Israeli backtracking is clear, peace march should be immediately rescued
Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 2/7/2000

President Hosni Mubarak yesterday held a tete-a-tete session of talks with Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat. Talks between the two leaders, which were later attended by members of the Egyptian and Palestinian delegations, focused on the Israeli credibility regarding peace on the Palestinian track.

The two leaders also reviewed progress of the peace process on the Palestinian track in the light of the failure of the latest meeting between Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak.

They also tackled obstacles which were raised by Israel regarding non-implementation of its commitments of the third stage of withdrawal, redeployment of the Israeli troops in the West Bank and Israel's rejection to abide by the timetables for settling final-status issues.

President Arafat briefed President Mubarak and the Egyptian delegation on the progress of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians saying that no progress was achieved.

Emerging from the meeting, Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said President Arafat described Palestinian-Israeli talks as futile, indicating that things cannot be straightened up this way.

During the Mubarak-Arafat meeting, many questions were raised regarding the current situation and the credibility of the Israeli side vis-a-vis peace on the Palestinian track.

"The situation was clear through following up developments over the past days," said Moussa.

"President Mubarak and the Egyptian side were today apprised of the very negative developments between Palestinians and Israelis," he expounded.

"It is necessary for everybody to know that Israel has obviously backtracked on the Palestinian track," Moussa told the press.

"There is also a freeze on the Syrian track, in addition to reports every now and then on the confiscation of Lebanese lands," added Moussa.

"It is an improper situation that must be dealt with and salvaged immediately," he stressed.

"Optimistic statements and rosy remarks on the Middle East peace process must not be always believed, and pending problems must be realistically and immediately dealt with," he stressed.

Asked on the outcome of the Displaced Palestinian Committee meetings, Moussa sounded a pessimistic note.

"As long as the present situation is so negative, we do not expect the meetings to come up with a positive outcome, but let's wait and see," he said.

Asked whether Israel's position towards the various peace tracks reflected the real position of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak or Israeli domestic requirements, Moussa said that Barak is the one first and foremost responsible for the peace negotiations.

"What is important is that the positions expressed by the Israeli Prime Minister are positive and stable," he added.

On the holding of the Arab summit, Moussa said it was necessary and pressing, but unfortunately some reservations still exist.

Previous Stories:
  Mubarak stresses exigency of resuming talks on Syrian-Israeli track   (1/27/2000)
  Mubarak confers with Arafat   (1/26/2000)
  Arafat visits Cairo today   (1/25/2000)

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