Israel disguises in false cloak of int'l law, rejects withdrawal
Egypt-Regional, Politics, 5/19/2001

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher received a phone call Thursday evening from US Secretary of State Colin Powell who congratulated him on his new post and informed him of his interest in mutual cooperation.

Maher welcomed cooperation that will put an end to the deteriorating stance in the Palestinian territories.

During the telephone conversation, Powell highlighted the possibility of using the Egyptian-Jordanian peace initiative and the report by the fact-finding Mitchell Committee to stem Middle East violence.

Maher said that the first step to scale down tension is to get Israel to freeze settlement activities, calling on the United States to intervene to stop these activities.

The two officials agreed on continuing contacts and consultations.

On the other hand, the Israeli occupation troops resumed Thursday bombing operations and economic and military siege of the Palestinian lands for the eighth straight month.

An official Palestinian source said that the Israeli forces shelled Qalqiliya yesterday with tanks and artillery fire, injuring one Palestinian in his arm and causing severe damage to several houses.

Several Palestinians were injured Thursday morning as a result of the Israeli bombing of Palestinians' houses in Khan Younis, south of Gaza Strip, said the source, adding the Israelis scooped areas of arable lands at Al-Qarara area.

The Palestinian security forces had thwarted an attempt to storm a residential section southeast of Qalqiliya.

The spokesman for the Israel army said that Israeli troops will not withdraw from parts they occupied in Gaza, claiming that the international law allows Israel to remain in Gaza to repulse what he termed as Palestinian attack.

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat again said he had no idea that preparations were being made for his meeting with US Secretary of State Colin Powell in a European country.

In statements to reporters Thursday, following his return to Gaza from Tunisia, Arafat said he briefed President Hosni Mubarak and President Zine El-Abdine Ben Ali, during his visits to Egypt and Tunisia, on the continuing Israeli escalation against his people.

Arafat spoke of Israel's "100-day plan which, he said, was being implemented in an escalatory way, in the belief that this could bring the Palestinian people to their knees.

Asked about the Palestinian response to the Mitchell Commission's report, Arafat said his side has already delivered its reply. He added that the report included a number of positive points, such as condemning the settlement policy and calling for a halt to violence.

On Arab and international efforts being exerted to stop the Israeli aggression on the Palestinian people, Arafat said the Arab Follow-up Committee will hold an emergency meeting in Cairo on Saturday, with another meeting of the foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic conference to be held Qatar late in May.

Previous Stories:
  Mubarak to address sixth COMESA summit Tuesday   (5/17/2001)
  Egypt calls on UN Security Council to take measures to stop violence   (5/16/2001)
  Mubarak's efforts to salvage ME peace process   (5/12/2001)

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