NEW YORK (AP) - At a forum Thursday hosted by former President Clinton Muslim scholars blamed the United States for what they called its unquestioning support of Israel and failure to promote democracy in the Islamic world.
Clinton defended his administration's policies in the Mideast, though he conceded in discussion with Muqtedar Khan, of Adrian College in Michigan, that America hasn't done enough to support democracy.
``I agree with you. I didn't do as good a job as I should. But I couldn't figure out how to do it,'' he said. ``Tell us how to do it.''
Attended by about 200 invited guests, the daylong conference was the first public event held by the Clinton Presidential Foundation. Other sponsors were the New York University School of Law, which hosted the meeting, and the Muslim-Christian relations center at Georgetown University, Clinton's alma mater.
Raghida Dergham, a U.S.-based diplomatic correspondent for the Arabic newspaper Al-Hayat, said America must change its foreign policy if it wants to defeat Muslim radicals.
She said a central problem is ``America's unqualified support of Israel'' despite its ``illegal occupation of Palestinians.''
Muslims, she said, ``feel a great injustice was done to them, not only by Israel but by the United States.''
Clinton responded that the Palestinians rejected a deal with Israel, brokered by his administration, that would have given them a state covering Gaza, virtually the entire West Bank and all but ``a few blocks'' in East Jerusalem.
He said U.S. financial aid goes to Egypt, as well as Israel, under terms of a peace treaty America was committed to.
Clinton offered no criticism of Bush administration foreign policy, though he said long-term solutions require ``more than military and law enforcement efforts.'' He also bypassed the opportunity to join Muslim speakers in attacking U.S. domestic security measures.
``I strongly support our efforts to break up the terrorist networks,'' Clinton said.
Khan said America is reducing civil liberties for its citizens. ``Four out of 10 articles in the Bill of Rights are effectively suspended,'' he said.
Quadir Amiryar, a George Washington University law professor, added that America should be consistent in its support for the rule of law and justice.
Muslim speakers also said westerners must understand the complexity of the Muslim world.
Tariq Ramadan of the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, said Americans typically see two sides - moderates vs. fundamentalists.
In fact, he said, there are six ``Islamic tendencies'' with variations within each: traditionalists, literalists, reformists, rationalists, mysticism and political interpretations.
Ramadan was among several speakers who said media depictions of Islam and Muslims have worsened America's understanding of the current situation, partly by focusing on small groups of radicals who do not represent the majority of Muslims.
``The media today are presenting Islam in the wrong way,'' he said. ``It is a civic responsibility to change that.''
Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan's ambassador to the United States, blamed the gap in understanding between the West and the Muslim world on media distortions ``on both sides.''
Terrorism is identified with Islam, but it exists in places from Sri Lanka to Northern Ireland, she said, and ``the quintessence of Pakistan and most Muslim nations is moderate, middle of the road.''