Egyptian Shura Council on Al-Aqsa Mosque events
Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 10/2/2000

The Arab and Foreign Affairs and National Security Committee of the Shura (Consultative) Council held on October 1st, 2000 an emergency meeting under Dr. Mohamed Al-Said Al-Dakak to discuss the Israeli provocation that took place at Al-Aqsa Mosque, the severe confrontations between the Palestinian and the Israeli forces, and the possible impact on the ME peace process.

The committee stresses the following:
1- Israel was behind such events, as one of its politicians made unjustifiable and provocative visit to Jerusalem at a time when settlement talks were focusing on the sensitive issue of Jerusalem, a matter that triggered a wide-scale resentment of the Palestinians, the Arab and Islamic countries in general. The visit did not take into consideration the sanctity of the holy sites or even the sensitivity of the general situation in the region, leading to the explosion of the already-flared up situation in such a way that raises several questions on the real intentions of some political powers in Israel.

2- The Palestinian reaction vis-a-vis such provocative behavior was normal, stressing the Palestinian people legitimate rights in maintaining the sanctuary of the holy sites.

3- The random shooting of the Israeli forces on demonstrators in such a way that claimed lives of more than 20 Palestinian martyrs constitutes a dangerous setback to the final settlement negotiations. The insistence of the Israeli powers on provoking the Arab and Islamic peoples, and the intransigence towards the legitimate Palestinian right in regaining lands and sanctities do not provide apt climate to continue the negotiating process, rather such actions raise violent alternatives that no body likes.

At the end, the committee vehemently condemned the Israeli provocation at Al-Haram Al-Sharaif, and condemned acts of violence that faced the Palestinian demonstrations. The committee, further, underscored the importance of the Israeli understanding to the meaning of Al Al-Haram Al-Sharaif Intifada (uprising), and the fact that Al-Aqsa Mosque will never be surrendered in any settlement.

The committee also offered its sincere condolences to the families of the Palestinian martyrs, and expressed full support to all actions by the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate rights.

The committee stressed full support to all steps to be taken by the Egyptian political and diplomatic leadership under the leadership of President Hosni Mubarak in the face of intransigence and political terrorism practiced by some Israeli leaders, and expressed support to the President's efforts to adopt a unified Arab stance towards such provocation.

Previous Stories:
  Moussa welcomes Barak proposal on Jerusalem   (9/30/2000)
  Moussa welcomes Barak proposal on Jerusalem   (9/30/2000)
  Egypt denounces Aqsa bloody events   (9/30/2000)
  Egypt denounces Aqsa bloody events   (9/30/2000)
  Jerusalem's condition deteriorated due to fighting   (9/30/2000)
  Arafat informs Mubarak with the developments in al-Aqsa mosque   (9/30/2000)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search