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World-Wide Anger At Czech Premier’s Arafat-Hitler Comparison
Wednesday, February 20, 2002
Islam Online & News Agencies

Zeman: “Negotiations should not be conducted with terrorists.”

"I would like to stress that I never compared Arafat to Hitler."

CAIRO
Egypt has asked Czech Prime Minister Milos Zeman to postpone a planned visit here amid Palestinian and wider Arab outrage after he reportedly compared Palestinian President Yasser Arafat with Adolf Hitler.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher told reporters that "because of our commitments, we have asked the Czech prime minister to postpone his visit to Egypt," which had been scheduled for February 28.

Maher did not elaborate, but a ministry official, who asked not to be named, said Egypt had asked for the delay Tuesday, February 19, in protest at the remarks attributed to Zeman in Monday's edition of Israel's Haaretz newspaper. Egypt's request was made before Zeman denied the remarks in Prague.

The comparison published in Haaretz prompted protests from the Palestinian territories, the Cairo-based Arab League and the European Union, which Prague is seeking to join.

Palestinian information minister Yasser Abed Rabbo said the words displayed a "most racist attitude towards the Palestinian leadership" by implying Israel must deal with the Palestinians as the West dealt with Hitler.
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