Halting violence without ending Israeli occupation, impossible
Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 7/17/2001

Egypt's Ambassador to France Ali Maher Monday said halting violence without ending the Israeli occupation or opening the door for negotiations is impossible.

In statements to the Middle East News Agency (MENA)Maher, Dean of Arab diplomatic corps in Paris, said he asserted to the French Foreign Ministry that it is impossible to stop violence while a country which claims to be civilized, declares that it will increase its official assassination policy without trial.

The policy of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is unacceptable, namely the demolition of houses in minutes to widen the scale of settlement activities. This flagrantly violates international laws and norms, he emphasized.

Egyptian-French consultations prior to Sharon's latest visit to France had a positive impact on the French negotiator who faced Sharon knowing his real intentions and stances.

Many of Sharon's claims did not receive response from the French side, he pointed out.

Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine will present a proposal during a meeting of the European Foreign Ministers in Brussels on Monday forming an unbiased international observing mechanism that targets calming down heated condition in the Middle East in order to pave the way for implementing the Mitchell Commission's recommendations. He added.

Vedrine added the term "unbiased to the mechanism so that Sharon will not be the one who set the date for ending violence and starting the implementation of the Mitchell report, he said. "The proposed mechanism will comprise non-Palestinian and non-Israeli parties in order to avoid the problem of exchanging accusations," he pointed out.

The public opinion has become a means of pressure on the French government, he said, adding that the public opinion endorses Israel's right to existence and security but at the same time rejects Sharon's brutal policies based on assassinations and besieging Palestinians.

Previous Stories:
  Maher: security inseparable from politics   (7/16/2001)
  The status quo in the occupied land, no longer acceptable   (7/16/2001)
  People's Assembly stresses Arabs' adherence to just, comprehensive peace   (7/14/2001)

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