Egypt welcomes lifting siege off Arafat

"Egypt welcomed an agreement to end the siege imposed on Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat," said Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher.

He described it as a first important step to rectify all the outrageous mistakes made and still are made by Israel against the Palestinian people.

Replying diplomatic reporters' questions on Monday on the agreement by virtue of which the siege will be lifted off Arafat, Maher said Egypt approves whatever leads to termination of this awkward situation of the Palestinian people.

This agreement is not the end of it, as there are crimes being perpetrated so far on the part of Israel, said Maher, referring to its aggression on Hebron.

He noted that the matter is an integrated whole and termination of the siege of Arafat is a step but it is not enough for still there is aggression on the Palestinians.

On whether this agreement affirms that the United States is capable of practising pressures on Israel and whether Egypt blames the United States over dealing with this crisis since its beginning.

Maher said Egypt is calling on the United States to take firm and fair stances, pointing out that it is undeniable that the United States has a great influence over Israel and that when it is put to good use, it can lead to positive outcome.

On a deal to lift the siege off Arafat in return for cancelling the fact-finding mission, Maher said this is illogical as there is a Security Council resolution to form a fact-finding commission that no one can cancel, adding the UN Secretary-General is committed to implement this resolution.