Mubarak: Israeli policy fuels hatred

Egyptian President Mubarak warned against the serious conditions in the occupied territories and the ongoing killing between the two sides, adding that there are forces that do not want this to end.

In an interview with Israeli TV channel 1 and aired by Egyptian TV channel 1 late Friday, Mubarak asserted that the current policy adopted by the Israeli government is aggravating hatred and that if this policy to continue for l0 or 15 years. Israel would have to face 400 million people-harbouring grudge against Israel.

President Hosni Mubarak said, during the interview which will be aired in full by the Egyptian TV on Saturday, that the way-out of the current lack of confidence is to get the two parties to sit together, to show flexibility and talk frankly at the presence of the American side.

If both parties act on their own and do not listen to advice, this would lead to a catastrophe.

President Mubarak asserted anew that no one in the Islamic world accepts Israeli sovereignty over Al Harm Al Sharif, adding that he talked about that with US President George Bush.

President Mubarak attributed the growing number in suicide bombers to the horrible feeling of frustration among Palestinians, asserting that the outlet is to get the two sides to meet, to show flexibility and talk frankly at the presence of the Americans and any other party.

I want the Israeli citizen to understand that if the ongoing events happened 20 years ago, peoples and generations would not see them, but there are satellite channels, TV and stations everywhere worldwide. In every hook and cranny, many houses have satellite receivers and people watch everything in depth, killings, funerals, etc, Mubarak said, adding that Palestinians are the ones who face more killings.

Mubarak asserted that he sympathizes with Palestinian and Israeli citizens who got killed for nothing, adding that by so doing Israelis are aggravating hatred and creating a new generation of Arab youth who harbour grudges against Israel.

"If this to continue for 10 or 15 years, there would be the time when you face 400 million people harbouring grudges against you, what you would do then, could you stand facing 400 million," Mubarak said.

Asked about the proposals forwarded by former Israeli Premier Ehud Barak, Mubarak said that former US President Bill Clinton had telephoned him.

During the phone conversation, Mubarak said, "Clinton said Arafat has to take a tough decision which might need your support".

"Asking about the decision, Clinton told me that the proposal was an Israeli sovereignty over Al Haram Al Sharif," Mubarak said. "Let us be more frank, the Islamic world would never accept an Israeli sovereignty over Al Haram Al Sharif," Mubarak reiterated.

"The Palestinian and Israeli sides have later met in Taba, Egypt, and made concessions, both of them, but as the days of Clinton in office were closing they could have reached an agreement," Mubarak said.

"Former Israeli Premiers Barak and Netanyahu have always failed to comply with the signed agreements and that led to the current lack of confidence," Mubarak added.

On the alleged smuggling of Iranian weapons via Suez Canal, Mubarak denied any involvement from the part of Egypt in the weapons issue.

"I never heard of Egypt's involvement in anything, any ship crossing the Suez Canal should present a statement on the content of the shipment whether being general or arms and its direction," Mubarak said.

"As long as we have no information about any violations, we allow the ship to go," Mubarak added.

"If you knew about it why did not you inform us?" Mubarak exclaimed.

Asked about a seemingly improvement in his relations with Sharon and the several phone contacts which President Mubarak have received, Mubarak said there were only two phone calls one of which was made following Sharon's coming to power and the second was after the declaration of the Saudi initiative on the Middle East peace.

"Sharon was trying to open a channel with Saudi authorities," Mubarak said.

"Sharon asked me to arrange a meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Ben Abdul Aziz and himself," he added.

I told him that this request cannot be met by Prince Abdullah, however, I would deliver the message.

Sharon told me he had cancelled the seven-day condition and later he re-occupied Ramallah, Mubarak said. "Is it a mockery?" Mubarak wondered.

"Israelis should respect the Arabs' feelings," Mubarak added.

"We need peace because the killing of defenseless Palestinians and Israelis is a very dangerous matter," he said.

Responding to the interviewer's comment that the Israelis feel that no-one from the other side (Palestinians) wants to give concessions to reach a compromise for peace and Sharon's alleged readiness to come up with painful concessions for peace, Mubarak said that he has heard about painful concessions after Rabin but no painful concession were made.

What kind of concessions do you want Arafat to make? to give everything? to give up A1 Quds "Jerusalem"? Mubarak exclaimed.

Mubarak asserted that there was a solution to the issue of refugees which was acceptable to both sides, adding that Israelis, however, wanted to maintain the status quo.

Egypt's leader warned against expelling Palestinians to Jordan as being the most dangerous threat to Israel.

"Expelling Palestinians from their homes to any other place would be the most serious threat to the Israeli entity," Mubarak said.

President Mubarak said the upcoming "Arab summit" would never call for a war against Israel.

"The June 1996 summit had stated that Arab-Israeli peace is a strategic option," he added.

Mubarak recalled the recent Saudi initiative which, for the first time, referred to ''normalization'' with Israel if it withdrew from all Arab 1ands.

"If Israel needs peace, it should be a comprehensive one which is apparently equivalent to normalization," Mubarak said.

President Yasser Arafat who has won the confidence of his people for about 40 years.

"Solution would come only through Arafat as no-one could lead the Palestinian people after Arafat," Mubarak added.

Mubarak added that Israelis and Palestinians would have to go for breathless fighting before having a Palestinian leader who could have the confidence of Palestinian people after Arafat.

Mubarak asserted that Syrians do not want to spark a war in the region.

Hizbullah also has suspended operations against Israel, he added.

Asked whether Iraqi President would attack Israel in a first response to a possible US attack or not, Mubarak said he has never heard Saddam as saying such words.

"Egypt, among Arab countries, is probing the Iraqi file with the US administration," Mubarak said.

"I do not need to tackle this issue now because I think it is none of your business", he added.

"A solution could be realised if flexibility prevailed," Mubarak concluded.