Mubarak, Arafat, probe situation in Palestinian lands
Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 4/9/2001

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa Sunday said President Hosni Mubarak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat discussed the volatile situation in the Palestinian territories.

The two leaders talked about the provocative measures adopted by Israeli government against the unarmed Palestinians, moussa noted.

It is clear that the situation is getting worse he said, warning that the ongoing settlement construction and killing of Palestinian cadres would further deteriorate conditions.

Moussa noted it necessary to crystalise an Arab stance in light of Amman summit resolutions and continue consultations with Jordan and other sides concerned with the peace process to face up not only the security situation but also the political situation and the constant threats to any opportunity to resume peace talks.

On the Arab situation as regards the call to allow Jews to visit al-Haram al-Sharif, moussa said the Arabs and Palestinian could never accept such a thing.

Arafat, he said, reiterated his rejection of political surrender as well as land abandonment.

The Israeli campaign is launched under several titles to stop violence and accuse the Palestinians of violence, while its real aim is to replace the description of the Palestinian intifada with violence, the foreign minister said.

The Intifada is an uprising of people under occupation against the occupation forces present with their tanks, planes, artillery and illegal measures under the international law, he said, adding the Arabs have hard choices to make to tackle the very dangerous situation.

If the aim is to make the Palestinian people surrender, politically and factually, there will be a major responsibility for the Palestinian people and the Arab states, he said.

Israel is taking dangerous measures such as imposing a siege and building settlements, a matter that cannot be accepted or imposed because such a policy is impossible to deal with, he added.

Asked about Israel's liquidation policy of Palestinian leaders, Moussa described the situation as very grave.

It is a series that once started will not end, moussa said, because every action has a reaction.

Moussa said that no one could be blamed for the escalation of violence except the Israeli policy, but blaming Arafat and the Palestinians is a matter that cannot be logically accepted.

The Egyptian Foreign Minister said there is no need to rally forces against the Israeli policies because there are Arabs who instantly react to what they view on television sets and it is very natural to support the Palestinian people under such conditions.

On the needed political support, Moussa said: "There must be a political support for the Palestinian people because their position is a steadfast and firm stand and goes in line with logic, law, and all international norms because the Palestinian people are under occupation and want to end it and we support them in that.

There is a campaign to distort information and hold the Palestinian side responsible, he said, adding that he was surprised to find some officials in European and International capitals blaming the Palestinians.

But he said that complaints of Palestinians that they do not receive the Arab funds earmarked for them, Moussa said the matter is under consideration and will be submitted to the President.

On the possibility for asking for international protection again for the Palestinians, he said the issue is also a subject of deliberations.

Previous Stories:
  Palestinians not blamed over reaction to Israeli provocation   (4/7/2001)
  Egypt condemns Israeli strikes against Palestinians   (3/31/2001)
  Amman summit reiterates calls for international Protection for Palestinians   (3/21/2001)

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