Mubarak: Palestinians should express their opinion of the French initiative

Egyptian President Mubarak said that Palestinians should not give Israelis a chance to backtrack on the implementation of agreements, indicating that overthrowing Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat would neither achieve peace nor stop bloodshed.

He said that contacts with the US administration will be sustained for halting violence and resuming negotiations.

In statements to reporters after laying the foundation stone of the Grand Egyptian Museum, President Mubarak said that President Arafat is an elected President,and that Palestinians should express their view concerning the French initiative.

Regarding the initiative, the President said it speaks about elections and then about the establishment of a Palestinian State.

The President wondered "Would the elections be a referendum on a solution or on Arafat?" The President said that Palestinians should express their opinion first, adding that contacts were recently held between Palestinians and Israelis. He voiced his hope that Palestinians and Israelis would reach an agreement ending violence and sparing bloodshed.

Asked whether the current situation needs a new initiative in the light of Tenet plan and Mitchell recommendations, the President said if they had carried out the agreements formerly reached, we would have been in a better situation.