ME peace difficulties created dark clouds
Egypt-Israel, Politics, 2/28/2000

Israeli Minister of Justice Yossi Beilin Sunday said Egypt is a pillar of the Middle East peace process whose national interest requires making peace in the region.

Talking to the press after his meeting with President Hosni Mubarak yesterday, Beilin said he felt that President Mubarak was working for the sake of peace and that Mubarak's meeting with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat was part of his efforts to boost peace prospects.

"President Mubarak will meet with other leaders in the region soon in a bid to support the peace process and make parties concerned understand each other in a better way," he added.

On Sunday's meeting, he said they had lengthy talks on the current situation and, according to Beilin, President Mubarak was optimistic about the possibility of realizing peace within the coming months regardless of current obstacles.

"The leaders of the region are generally ready to realize peace and are well aware of the price involved," he said, indicating that the Arabs are ready to pay the price, but not any price.

Beilin said although the Arabs are feeling down, they understand that the chances to make peace are still standing and that there is willingness to make it.

The Israeli Minister of Justice said there is no more time to waste and the climate has to change as soon as possible so that things start moving ahead.

About the provocative statements made by Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy on Lebanon, he said what is important is peace and not statements.

Beilin said he has known Levy for years as a man committed to peace even when he became a Likud member, adding that as a foreign minister he should adhere to the peace process.

But Beilin finally admitted that Levy's statements, given that Israel would leave Lebanon in less than 130 days, were not acceptable and did not come at the right time.

Beilin added that Israel was not concerned with labeling the Lebanese Hezbollah party as a group of freedom fighters or terrorists and that his country was giving top priority now to closing this file.

"Israel would not stay in Lebanon for another 20 years and does not intend to make relations with Hezbollah or identify its identity," he affirmed.

On visiting Cairo at this time, he told reporters there was nothing strange about that as he was used to coming regularly to Cairo where he had friends.

On Israel's repeated talk about the importance of peacemaking without taking genuine steps, Beilin said a line should be drawn between the situation in Palestine and that in Lebanon because bombing Lebanon is not a goal in itself and Israel is ready to get out of Lebanon as soon as possible.

As for the Palestinians, he reiterated what Israel had been saying that it was ready to pull out of the agreed 6.1 percent from the West Bank.

"The Israeli government is committed to working for peace," he said, adding it wants to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian situation this year.

"The two parties know each other well and are willing to foot the bill even if one or the other party was a bit intransigent on a given point," he added.

Beilin, however, threatened to bomb Lebanon if Hezbollah struck, and if not, there would be no violence.

On peace with Syrian, he said Israel is ready to pay the price for peace with Syria and is also ready to pull out of Lebanon and reach a settlement with the Palestinians. "But that did not mean that it would meet all the Palestinian demands," he added.

"Both sides are negotiating out of mutual appreciation and the desire to reach a final solution quickly," he said.

"Egypt has a role in talks and in confidence-building. President Mubarak also has a role in boosting peace and bridging the gap in viewpoints," he said, voicing hope that hurdles could be overcome.

"The Israelis want to reach a compromise with the Palestinians. There is no adamant position on the 6.1 percent area of the lands to be transferred and the two sides could reach an agreement although the Oslo Declaration does not require such an agreement on handing over lands," he claimed.

Beilin said that the final solution was what counted and not the 6.1 percent that was part of the interim phase.

On his part Foreign Minister Amr Moussa made a comment on attempts by Beilin to ease down the current crisis. "Existing difficulties have created dark clouds that it is difficult for us to say we are optimistic in the way Beilin has been speaking," he said.

"We have heard more Israeli statements about Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon. We have nothing that could either confirm or not, the prospects of this withdrawal," Moussa added.

Previous Stories:
  Egypt Condemns David Levy's Statements   (2/25/2000)
  Report: Israel instigates USA to stop its aid to Egypt   (2/22/2000)
  Mubarak sent a message to Barak   (2/21/2000)

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