Egypt warns against halting Palestinian-Israeli talks

Egyptian Presidential Political Adviser Osama el-Baz warned on Thursday against grave consequences that may result from stopping the Palestinian-Israeli talks.

He ascertained that talks should be sustained, provided that the goal is to reach an agreement according to the international terms of reference and rules and not through imposing solutions.

Baz stressed the necessity that both parties accept the principle of continuing talks.

Answering a question on Israel's decision to suspend talks and its arbitrary decisions, Baz told reporters that the intention to reach a satisfactory deal should be there, on the part of both sides, to achieve a balanced point in their interest.

Baz termed some events taking place now as negative and do not serve the climate of peace.

He stated that the negative statements, released by both parties to the effect that the current Israeli-Palestinian encounters are mere contacts and not negotiations do not serve peace.

Answering a query on contradictory statements made about progress and failure in talks, Baz said that progress would not occur in a night-and-day time and it was a mistake for any side to give upbeat or downbeat statements on their own.

He said that progress is going on, but slowly and successively. "It is in need for a movement from both the Palestinians and Israelis," he added.

Baz stressed that an agreement should be struck as soon as possible, warning that depression may lead to the eruption of violence.

On Israeli accusations that Egypt does not help the Palestinians show more flexibility, he said that Cairo reiterated more than once that it is not a tool to pressure the Palestinians. "It suffices for Egypt to extend support to the Palestinians and advice to the Israelis," Baz stressed.

Baz said that Cairo is looking forward to a solution by the Palestinians and Israelis. "It is in the interest of the Egyptians that the peace process moves on in a bid to strike a deal," he argued.

Baz emphasized that the door is open to Arab and Islamic parties to play a role in peace, such as Saudi Arabia, and these parties showed extreme interest in the Jerusalem issue.

He said many states are giving support to the peace process such as the US, EU, Russia, Japan, and other African, Asian, and Arab states, adding that what was raised does not level up to ideas, which come primarily from the Palestinian side.

On Israeli claims that the Palestinians have to accept Washington's ideas cited at Camp David, Baz said that no party has the right to dictate the other party with his view.

"Such acts only mean a threat and that is not acceptable."

On the Syrian track, Baz said that Egypt is convinced that both the Syrian and Palestinian tracks should go along hand in hand.

On his assessment of Israel's project to build a ring road around Jerusalem and giving the Palestinians living in Jerusalem Israeli IDs, Baz said that Israel will not be capable of wiping out the Palestinian or the Arab identity although it has been occupying the holy city since 1967.

Baz added that impeding renovation works in Al-Haram Al-Sharif took place upon a court ruling in response to a memorandum submitted recently by the Israeli police department.

The court said that non-Muslims are banned from entering the area except for visitors and tourists. "The court also affirmed that any practices inside the Haram without the Islamic religious authorities' approval are illegal," Baz said, adding that prayers for non-Muslims (Jews and Christians) in the holy area are also banned.