Sorour refuses invitation from head of the Knesset to visit Israel

Speaker of the Egyptian parliament, Ahmad Fatehi Sorour, yesterday refused an invitation from the chairman of the Israeli Knesset to deliver a speech before its members on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of signing the Israeli- Egyptian peace treaty which falls on March 23rd, stressing that he can not fulfill the invitation as long as Israel continues to occupy Arab lands and the " independent Palestinian state is not established."

In a statement, the speaker of the Egyptian parliament said " though the peace agreement between Israel and Egypt is an example of peace agreements which put an end to the Arab- Israeli conflict. An agreement which Egypt honored, however, celebrating this agreement will be strong and meaningful when the framework according to which the agreement was signed is implemented to achieve a just and comprehensive peace. A matter which so far has not been accomplished."

Sorour added in his statement "it pleases me to meet this invitation when the general framework is made and the independent Palestinian state is established on all the occupied lands, and Israel withdraws from the occupied Arab lands and permanent peace is made between Israel and the Arab states."