Obama administration efforts to resolve the conflict.

After meeting with Arab foreign ministers in Morocco, Clinton sought to deflect that criticism.

Continued

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Amnesty International has accused Israel of denying Palestinians the right to access adequate water by maintaining total control over the shared water resources and pursuing discriminatory policies. 

These unreasonably restrict the availability of water in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and prevent the Palestinians developing an effective water infrastructure there.
“Israel allows the Palestinians access to only a fraction of the shared water resources, which lie mostly in the occupied West Bank, while the unlawful Israeli settlements there receive virtually unlimited supplies. In Gaza the Israeli blockade has made an already dire situation worse,” said Donatella Rovera, Amnesty International’s researcher on Israel and the OPT. 

Read more in Color of Time Magazine

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Kuwait's constitutional court ruled that Kuwaiti women have the right to travel without their husband's permission, revoking a 1962 passport law. Women in other Gulf States, like Saudi Arabia, still need permission from a close male relative to travel. 

Kuwait took another step in favor of women's rights when the country's constitutional court ruled that women do not need to obtain their husband's consent before obtaining a passport to travel.

The high court, whose rulings may not be appealed, struck down part of a 1962 law that stipulated that women may not be granted a passport without the approval of their husbands.

Continued

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Iranian media report that authorities have detained three people in connection with Sunday's suicide bombing that killed 42 people, including 15 members of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards.
Iran's Fars news agency Tuesday quoted a top Iranian prosecutor, Mohammad Marzieh, as saying that the three were apprehended in Sistan-Baluchestan, the province where the bombing occurred. He also said the suicide bomber has been identified as an Iranian national.
Media in Iran also quote Revolutionary Guards chief General Mohammad Ali Jafari as vowing to "retaliate" against U.S. and British intelligence agencies that he says helped the bombers.
He also accused Pakistani intelligence agents of links to Jundallah, the Sunni militant group that claimed responsibility for the blast.
The Pakistani, U.S. and British governments condemned the attack and denied any involvement.

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