Libyan leader accuses Israel of fueling Darfur conflict

September 1, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi blasted Israel accusing it of standing behind the six year conflict in Sudan’s Western region of Darfur.

“The Israelis have a card to play, they say we are a minority in the world, consequently, we support all minorities. They look for minorities in any country especially in Africa: they claim they support these minorities and they make alliance with them against the majority,” Gadhafi said in a speech before the African Union (AU) special summit held yesterday in Tripoli.

The summit attended by Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir, is held under the theme of resolving conflicts in Africa.

“Their [Israelis] policy is clear, and they are behind this faction in Darfur. This is a reality, for the office which is in Tel-Aviv and the head of this faction which calls itself, the liberation of Darfur is supported by Israelis and he is now under the protection of France, he might be a terrorist or a rebel but he is under protection a member state of the United Nations and his revolt is supported by these countries,” Gadhafi said.

The Libyan leader was referring to the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) led by Abdel Wahid Al-Nur, which publicly announced last year that it inaugurated an office in the Jewish state.

Dealings with Israel are considered a taboo in the Arab and Islamic world. Sudanese officials often point fingers at Israel saying it is financing and supporting Darfur rebel groups.

Gadhafi echoed the same accusations while addressing the AU summit.

“I am saying that Israelis have a big role in Africa in instigating these disputes and problem in Darfur is clear proof since they are impudently and openly behind this crisis and any African country with minority will be supported by the Israelis,” he said.

The Libyan leader who is also the AU chairperson called on African states to expel Israeli embassies saying that Israel “is not a state, but a gang that declared its creation unilaterally on a disputed land”.

“Do not be deceived by the Israelis , they will not give you useful aid since they take rather than give and you can see for yourselves which country benefited from the Israelis,” he said.

Libya is currently involved in trying to bring Darfuri factions together to negotiate with Khartoum. It had attempted to host peace talks two years ago but it broke down after the major rebel groups boycotted it.

At the time, Gadhafi described the Darfur conflict as a “quarrel over a camel” and that the IDP’s “are enjoying the free food offered by aid agencies”.

The UN estimates that up to 300,000 people have died and 2.7 million have fled their homes amid violence that started six years ago in Darfur.

(ST)