Some Israeli voices refuse Israeli policies
Egypt-Regional, Politics, 8/13/2001

"Egypt will make intensified contacts with different world tries as part of a diplomatic campaign aimed to halt different world countries as part of a diplomatic campaign aimed to halt the provocative acts committed by the Israeli government, the latest of which was occupying the Orient House in the occupied Al Quds," Foreign Minister Ahmad Maher said.

In statements to reporters, Maher called on Israel to return the Orient House to the Palestinian Authority (PA), adding that its occupation broke a previous commitment by Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres that all Palestinian institutions in Al Quds would remain intact.

"All world countries, including the U.S., have denounced such a provocative act," he stressed.

The current "interactions" in Israel are due to the policy pursued by the Israeli government, he said, referring to reports that Peres had threatened to resign.

"There are voices in Israel that now reject the policies of the Israeli government," he said.

On his meeting with U.S. House of Representatives member Gary Ackerman, Maher said it touched on the serious situation in Palestine, the Israeli malpractice that should stop the means to start implementing the Mitchell recommendations and resume negotiations.

Maher said that he sensed a great appreciation on the part of the American deputy of Egypt's role in supporting to peace process, adding that Ackerman praised President Hosni Mubarak's leading role in the peace process.

Maher said that he talked with the U.S. legislator on the importance of an active, fair American role that could help in resuming the peace process, as well as the importance of cooperation between Egypt and the U.S. in this regard.

The top diplomat said that he explained the Egyptian stance, which expressed the Arab and Islamic group, with regard to Durban's anti-racism conference and the importance that the gathering condemn the Israeli policies and call for peace.

There have been attempts, Maher said, to hold a dialogue with the U.S. as called by the conference's hosting country, South Africa, and the leadership of the Geneva preparatory conference, so that a suitable formula can be reached on the Palestinian issue and the serious Mideast situation in light of Israel's practices.

He expressed regret at the U.S.'s failure to take part in a related working session that was attended by many countries, including Egypt.

Asked whether the peace process had entered a "dark tunnel" of which it would not be able to get out, given Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon's reckless attitude towards world reactions, Maher said that "there is no dark tunnel that has no way out, but still there is a very serious situation... that must be ended".

"We do not ask Sharon to change his views, but we call on the entire world to unite with us so that we could get Sharon to change his policies," Maher noted.

On the statements of Israeli National Infrastructure Minister Avigdor Lieberman in which he described Egypt as a hostile country, and said President Mubarak sought to destroy Israel step by step, Maher said that Lieberman's remarks were always strange, silly and not objective.

"Lieberman is a weak voice, and that's why we no longer listen to him," Maher said.

Sunday's visit by former Israeli Justice Minister Yossi Beilin to Cairo, and the viability of contacts with him since he did not have the authority of decision making in Israel, Maher said Beilin had asked to come to Cairo for talks with him, adding that he agreed because Beilin was exerting efforts for achieving peace.

Answering question on whether there was a collective Arab action at levels rather than the summit level to face up to the recent serious deterioration, Maher said Arab foreign ministers would hold a meeting early in September, and till then contacts would continue.

"Meanwhile, the Foreign Minister described the situation in Iraq as "not healthy", calling for ending the sanctions slapped on Baghdad and urging Iraq to stop threatening its neighbors stressing that the political action is the only way for security," Maher said.

"Political action is the only way for the Israeli government to realize security for the Israelis and Palestinians and clinching a settlement that safeguards interests of all parties." He said.

"The Israeli policy leads to these operations", said Maher, referring to the Palestinian retaliatory attack earlier in the day in Haifa.

"These operations are the outcome of the Israeli frustrating policies which dash any hope for any political settlement," the top diplomat said.

Maher reiterated President Hosni Mubarak's confirmation that there is no suppressive or security solution but rather a political one.

On the Egyptian-Libyan initiative, Maher highlighted the unambiguous nature of the Egyptian-Libyan initiative on realising Sudanese reconciliation, asserting that it was accepted by all Sudanese parties, including leader of the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) John Garang.

In statements, Maher refused to comment on Garang's demand for more items to be added to the initiative.

Asked about the convening of an Arab-African conference on Sudanese reconciliation, the top Egyptian diplomat said that this issue is expected to be addressed during talks he will hold later this evening with visiting Libyan secretary of the People's Committee for African Unity Ali Abdel-Salam el-Turayki.

The SPLM had earlier pressed for adding a number of items to the Egyptian-Libyan initiative, including self-determination and the separation of religion and state.

On the other hand, Foreign Minister Ahmad Maher met on Sunday with Ali al Turayki, Secretary of the Libyan People's Committee for African Unity.

Emerging from the meeting, Maher told reporters that the meeting was part of continued consultations between the two sides, either through messages or telephone calls.

The meeting took up means to activate the Egyptian-Libyan initiative on realising peace in the Sudan and helping the Sudanese people reach national concord within the framework of Sudan's unity.

Maher pointed out that the Egyptian and Libyan sides would continue consultations, adding that the two countries saw eye to eye on the initiative.

On his part, the Libyan official expressed satisfaction with the outcome of meeting with Maher, pointing out that Egyptian Libyan contacts continued at the highest level either between President Hosni Mubarak and Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi or between officials in the two countries.

The two sides agreed to hold a meeting for the initiative committee in Tripoli in September and that foreign ministers of the two countries would meet in the same month.

Previous Stories:
  Egypt maintains intensive contacts with Arab states   (7/30/2001)
  COMESA-SADC to meet to coordinate stances before Doha conference   (7/28/2001)
  No war in the region as Israelis allege   (7/25/2001)

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