Surf Arab States

Arab States Weekly Review 20 – 26 Feb 2010

Israeli opposition leader Tzipi Livni has applauded the controversial killing of Hamas commander Al-Mabhoub in a hotel in Dubai last week. Dubai authorities are still investigating the assassination, tracing the trail of 22 people believed to be involved. Israeli intelligence agency Mossad has been widely accused of the killing, though declines to comment on the issue. Diplomatic tension between Israel and Western states have grown.

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi criticised a Swiss vote against the building of minarets, and urged all Muslims to boycott the country. Libyan-Swiss tensions date back to 2008, when Mr. Gaddafi’s son was arrested in Geneva, accused over assaulting two servants. The Swiss foreign ministry declined to comment on Gaddafi’s call to Jihad.