Peace, not a permanent one-sided commitment

A senior Egyptian official has said that Egypt deems peace a strategic option but not a one-sided commitment "for ever". "There should be pursuit of a fair and comprehensive peace," Osama El-Baz, President Hosni Mubarak's political advisor, told Egyptian TV late Saturday.

He slammed a visit by Israeli Likud Party leader Ariel Sharon to A1 Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem on September 28 as a grave and unforgivable mistake.

"Sharon sought to embarass Barak and block the peace process.

On his part, Barak goaded on Sharon to make that illegal visit at a delicate time and he (Sharon) made it escorted by heavily-armed guards," added El-Baz.

He rebutted Israeli claims that Palestinians ignited violence. He blamed Israel for "aborting" the Sharm El-Sheikh summit held in Egypt last month. "It has not fulfilled its commitments.

It has used excessive force that has gone beyond all limits and declared a war against the defenceless Palestinian people," he added.

El-Baz revealed that President Mubarak had suggested an Arab summit before the Sharm El-Sheikh summit.

"But the developments in the situation prompted the convocation of the Sharm El-Sheikh summit (first) at the request of the US and other international quarters as well.

This summit was for the good of the Palesclnian people, the Palestinian cause and the Arab summit because it (the Sharm gathering) was held on certain terms."

The Arab leaders met in Cairo in late October for the first summit in more than four years.

They held Israel responsible for renewed tensions in the region and put a stop to regional economic cooperation with the Jewish state.

They set up two pro-Palestinian funds of 1 billion dollars. "The Arab summit adopted practical resolutions and did not limit itself to denunciation and condemnation.

They (Arab leaders) agreed that Palestinians' sovereignty over Holy Jerusalem cannot be ceded," said El-Baz.

He pointed out that boycotting American goods could backfire. "It can antagonize the American people and government against the Arabs and give the impression that the Arabs are anti-American.

Thus, a vicious circle can result," he said. "Maintaining dialogue with the US serves Arab causes in general."