Egypt refutes Israel's claims regarding the Intifada
Egypt-Regional, Politics, 3/12/2001

Egypt's Foreign Minister Amr Moussa on Sunday held a series of intensified meetings aimed basically to prepare for the upcoming Arab summit.

The Foreign Minister held a trilateral meeting with Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdel Ellah AL Khatib and three Palestinian officials; and a meeting with Yemeni Foreign Minister Abdel Qadir Ba Jamal.

Following the meetings, Moussa told a press conference at the foreign ministry that all the gatherings had concentrated on the agenda of the Arab summit slated for march 27-28, the Middle East peace process and the situation in Iraq.

Asked whether the trilateral meeting discussed the issue of extending financial aid to the Palestinians who had not received the assistance promised by the Arabs, Moussa said the meeting had only discussed the political aspects of the peace process in light of the new Israeli government.

On whether he sensed a maturity in the Arab stance with regard to reconciliation between Iraq and other Arab Gulf countries during the meetings, the foreign minister said such matters take time to study and cannot be determined at one or two sessions.

On whether the Iraqi file would be listed on the agenda of the Arab summit, the top diplomat said this matter will be discussed on Sunday and Monday.

Asked to comment on Palestinian accusations that the Arabs failed to offer due support for the Intifada, Moussa said the financial aid which the Arabs had promised their Palestinian brethren began to reach them, and Sunday's meetings considered the means to expedite the delivery process.

On Israel's claim that Egypt is backing the Intifada and supporting it militarily, he declined to comment on such a claim. "let them say what they want," he added.

Queried whether Cairo would broker a meeting between Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon and Palestinian president Yasser Arafat, Moussa said the issue is not a photo opportunity for television cameras.

So far, Moussa said, the attitude of the new Israeli government towards the peace process is not clear. On the fact that israel and the new US administration have made it a condition that the Palestinian Intifada stop before resuming negotiations, the foreign minister said the intifada cannot be halted by pushing a button.

Ending the intifada depends on addressing the frustration felt by the people occupied due to the practices of their occupier, Moussa elaborated.

The foreign minister affirmed that what was needed now was to move quickly towards reaching an all-out, just solution to the palestinian-israeli conflict. All sides should work' to end the conflict in accordance with international resolutions and signed agreement, Moussa noted.

On whether there was a public feeling of frustration over the attitude of the Bush government towards the issue of A1 Quds, moussa said any peace sponsor must play an honest, impartial role.

past experience in this regard, Moussa said, is very revealing: either all sides, including the US, become erious in dealing with peace and reaching a durable solution, or they will face frustration, failure, tension and uprising.

Previous Stories:
  Final status of Jerusalem should be determined through negotiations   (3/10/2001)
  Follow-up committee report on Cairo summit resolutions   (3/10/2001)
  Moussa discuss Sirte summit, Palestinian, Iraqi situation   (3/1/2001)

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