Female political leaders in the Middle East appreciate Pelosi visit

[eridani]

http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/041107WA.shtml

Many female political leaders and peace activists in various parts of the Middle East expressed support for last week's visit by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Syria.

"We are fed up with this division of the world into two camps - the evil and the good - which proved right from the beginning was very silly and very naive," said Toujan Faisal, a former member of Jordan's parliament. Such slogans, she says, are used to justify the bombing of men, women and children and Bush's policy has created massive destruction and death in the Middle East.

Pelosi "came and decided to break this big farce of evil and good, and paid a visit to the area where real people live," said Faisal. "I'm very optimistic. I'm very glad. She gave a very positive view of elected women in politics."

She added that "the gates of hell" have opened in Iraq with the country's current violence and extremism now being exported abroad.

Democracy can be achieved, she said, only through truly free and fair political elections and the halting of government corruption, particularly in Arab states considered moderate such as Jordan and Egypt.

Israeli Parliament Member Zahava Gal-On of the leftist Meretz-Yachad party also praised Pelosi.