Apr  2, 2001

Mubarak to PBS: Positive US Mideast role will stop Palestinian-Israeli fighting

In an interview to Charlie rose of PBS late Monday, the President said the only way to reach a solution to the conflict is dialogue not fighting.

The president stressed the importance of bringing the two sides to the negotiating table to put an end to fighting and resume the peace process.

Asked on the positive role he played in the peace process, Mubarak said he had exerted great efforts to stop the violence in the occupied Palestinian lands.

He also exerted big efforts last year trying to bring Palestinians and Israelis together to reach an agreement, he added.

Mubarak said he had a good relationship with late Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, that he offered him advice, expressed his views and evaluations and that his ultimate goal was to bring peace and stability to the region.

President Mubarak, in his interview to Charlie Rose of the PBS TV station, said that Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and Israeli Premier Ehud Barak had reached, during their meeting in Sharm el Sheikh, with former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, an agreement but they did not implement.

The Egyptian President added that the agreement included many details that needed discussion but implementing this agreement was too difficult for Barak.

The visit of Ariel Sharon to al Aqsa Mosque in September last year, especially after Camp David talks, was untimely for both sides. This is why violence has erupted, president Mubarak said.

The Egyptian president clarified that he called former US President Bill Clinton and each of Arafat and Barak in a bid to convince them to meet in Sharm El Sheikh for putting an end to violence and resuming the peace march.

President Mubarak further noted that president bill Clinton telephoned him and told him that Arafat had to make a difficult decision but needed the support of ``Mubarak`` and king Abdullah II of Jordan.

President Mubarak pointed out that he had no information about what was going on in Camp David talks at that time. He further added that he called Arafat and informed him that the Israelis wanted to have control over the Holy Places but Arafat rejected the proposal.

President Mubarak said he agreed with Arafat and told him that the Arab and Islamic worlds would have accused him of pressurizing Arafat to offer this concession regarding al Haram al Sharif.

The Egyptian president further noted that even if he would have accepted the Israeli proposal, Arafat himself would not have agreed, since he knows the consequences as neither the Palestinian people nor the Arab and Islamic worlds would agree to this.

He reiterated that the Holy Places are occupied territories since 1967. He noted that all Muslims, Christians and Jews were allowed to visit these places before 1967.

He expressed belief that if these places were restored to the Palestinians no problems would face Jews, Muslims or Christians wishing to visit the Holy Shrines.

President Mubarak noted that he cannot impose any stance on Arafat nor ask him to accept or refuse anything.

Regarding the necessity for Arafat to call upon the Palestinians to stop violence, president Mubarak said that even if Arafat should ask them to do so no one will listen to him. he pointed out that the Palestinians are under siege and do not find either food or work, so what could be expected from people living in such hardship.

President Mubarak however, said that he met with Arafat at the periodical Arab summit, held in Amman , Jordan, on March 27-28 and asked him to call upon the Palestinians to stop violence to give way to peace talks.

He noted that Arafat however, does not have the courage to openly call upon his people to stop violence.

President Mubarak expressed hope that the two sides would stop violence.

Answering a question about whether Egypt would sell gas to Israel, president Mubarak said ``why not`` since they will pay for it.

Answering a query on attempts by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to convince the Bush administration to stop extending military assistance to Egypt, President Mubarak said that if this was proved to be true, he would consider it as a hostile stance against Egypt.

He further added that Sharon possesses nuclear and chemical weapons and long-range missiles while Egypt possesses only arms to defend itself against any aggression.

President Mubarak refuted reports by Israel that the Egyptian press is waging a hatred campaign against Israelis. He noted that those who say so overlook the campaign launched by the Israeli press against Egypt.

He cited as example calls by some Israeli cabinet members, on the heels of Sharon’s winning the Israeli election, to strike the High Dam and attack Sinai.

“War and fighting will never put an end to violence,” said President Mubarak, pointing out that Egypt has reached a peace agreement with Israel through negotiations.