Egypt urges Israel to halt seperation wall construction
Egypt-Israel, Politics, 7/22/2005

Egypt has renewed calls to pressure Israel into halting the construction of the separation wall which veers into swathes of the West Bank and isolates thousands of Palestinians.

Speaking before the Security Council, Egypt's Permanent Representative Ambassador Maged Abdel Fatah called for alleviating the suffering of the Palestinians under occupation.

Abdel Fattah said Egypt would continue playing its role to push forward the Middle East peace efforts, citing Cairo's efforts to help the Palestinian Authority train security members and boost its security capabilities as an example.

He warned that the continued construction of the separation wall would lead to a continued vicious cycle of violence both the Palestinians and Israelis suffer from.

The plan to continue the wall building would cast a shadow of final-status talks, as it means imposing a certain situation on the ground and ending off Palestinians' hopes for an independent state, the Egyptian ambassador said.

He reiterated Egypt's commitment to a balanced implementation of the "Sharm Al Sheikh understandings" which offer guarantees for a successful Israeli withdrawal from Gaza Strip.

Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister and Information Minister Nabil Shaath said Israel's withdrawal from Gaza and re-launching the Middle East peace process are two main topics expected to figure high during US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's visit to the Palestinian lands.

Rice started a visit to Israeli and Palestinian lands Thursday evening.

In statements Thursday, Shaath said Palestinian officials will ask the US Rice to press Israel to abide by international legitimacy resolutions during the pullout.

The peace process should be re-launched the day that follows the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, to include the West Bank, said the Palestinian minister.

He also asserted that the Palestinian security forces were ready to shoulder their responsibility after the Israeli withdrawal.

Shaath further called on Palestinians to Palestinian National Authority (PNA) in carrying out Both the Palestinian people and the Palestinian factions should stick to their duties towards the PNA, he said.

Previous Stories:
  Envoy to visit Egyptian prisoners in Israeli jails   (7/13/2005)
  Egypt: Cultural normalization with Israel linked to achieving peace in Palestine   (7/13/2005)
  Egypt rejects Apartheid separation wall   (7/13/2005)

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