Palestine official, groups denounce attack on Egypt's foreign minister at al-Aqsa mosque
The Egyptian foreign minister Ahmed Maher has described the incident he was exposed to during his visit to al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem as "simple and of inconsequential."
This was expressed in Maher's statements upon his arrival in Cairo after the incident he exposed to. Maher considered what had happened will not affect Egypt's role, noting that "Egypt will continue it efforts to reach peace in the region." Maher said " what had actually happened is that some of the Palestinians in the mosque wanted me to leave the mosque quickly, while others considered it inappropriate, rather, that I should be given the chance to pray in al-Aqsa mosque as I had intended."
He added "I found myself between two sides, each expressing its interest and love, and this situation made me feel uneasy." On the other hand, a spokesman for the Israeli police said it had arrested seven Palestinians involved in this incident. The spokesman Jill Kleiman said that the seven men are all from east Jerusalem.
Scores of Palestinians gathered around Maher, who was intending to perform his prayers in al-Aqsa mosque, accusing him of being a hireling and a puppet. A matter which pushed his guards to get him out of the mosque, and as a result of the crowd around him, he fainted and as a result was taken to hospital.
For his part, the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak expressed his deep regret over the attack attempt against his foreign minister by "a minority of irresponsible people." He stressed in a statement broadcast by the Egyptian TV that the attack "against Maher in the courtyard of al-Aqsa mosque took place while he was in a mission to give the peace process a push forward, in complete coordination with the Palestinian authority and its leadership."
The Palestinian national authority deplored the attack against Maher, and the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat denounced in a telephone call with the Egyptian minister in the hospital what he described as a crime committed by a group of "bitter feeling" people.
Meantime, a group of Palestinian figures from Jerusalem, including members in the legislative council, submitted a book of apology to the Egyptian embassy over the incident. Member of the legislative council, Hatem Abdul Qader, and other colleagues held the visit, assigned by the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. The Palestinian groups also deplored the incident, considering it does not serve the Palestinian issue.
On the other hand, the US Secretary Of State Colin Powell telephoned his Egyptian counterpart to have assurances about his good health, and to express support for peace efforts made by Cairo. The Israeli foreign minister Silvan Shalom visited the Egyptian minister in the hospital after the attack.