Moussa presses for neutral mediator in Middle East
Palestine-Regional, Politics, 4/20/2002

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa left Geneva Friday wrapping up a three-day visit during which he addressed the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Commission.

At a meeting Thursday with members of the Swiss Press Club, Moussa pressed for a neutral and fair mediator in the Middle East that would not side with one of the parties against the other.

Peace would never be achieved in the Mideast without such a neutral broker, he asserted.

The problem lies in the current Israeli government which believes that Israel is above international law and that it can impose its own vision of peace, said the Arab League Chief.

"Israel would never find an Arab country that would pressure Palestinian President Yasser Arafat into giving concessions on lands, Al Quds or the issue of Palestinian refugees," he asserted.

"Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has proved to the world that he is a warlord and not a man of peace," Moussa said.

Just and comprehensive peace would not be attained under the present conditions, he said, referring to the Israeli massacres in Jenin refugee camp where thousands of Palestinians were killed by the Israeli forces.

Moussa expressed deep concern over what happened in Jenin, describing it as a crime whose dimensions have not yet been revealed.

"The Arabs will not spend another ten years trapped inside a vicious circle giving Israel time to build more settlements and impose a status quo," Moussa stressed.

"The role of the US is very important but we want a role that will not be biased in favour of one party against the other," he said.

Moussa described as constructive the formula tabled in Madrid a week ago by the four-way meeting which grouped the U.S., UN, and Russia.

He expressed conviction that this formula would not be biased towards Israel but would rather work as a neutral and balanced mediator.

Moussa welcomed the Russian role in the Middle East peacemaking drive. Talking up the issue of Palestinian resistance, Moussa wondered, "did not the French and Belgian peoples resort to resistance to fight the foreign occupation? Why then deny the Palestinians the same right?"

We need practical steps and not TV diplomacy, stressed the Arab League Chief. Moussa welcomed UN Chief Kofi Annan's call for sending international peacekeeping force to protect the Palestinian people against the occupation army.

Such force could monitor the Israeli withdrawal to ease tension, he added.

On whether US President Bush's statements about the establishment of a Palestinian state were credible, Moussa asserted that he had no reason to doubt Bush's words.

Previous Stories:
  Moussa discusses providing protection for Palestinians   (4/15/2002)
  Moussa updated on outcome of Arafat Powell meeting   (4/15/2002)
  Israeli economy paralyzed, amid increasing Arab calls for boycotting Israel   (4/15/2002)

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