Maher: Egypt capable of defending itself
Egypt-Israel, Politics, 10/24/2003

Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said Egypt is working for a reaching genuine peace that achieves the interests of the Palestinian and Israeli peoples and maintains the stability of the region.

Answering a question on Israeli provocative statements, towards the Palestinians and many countries of the region, Maher said these statements do not shake us adding that they aimed at attracting attention away from the destruction, the assassination and practices which are rejected by all quarters.

He said Israel has failed to achieve security and stability adding that it even shed blood of the Israeli and Palestinian sides and created a tense atmosphere not helpful to reaching a settlement for the interest of all parties.

Minister Maher discussed the latest developments in the occupied Palestinian territories with Ahmed Qrei, the Palestinian Premier.

Minister Maher said Israel is fanning out charges against whomever dares criticize it and even dubs a number of its sages who are trying to work out a viable settlement as criminals.

In statements to MENA on Wednesday, Maher said Israel is killing the roadmap and has been opting for the road of violence and destruction rather than peace and security.

When a number of intellectuals and politicians from the Israeli and Palestinian sides set out to reach what could be a ground for a settlement initiated by former US President Bill Clinton in Camp David and Taba, the Israeli government started pouring down criminal charges against them.

Anybody criticising Israel is immediately faced with an avalanche of false accusations staring from anti-semitism to smuggling weapons via tunnels Israel itself controls from the other side, added Maher.

Israel was the creator of the same weapon which it now it combats, said Maher, apparently referring to Palestinian self- bombings.

This weapon was the product of the policy of random killing, destruction, vandalizing of farmland, denying Palestinians the right to work or live and building a wall that buries any hope for peaceful coexistence, Maher elaborated.

"How much longer will the world stand by as a spectator, and how long will some international parties continue encouraging Israel to carry on with its schemes?" Maher wanted to know.

The world and Israel's friends in particular have to undertake responsibility to save the oppressor from his own acts and spare the region the fallout from policies that proved to be of a complete failure, said Maher.

Maher pointed out that the truce announced by the Palestinian factions was torpedoed by the Israeli acts.

What is necessary now is that Israel should change its stances and, likewise, its supporters should change as well.

Israel is capitalizing on the lukewarm reaction and considers it a green light to carry on, he noted.

He said that President Hosni Mubarak would convey this message to the US State Secretary Colin Powell later in the day.

He saw the separation wall being built by Israel on Palestinian land as an indication of non intention on the part of Israel to allow the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Maher said that the latest draft agreement signed by intellectuals and politicians from the Israeli and Palestinian sides in Switzerland, regardless of its content, is a cogent argument against Israeli claims about the absence of a Palestinian negotiator to hold dialogue with.

The importance of this document is that it can rally public support inside Israel to thwart claims about the impossibility for settlement, he added.

Previous Stories:
  Israel replaces its ambassador in Egypt   (10/18/2003)
  Kissinger asked Israel to violate resolution 338, continue fight   (10/10/2003)
  Al-Baz: Israel is not serious about peace   (9/29/2003)

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