Egypt calls on Washington to interfere for halting Israeli attacks against Palestinians
The Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak today receives a message from US President George Bush. The message will be conveyed by Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher who will return home today from New York.
Minister Maher told reporters that the message dealt with the deteriorating situation in the Middle East and the Egyptian-US efforts to save the situation.
Maher said Egypt has called on the US administration to interfere immediately for halting Israeli attacks against Palestinians.
Maher had a telephone conversation with Secretary of State and said that he was prepared to cooperate with Egypt for putting an end to deteriorating situation in the occupied territories.
Powell asserted that the Palestinians and Israelis should take urgent measures for halting violence.
Maher said he got a telephone call from Nabil Shaath the Palestinian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation who briefed him on the dangerous situation in Palestine.
Minister Maher said his visit to Washington has achieved positive results mainly US assurances in the administration and the Congress for supporting Egypt economically in order to avoid the negative aspects of September 11 incidents.
In statements to Al Akhbar the Foreign Minister said what is taking place in the occupied Palestinian territories is a step backwards.
However he said this should not dispel our hope for peace. He said Egypt does not agree on operations targeting civilians, referring to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) attempts to prevent these operations.
He said Israeli attacks the PNA because it realizes that negotiations would put an end to its occupation of Palestinian territories.
In an interview with the US TV network, he said that negotiations, Madrid terms of reference, and the principle of land for peace are the only way for putting an end to violence.
He said the Israeli behaviour is an attempt to challenge US readiness to place an active role in the peace process.