Egypt set to work for liberating occupied lands
Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 4/27/2002

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher on Thursday reaffirmed that Egypt was determined to exert all efforts to liberate the occupied Arab lands, particularly Palestine which was reeling under the Israeli occupation.

Speaking at a press conference on the occasion of Sinai Liberation Day, Maher said Israel, as President Hosni Mubarak noted, has trespassed all limits, noting that "when the occupation knows that it will inevitably end, it becomes increasingly violent."

Attacking Israel's reversal of its agreement to give a UN sponsored fact-finding commission access into Jenin and insistence to choose the panel's members, Maher sarcastically said, "it is good that Israel did not ask for writing down the commission's report."

On the possibility of sending the fact-finding commission to the Palestinian territories, Maher said UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he insisted on dispatching the mission Friday or Saturday, adding, "only those who felt guilty were seeking to hide the truth." "We want the commission to know the truth," he added.

Asked about the situation in the Palestinian territories, Maher said Israel falsely claimed it withdrew because the Israeli forces were in fact pulling out of town centers only to encircle them and enter the villages.

Maher wondered if it was a civilized behaviour on the part of Israel, which was claiming to be a democratic country, to prevent Palestinians from burying their dead. "By objecting to the fact-finding mission, Israel is "putting itself in the dock," Maher said.

On reports that Israel was implementing a plan aimed to expand existing settlements and building new ones, Maher said it was contrary to all laws.

Referring to the anniversary of Sinai's liberation, Maher said "we can beat Israel's policies through politics, diplomacy, international efforts and resistance."

Just as the Jews always say they will not forget what Europe did to them, "we too will not forget what the Israelis did to the Arab peoples, and Israel's record is full of crimes against the Palestinian people and the Arabs," Maher said.

Maher said that he was surprised at Israel's claim it was seeking peace while its army was demolishing houses and killing children and civilians.

An Israeli soldier said the army was instructed to use Palestinian civilians as human shields, Maher said, comparing Israel's practices in the West Bank to those that took place in World War II and to armed robberies of banks.

"The European officials are fed up with the Israeli attitudes, but they say the US role is important and that they are trying to influence Washington's role," Maher said.

"This demonstrates that it is not (Palestinian President Yasser) Arafat who is isolated, but rather the Israeli policy and government, even though it was coming from behind closed doors, Arafat's voice was the stronger and his stance gained more international support and sympathy, Maher said.

On Israel's attempts to re-establish a civil administration in the Palestinian territories, Maher said Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was seeking to destroy the Oslo accords, the Palestinian Authority and Arafat, and we must see to it that Israel's policies prove failing.

Asked about a regional conference which Israel was calling for, Maher perceived the idea as meant to cover up Israel's acts of violence, noting that there should be an Israeli withdrawal first.

Queried about how to capitalize on Arab diplomatic efforts in the light of the current visits by Arab officials to the US, Maher said such visits are very important, adding that Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz prospective meeting with President George Bush would clarify many things and would establish the basis for the moves that we would take in the future.

On reports that the leader of the Israeli right-wing Mefdal Party had called on Egypt to give part of Sinai for establishing a Palestinian state, Maher said "only a junkie could come up with such a call," Maher commented, adding, "and as you well know drug addicts should be locked up."

Maher called for a more positive role by the US in the Middle East. "I think the US, and the West as whole, knows where its interests lie, and they have to side with the right and just and stand against the Israeli aggression," he added.

On US Secretary of State Colin Powell's remarks that there was no evidence that a massacre was committed in Jenin, Maher, advising against pre-judging the outcome of the fact-finding mission, said those who went to Jenin expressed their shock "and Israel attacks anyone who voice their shock, which shows there is something they are hiding."

Referring to a change of tone even on the part of pro-Israeli newspapers in the States, Maher said the Israeli government was now isolated and would get even isolated inside Israel with the development of the situation.

On the Arab participation in the Valencia Euro-Mediterranean conference, Maher said that Egypt believes it was more worthwhile to face Israel or any other country rather than leaving the stage for them, adding that the Arab activities at the gathering had an effect in isolating Israel.

Commenting on the decision by Syria and Lebanon to boycott the conference, Maher said, "we respect the views of our brothers in Syria and Lebanon, but in the light of the result we reached in Valencia, I dare say I wish they were there to take part in the battle that we launched, which I think achieved positive results."

Previous Stories:
  Israel's withdrawal from occupied areas not enough to end crisis   (4/25/2002)
  Ebeid: Arab should help with 100 billion dollars for war   (4/25/2002)
  Palestinian case part of National Security   (4/24/2002)

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