Mubarak refutes Israeli allegations
Egypt-Israel, Politics, 3/31/2001

Egyptian President Mubarak yesterday voiced regret and astonishment over Israeli media claim that Tel Aviv had informed Egypt in advance of last week's air strikes against Palestinian targets.

In his first reaction to the claims aired by Israel Radio Sharon's office as saying that Egypt was notified in advance of the impending Israeli strikes against Palestinian targets, President Mubarak told reporters at the airport before leaving for Paris and Washington that there were no contacts of that kind between Egypt and Israel.

I knew about the strikes only from the news agencies. Nobody informed us. Anybody who has contradictory information should announce it," he said

President Mubarak accused the Israelis of trying to drive a wedge between the Arabs and the Palestinians, between the Arab states, or between the Arab countries and the US, which may have been notified beforehand.

The President said the Israelis also claimed that the Jordanians were aware in advance of the strikes.

President Mubarak said bilateral relations between Egypt and the United States have their special significance, adding that his talks in Washington would tackle ways of pushing relations forward for the mutual benefit of both countries.

He said cooperation between Egypt and the United States will continue with the aim of reaching a solution to the Palestinian cause and resuming negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides.

He said this issue would figure high on the agenda of his talks in the United States owing to its implications to maintaining stability and peace in the region.

Previous Stories:
  Sharon calls on the US to halt its aid to Egypt   (3/22/2001)
  A message from Sharon to Mubarak   (3/13/2001)
  Egypt will never provide Israel with water   (3/12/2001)

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

Search