Report: Egypt refuses to mediate between Syria and Israel

Egyptian diplomatic sources in Cairo told the Kuwaiti daily al-Rai al-Am on Tuesday that Cairo refused, once again, an Israeli request to mediate for holding a summit meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Syrian President Hafez al-Assad.

The sources added that President Mubarak told Barak that he cannot interfere or discuss with Damascus the question of arranging the summit meeting, especially as there are still obstacles impeding negotiations between the two sides, and under the condition that the government of Israel had not submitted a written pledge to the Syrian side on its readiness to fully withdraw from the whole of the occupied Golan to the June 4, 1967 border, which is one of the main Syrian demands which Cairo views as just and legitimate.

The sources stated that Mubarak expressed to Barak his full backing for the Syrian position which is clinging to the fact that discussions of any security arrangements or the establishment of relations between Damascus and Tel Aviv will be a later step that comes after Israel's commitment to complete withdrawal from the Golan.

The sources indicated that Cairo's understanding of the Syrian position comes after previous experiences between Syria and Israel during negotiations took place between the two sides under the rule of former Israeli Prime Minsters Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres.

The sources added that Cairo is waiting for promises made by Barak on himself for the third time during his recent visit to Cairo concerning the promotion of negotiations on the Palestinian track within ten days.