Israeli officials cast doubts over their seriousness to realize peace

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher stressed that the contradictory statements coming from Israel every day really cast doubt on how far Israel was serious in reaching a settlement. Israeli premier says something and the foreign minister says another, he added.

"It seems there is a problem inside Israel but they have to settle it and start seriously to deal with the issue after it has been proven that force solves nothing," Maher said.

On Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon's rejection of the formula of understanding reached by Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Palestinian Legislative Council Speaker Ahmed Korei, he said as far as he knew there was no memo of understanding.

There were some contacts to set a timetable for the resumption of negotiations, he added.

On the reason behind the postponement of the Arab follow up committee meeting, Maher said some Arab states saw that timing of the meeting was so close to the ministerial meeting which was held recently in Cairo.

So we believe it will be appropriate to hold the meeting in February.

On the EU's considering Islamic resistance movements to organizations, he said Egypt's stance in this respect is clear since there is difference between terrorism and resistance. The entire world should know this fact, added Maher.