Mideast press condemns London attacks

Many Arabic papers worry that the bomb blasts which shook London on Thursday have sullied the name of Islam.

Some point at the same time to the "inevitability" of the attacks and link them directly to UK actions in Iraq.

In Israel, commentators exhort British officials to take a tougher line against "terror".

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Muslims are standing shoulder to shoulder with their friends in Britain... An attack on London is an attack on all Arabs. London is not only the capital of the Middle East, but also the capital of the free world.

Pan-Arab Al-Sharq al-Awsat, commentary by Adel Darwish

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Let's hear Muslims condemning these attacks without 'but' and 'if'.

Pan-Arab Al-Sharq al-Awsat, commentary by Amir Taheri

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The foolish mentality that planned these attacks - devoid of any bravery, honour or morality, and undoubtedly far from Islamic traditions and beliefs - has once again expanded the circle of hatred against Muslims and Islam.

Pan-Arab Al-Hayat, commentary by Khalid al-Harub

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Terrorist acts, including those in London, which target the innocent, are condemned in the strongest terms possible. But we must always remember that the US war on Iraq has so far left more than 100,000 people dead and four times this number injured, most of whom are innocent people.

Pan-Arab Al-Quds Al-Arabi, commentary by Abdel Bari Atwan

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Those fighting in the name of Islam have sullied its name... But, for the sake of our freedom, we must all stop those who violate our freedom.

Pan-Arab Al-Sharq al-Awsat, commentary by Tariq al-Hamid

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We urge Muslims and Arabs [in the UK], be they immigrants or students, to help the security men confront all criminals attempting to bring sacrilege to our Muslim nation.

Pan-Arab Al-Arab al-Alamiyah, commentary by Ahmad al-Hawni

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No matter how strong the condemnations are, they require more work on the political and security levels.

Jordan's Al-Dustur, editorial

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Fighting terrorism is an international must.

Jordan's Al-Ghadd, commentary by Ayman al-Safadi

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The explosions come as no surprise to anyone who has been following the threats of terrorist acts in London for the past week. They also came as no surprise to anyone who has been expecting a violent response to Britain's participation with the US in occupying Afghanistan and Iraq.

Egypt's Al-Jumhuriyah, editorial

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The shocking and coordinated explosions... give Islam a bad name.

Saudi Arabia's Al-Watan, editorial

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The blood that has been shed will not stop the world's war on terrorism. Life will go on without a single drop of blood going to waste.

Oman's Oman, editorial

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These horrific attacks did not only target Britain. They were a barbaric attack on the international community and human civilisation.

UAE's Al-Ittihad, editorial

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The blasts... have no legal or moral justification. The victims are innocent people drawn from the various religions and races.

UAE's Al-Khalij, editorial

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Yesterday's explosions in London... are an utterly rejected form of malice.

Palestinian Al-Quds, editorial

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Is killing innocent people, ruining the Olympic jubilation and inciting against the Middle East and Muslims a retaliation for what is happening in Iraq?

Palestinian Al-Hayat al-Jadidah, commentary by Ahmad Dahbur

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Most Britons, I suspect, will want to find the unity, discipline and tenacity they last showed in the darkest days of World War II. And most Britons, now as then, I suspect, are fully capable of recognising the true nature of their enemy.

Israel's Jerusalem Post, commentary by David Horovitz

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In order to defeat the terror plague there is a need for an aggressive policy that does not provide cover for the terrorists fighting Israel.

Israel's Hatzofe, editorial

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Four years ago the Western world declared war on Islamic terrorism. But Europe wasted this time mainly in chatter about terrorism.

Israel's Yediot Aharonot, commentary by Alex Fishman

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Yesterday's terrorist attacks are a grave blunder by HM's intelligence services... On 7 July 2005 the successors of Bond and Smiley had no information about this activity taking place under their noses.

Israel's Maariv, commentary by Dan Shomron

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After the London terrorist attacks the fear of an unconventional terrorist attack on European soil continues to be a threatening scenario, albeit a realistic one.

Israel's Maariv, commentary by Amir Cohen

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