Many Arabs fear McCain would continue Bush policy

By Nadim Ladki

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Arabs keen to see the end of George W. Bush's presidency fear that a win for likely Republican candidate John McCain will bring little change to U.S. policies they blame for destabilising the Middle East.

For Arab politicians who have gained from U.S. policy in countries including Iraq and Lebanon, continuity may be a good thing.

But Bush's many critics in the Arab world worry that McCain will continue current U.S. policies, which they fault for unleashing chaos in Iraq and providing unflinching support for Israel in its conflict with the Palestinians.

McCain wants to keep troops in Iraq until it is more stable, setting him at odds with Democratic rivals who want to withdraw from a country which has been wracked by violence since U.S.-led forces toppled Saddam Hussein five years ago.

During a Middle East tour this month, McCain's statements on Israel also sounded alarm bells for Arabs who have long criticised Washington for not exercising enough pressure on the Jewish state to withdraw from occupied Arab land.

"The first time McCain started to catch attention was when he visited ... Israel and committed himself to recognising Jerusalem (as its capital) and not pressuring Israel," Mohamed al-Sayed Said of Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies told Reuters in Cairo.

"This confirms the natural inclination of Arabs to think that whatever the next administration is, it will be a tool of the Israelis."

But while Arabs see little difference between candidates when it comes to the Arab-Israeli conflict -- with all repeatedly committing themselves to Israel's interests and security -- Iraq is seen as a different story.