Current circumstances are not suitable for solving Palestinian cause but liquidating it
Palestine-Regional, Politics, 7/6/2002

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa denied reports propagated by Israel and western media that the former US administration of Bill Clinton had tabled a genuine peace plan during the Camp David parleys.

This came in Moussa's address late Thursday to Alexandria Law School teaching staff.

There was no integrated proposal to settle the Palestinian cause in Camp David summit but only ideas about the issues of refugees and Al Quds, he said, accusing the then US administration of deliberately trying to waste time.

"Egypt exerted some sincere efforts, tabled proposals and papers and asked Clinton and his secretary of state Madeleine Albright to present written proposals but they did not respond until December 23, 2000, few days before Clinton's presidential term expired and offered the Palestinians a take-it-or-leave-it deal," Moussa recalled.

Moussa underlined that all circumstances are not for solving the Palestinian cause but rather liquidating it.

"The Palestinians should have been given a chance to negotiation because any decision in issues such as refugees and Al Quds is not only in the hands of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat," he added.

Moussa asserted that the Arab-Israeli conflict has reached an unprecedented level of deterioration and is the worst even compared to the situation in 1948 and after the 1967 defeat.

He attributed this to the fact that one superpower is governing the entire world and offering international protection and immunity to outlawed Israel.

"The US allowed Israel to enjoy political immunity, huge media support and immense financial aid but this is no justification to grant the Jewish State immunity to break international law," Moussa stressed.

He warned that this situation would spur more anger, protests and instability in the region.

The Palestinian cause is not only of concern to the Palestinians but to Egypt's national security, Moussa said, adding that any tension would also affect neighbouring countries.

Commenting on US President George Bush's recent address on the Mideast, Moussa said it contained positive points especially when Bush asserted that there would be no security under occupation.

On the issue of removing Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, Moussa underlined that only the Palestinian people have such a right.

"It is inconceivable that the president of the most democratic country in the world would press for replacing or ousting Arafat," Moussa said.

On the establishment of a common Arab market, Moussa said that we cannot jump to the establishment of such a market without first setting up a free trade area and a custom union.

He asserted that 14 Arab countries have so far joined the free trade area which, he said, would be complete by 2005.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Qabas: Contacts for convening a mini Arab summit on Palestinian issue   (7/4/2002)
  Moussa confers with Oreikat   (7/2/2002)
  Arab League denounces the erection of the Israeli isolation fence   (6/18/2002)

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