Mubarak: Israeli contacts suspension with President Abbas plays into hands of opponents

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak said Israel's suspension of contacts with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas for any acts of violence bears no fruits for helping solve the situation; rather it plays into the hands of Abbas's opponents.

In an interview with Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot on the 9th anniversary of the assassination of former Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, Mubarak said that suspension of contacts opens the door to terrorism.

Mubarak said that ongoing contacts with Israel help to give a momentum to the Mideast peace march, adding that his relation with late premier Rabin contributed to improving ties with Tel Aviv. The President said that Rabin hoped he could strike a deal with Syria.

Mubarak said he fears nothing to his life, saying that fear cripples any statesman and prevents him from acting in wisdom and efficiency.

Mubarak said his main concern is to improve the living conditions of the Egyptian people and give them hope for a better future.

The President also said that political action is the key to eliminating terror.

Mubarak reiterated that religious extremism has turned into a phenomenon which poses major risks with extremists able to strike everywhere.