Baz meets Beilin, Sarid on rescuing Midesat peace
Egypt-Israel, Politics, 1/7/2002

The Egyptian Presidential advisor Osama el-Baz described former Israeli justice minister Yussi Beilin as one of strongest peace advocates in Israel.

In statements following meeting with Belin and Meretz leader Yussi Sarid on Sunday, Baz said both Israeli figures are committed to the promotion of the Midesat peace process.

He added that Beilin and Sarid are well-aware that hardliners should not be given a chance to kill the process.

Evaluating efforts of peace advocates in Israel, Baz said they are exerting much efforts but when violence prevails, calls for peace are eventually overpowered.

He called on peace advocates to work for a restoration of calm.

Baz welcomed the speech given by Palestinian president Yasser Arafat on December 16 and the measures he had taken afterwards.

He hoped that Israeli-propagated seizure of a ship loaded with weapons would not have negative impact as the Palestinian authority denied any-connection with it.

Baz said his meeting with Beilin and Sarid is part of the opinion and information exchange. He voiced his country's keenness on maintaining ties with pro-peace groups in Israel, describing them as the partners for peace.

Beilin and Sarid underlined that peace advocates in Israel are influential and largely concerned with the continuation of the process, said Baz.

Evaluating mission of US Midesat peace envoy Anthony Zinni, Baz said the mission has not been completed yet

On Israel's raising of the issue of smuggled weapons to render Zinni's mission a failure, the presidential advisor said one can not jump to conclusions before investigations and evidence which come up in the coming period.

Baz slammed as nonsense and totally baseless allegations that the ship was going to cross the Suez Canal and unload in Arish, an Egyptian seaport.

Egypt does not allow any security breaches or violations of international law, he stressed.

Asked whether they are confident about Arafat's declaration of a cease-fire, Sarid said the past two weeks were promising as a reasonable calmness was reached.

The Israeli public response was encouraging as, according to the recent polls, the majority of the Israelis strongly support a swift resumption of negotiations and understand that an independent Palestinian state is indispensable, Sarid added.

The Israelis are ready for concessions, even though they are painful ones provided that they are assured the current situation would come to an end, he said, adding that the core of the current problem is the lack of confidence between both parties," said Sarid.

Despite some objections, Arafat is the Palestinians' leader and he is a real partner in peace, he added.

Previous Stories:
  Sarid, Belin to visit Cairo   (1/5/2002)
  Egypt rejects Israeli news reports   (1/3/2002)
  Al-Baz: The Egyptian ambassador will not return back to Tel Aviv in the near future   (1/3/2002)

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