Mubarak and Arafat discuss deteriorating situation in Palestinian territories
Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 9/5/2001

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak yesterday discussed with Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat the deteriorating situation in the occupied territories and the efforts exerted by Egypt , US and Europe hammer out an acceptable formula that could bring calm back to the region, halting Israeli attacks against Palestinian people.

Talks also touched on intensive consultations by President Mubarak at Arab and international levels, the results of talks by President Mubarak during the past few days with king Abdullah of Jordan, Sultan Qaboos Bin Said of Oman, Syrian President Bashar A1 Assad , as well as his contacts with a number of Arab and foreign leaders.

later on the day, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat left Cairo for Gaza where he met with the EU Commissioner for Security and Foreign Relations Javier Solana and European envoy for the peace march Miguel Moratinos.

They discussed latest developments in the Middle East and European efforts exerted to remove obstacles hindering a meeting between Arafat and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, whom Solana met while in Israel.

Upon arrival in Gaza from Israel, Solana inspected a number of sites destroyed by Israel's F-16 jet fighters, especially the main headquarters of the Palestinian Police in Gaza.

On his part, Palestinian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Nabil Shaath termed President Hosni Mubarak's meeting yesterday with Arafat as "very important and extremely positive" as it tackled the deteriorating conditions in the occupied Palestinian lands in light of the constant Israeli escalation against unarmed Palestinian people.

Shaath said Mubarak-Arafat meeting also dwelt on ways to halt Israeli practices in a bid to set the stage for a possible meeting between Arafat and Peres.

"The two leaders likewise examined issues tabled on the agenda of the coming Arab foreign ministers meeting to be held in Cairo on Saturday," he added.

The guerrilla operation, carried out by a Palestinian youth in western Jerusalem yesterday in which 13 Israelis were injured, has overshadowed talks.

Immediately after the operation, Israel accused the Palestinian National Authority and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat of being responsible. A spokesman for the Israeli Prime Minister said the PNA is fully responsible for the operation adding there will be no negotiations before virtual halt of what he termed as violence and terrorism.

On his part, Yasser Abdrabboh, the Palestinian Minister of Information has denied those charges, holding Israeli government responsible for the continuation of violence regardless of the victims.

He said the main reason behind deteriorating situation is the sustained Israeli hostile policy.

In Moscow, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who was on a visit to Russia, asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to interfere with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to halt Palestinian Intifada.

Previous Stories:
  Mubarak, Arafat, probe latest developments in occupied territories   (9/4/2001)
  Mubarak holds international contacts to halt Israeli aggression on Palestinians   (8/30/2001)
  Egypt condemns assassination of PFLP Chief   (8/28/2001)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search