Baz clarifies Egypt's positions on regional developments
Egypt-Regional, Politics, 5/12/2001

Osama Al Baz, advisor to Egyptian President Mubarak, urged the United States to "face its responsibilities" and become more involved with the peace process. While talking to reporters, he went on to answer questions about the government's position regarding recent events as well as clear up some questions about his own future role.

When asked to comment on reports that he may become Egypt's next foreign minister, Al Baz laughed off the rumors as unlikely, saying that "he had a different role." Al Baz also addressed the issue of anti-Semitism in the Egyptian media. "Egyptians are not as sensitive to symbolism as Europeans and Americans," he said.

He went on to explain that since the holocaust and concentration camps were European phenomena, they did not hold the same connotations for Egyptians. He said that Arabs had lived side by side with Jews in the Middle East for centuries and he called anti-Semitism a "European problem."

Al Baz spent a considerable amount of time talking about the situation between Palestinians and Israelis.

"The Palestinians resist because they are religious and proud," he said. "If they give into Israeli hawkish policies they know they will be dominated for God knows how long." Asked what his assessment of the present Israeli administration was, Al Baz reiterated that the Egyptians will be sticking to their initial conclusion that Sharon's government will not last long. But he added, "these things don't change in a matter of days. In the end," he said, "Israelis will look to see if the government was successful in its policies." Insinuating that the present Israeli administration has not been successful so far, Al Baz added, "Sharon has failed to force his will on the Palestinian people."

According to Al Baz, the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories served no other purpose than to intimidate the Palestinians.

"There are 37,000 empty residential blocks in the settlements" at present, he noted. Therefore new building was carried out not out of need but due to political considerations. "It's a way of saying 'you will never get your land back,'" he said.

The Egyptian government is concerned with the deterioration in the situation, however. Al Baz said that there is a widespread feeling, "not only within the region but outside," that the situation is explosive and difficult to contain.

"There is a danger it could reach a level where reason can't prevail," he said.

Echoing the Israeli feeling that the Palestinian leadership is responsible for the violence, Al Baz said, "I believe Arafat is able to control the situation but might not be able to in the future."

However, he did go on to put the blame for continuing violence and indirect responsibility for the suicide bombings on the Israelis. "If you take hope away from a people and make their lives miserable they might decide to kill themselves and some of their enemies with them."

Concerning the peace process, Al Baz's main message was that the United States should take a more active role. He did say that some contacts were made on the ambassadorial level but that "wasn't enough."

He went on to add, "It is [the U.S.] responsibility as a co-sponsor of the peace process and a country that backs Israel all the way."

Previous Stories:
  Egypt rules out peace-saving summit in Sharm El-Sheikh   (5/9/2001)
  Mubarak rallies world support Egyptian-Jordanian initiative   (5/9/2001)
  Egypt asks for two permanent seats for Africa in UNSC   (5/9/2001)

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