Sorour: Israel must respect int'l law
Egypt-Israel, Politics, 4/29/2002

Egypt's Parliament Speaker Ahmed Fathi Sorour expressed Egypt's appreciation of the European Union's concern for giving impetus to the Middle East peace process.

In a recent letter to Mr Pat Cox, speaker of the European Parliament, Dr Sorour said that he was gratified to learn of Europe's bid to provide a platform for launching dialogue and understanding between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

"I was glad to hear of the bid by the European Parliament's, but in view of the present circumstances, Mr Ahmed Qurei, Speaker of the Palestinian Parliament, cannot accept your invitation to hold a dialogue with Speaker of the Israeli Knesset Avraham Burg.

"Having followed with interest Mr Burg's statements during his meeting with yourself and members of the European Parliament, I feel that I should draw your attention to the following facts," Sorour wrote.

Israeli sabotage

"I agreed at the Conference of Euro-Mediterranean Speakers of Parliament in Athens in February 2002, and at the Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference in Marrakesh in March 2002, to extend an invitation to both Israeli Speaker Avraham Burg and Mr Ahmed Qurei, Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council to meet in Sharm El Sheikh with members of the Bureau of the Conference of Euro-Mediterranean Speakers of Parliament to draw up a peace declaration, which would be put by Mr Qurei before the Palestinian Legislative Council in Ramallah and by Mr Burg before the Israeli Knesset."

"However, the Israeli reoccupation of Ramallah sabotaged the proposed peace platform that we earnestly sought in order to establish the foundation for understanding between the two peoples," he added.

Coordinated policy

"The speakers support the need to hammer out an integrated world policy regarding the Mideast peace process, instead of initiating a US or European policy in this connection.

"This uniform policy would be practicable only through firm commitment to international legitimacy and UN resolutions. A second Madrid Peace Conference, as recommended by Mr Burg, would not be appropriate.

The Madrid Peace Conference of 30 October 1991 defined the terms of reference for a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East on the basis of Security Council resolution 242 and the land-for-peace principle.

However, Israel did not comply with the resolutions of this conference," the letter said.

Dr Sorour wrote that he was astounded by Mr Burg's claim that the UN and the international community are applying double standards in their dealings with Israel.

While Israel had taken the unilateral step of withdrawing from south Lebanon, Syria had not pulled out of Lebanon, and Hizbullah military action against Israel continues without intervention by the international community or the UN.

War crimes

"Mr Burg seems not to have yet realised firstly, that Israel still occupies areas in south Lebanon, namely the Shebaa Farms, and secondly, that Israel is party to double standards in the real sense.

Israel is guilty of war crimes and atrocities against the Palestinian people and maintains its occupation of Palestinian, Syrian and Lebanese territories in contravention of principles of international humanitarian law and UN resolutions," the letter said.

Dr Sorour's letter said that Mr Burg seems oblivious of the fact that the presence of Syrian troops in Lebanon is with the consent of the Lebanese government, and that Lebanon is under occupation. To draw an analogy between this and the Israeli occupation of Lebanon is an absurdity.

"Has Mr Burg forgotten the Qana massacre that Israel had committed against innocent civilians in south Lebanon? Even if such a tragedy has been erased from his memory, it will remain alive in Arab conscious," he wrote.

"He is calling on the UN to assume its proper role, but has Israel honoured its pledges to implement several UN resolutions to this effect? Or is he asking for more resolutions for Israel to discard as it had done before?" he asked.

Terrorist actions

Mr Burg did not even hint at terrorist actions against Palestinian civilians in Deir Yassin village, Sabra and Shatila, Jenin, Balata, Khan Younis, Rafa, Ramallah, Gaza, Nablus, Al Birah, Al Amari, Jabaliya, and Bethlehem, Dr Sorour wrote, adding that he was surprised to hear Mr Burg commenting that Israel would not respond to the European 'stick' policy, preferring the 'carrots' that the EU could provide Israel, notably Israel's political and economic integration with the European Union and a military role in NATO.

"I cannot understand why Israel is making demands for remuneration and incentives, which are offered exclusively to those countries that are committed to the pursuit of international peace. Has Israel followed this example?"

Has it not come to the conclusion that its bloody conflict with the Palestinians has created instability, not only in the Middle East and in the Euro-Mediterranean regions, but also worldwide?" he asked.

"Is Mr Burg suggesting that his country should be rewarded for masterminding devastating operations, which caused the evolution of an infrastructure driven by terrorism?" Dr Sorour asked.

"Is he hoping that is country will be repaid for ignoring UN Security Council resolutions and blocking the dispatch of an international fact-finding team to investigate the Jenin camp massacres? the People's Assembly speaker wrote.

Dr Sorour referred to Burg's assumption that Israel's joining NATO would guarantee the security of the Jewish state. What would be Burg's perception of a guarantee of security for the Palestinian people and the independent state of Palestine, Dr Sorour wrote.

"We sincerely hope that Mr Burg will find his way back to the peace supporters' camp," Dr Sorour wrote.

We petition for no more than respect for the law, for which we, as legislators, are working for the sake of ensuring peace and security, founded on justice, as well as for the protection of future generations in our region in order to spare them from harbouring rancor and mutual resentment, the letter concluded.

Previous Stories:
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  Muslims, Christian Youth Associations Condemn aggressions on mosques, Churches   (4/16/2002)
  Egypt resumes air flights to Israel   (4/15/2002)
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