Tensions rise between Egypt and Israel due to conference
Egypt-Israel, International, 9/26/1997

After tension between Egypt and Israel calmed following the accusations that the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu raised against the Egyptian judiciary system due to the latter's ruling against convicted Israeli spy Azam Azam for 15 years, this tension is on the rise again.

The reason for current tension is Egypt's insistence on holding an "exceptional conference" in the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva of the member countries of the Fourth Agreement of the year 1949, which deals with the occupied territories and their citizens.

Israel informed Egypt officially through its ambassador in Cairo Zefy Menzael that the UN is not the suitable venue to solve the Palestinian-Israeli problems, and that the international organization will not be able to solve these problems which should be solved by the two concerned countries.

The second "exceptional session" of the General Assembly of the UN which was held on the request of the Arab Group and in accordance with the article of Union for Peace mentioned in the charter, witnessed the Arab Group's call for holding an exceptional session to discuss the Israeli commitment to apply the agreement in the lands that it occupies, especially in the light of its settlement policy. The Arab Group called on the UN to apply the agreement's articles to the Palestinian lands in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem which is mentioned in resolution 242.

The Swiss Foreign Ministry is preparing for the conference, which stipulates the agreement of two thirds of its 188 members which signed the agreement in order to hold the conference. The Swiss government sent letters to all the member countries to get their view regarding their participation in the conference.

Israel countered the Arab moves by contacting some friendly countries in order not to agree to holding or participating in the conference. Similarly, Egypt is contacting the countries of the agreements through its embassies in these countries to make sure that a sufficient number of countries will agree in order to hold the conference.

Egypt is being assisted in its endeavors by the main party in this issue, the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat who in turn contacted and sent letters to the two sponsors of the peace process, the USA and Russia together with the European Union and heads of states and Prime Ministers of the these countries requesting their participation in the conference in light of the Israeli settlement policy in the occupied territories and its violations of the international agreements including the agreements signed in Oslo, Washington, and Cairo.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa delivered a speech to the Security Council yesterday in which he tackled the current situation in the Middle East in an effort to increase awarness of the serious impass to the peace process reached due to Israeli policies. He also met with the US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

Previous Stories:
  Palestinian Authority reduces expenses by $45 million   (9/24/1997)
  Egypt requests Israel pay $30 million   (9/23/1997)
  Netanyahu's criticism for Azam sentence   (9/12/1997)

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