Egypt cannot accept Israeli raids on Lebanon

Foreign Minister Amr Moussa Thursday told his Israeli opposite number David Levy over the phone that Egypt cannot accept the ongoing Israeli military aggression on Lebanon.

Levy promised Moussa that he will convey this message to his Prime Minister Ehud Barak and the Israeli Government to give a reply to the Egyptian government. "Israel's strikes will have dire consequences and such strikes cannot persist," Moussa said.

The contacts are part of Egypt's continuous efforts with the Israeli and American sides to stop the assault on Lebanon and make Israel adhere to the April Understanding agreement.

Foreign Minster Amr Moussa Thursday summoned US ambassador to Egypt Daniel Kurtzer to inform him with Egypt's deep concern over Israel's grave violation of April Understanding in Lebanon.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Moussa warned that Israel's continued attacks on Lebanon will lead to very grave developments. He spelled out Egypt's rejection to Israeli continued attacks on civilians and civil installations in Lebanon and as they are not beneficial neither to Lebanon nor to Israel or the peace tracks.

"Such attacks cast doubt on Israeli Prime Minster Ehud Barak's credibility and its policy towards peace," Moussa pointed out. Asked what the US should do towards this situation, Moussa made it clear that Cairo has asked Washington to shoulder its responsibility as sponsor of the peace march in the region in order to halt the Israeli aggression on Lebanon.

Emerging from the meeting, Kurtzer, who affirmed he will convey the message, said that Moussa hoped Washington would do its utmost to stop the violence.

Kurtzer denied that the goings-on in Lebanon will overshadow the projected visit of President Hosni Mubarak to the US because the two countries have congruent views on Lebanon. "Both Cairo and Washington want a quick stop to the violence and a resumption to peace talks," he said.