May  20, 2001

Mubarak: The situation in the region is deteriorating

    President Mubarak added that the situation will be worse and more complicated, and “I fear it will reach the no-return point.”

    Mubarak went on to say, in press statements today morning, that the new Israeli government said at the beginning that it wants peace. “I know that the Chief of this government was a general and knows well what war means and what consequences it inflicts. I said that he might be a man of peace, but it proved now that no peace at all is available.” The President added.

    “The excessive use of power will never lead to any peace whatsoever. I here say that the problem will be more complicated especially after Israel’s use of air-fighters” Mubarak said, adding that such aircraft are only used in defending one’s country against an attacking enemy. "I was astonished to learn of using F-16 fighters in the operations.”

    President Mubarak stated that it is stunning .. How dare they answer those who throw stones by using the mortar .. It’s totally incredible. This will never lead to stability at all.

    “If their intention is to secure the Israeli citizen, we wish to see the Israeli citizen like the Arab citizen, walk safely in the street. But safety shall never be realized in this way, retaliation will continue” the President added.

    Mubarak paid attention to the fact that this issue will get more sophisticated. The region will witness more deterioration unless the great powers interfere and convince those people to calm down.

    The Egyptian president wondered what is meant by, “Arafat should halt violence first" “If the Palestinian president called for halting violence no one will respond to him. The reasons are well known and I explained them more than once before.”

    Mubarak stressed anew how serious the matter is saying that the Arab world as well as the Americans have important interests in the area, and it is no longer easy to deceive the public opinion.

    In an answer to a query on the future of the Egypt-Jordan overture in the light of the recurrent Israeli acts of aggression, president Mubarak said the Egyptian-Jordanian initiative is still there. Israel has her comments which would abort the peace plan . “We should carry on activating it.” He added that the Europeans accepted it and the Americans did not criticize it. “We must do something.” he said.

    In a response to MENA question on what Sharon’s office stated: that bombing by F-16 aircraft is a message to Arafat and the Arab countries supporting him, Mubarak said “I see that they have to stop issuing such statements. The power vanity will lead to nothing. He who is possessed by arrogance will be turned down by arrogance. I hope everybody should understand the situation. I wish they understand that the use of force will not get the region to safe land at all. It will be a disaster to the Israelis as well as to us in the Arab area. It is in no one’s interest whatsoever the use of excessive power.”

    The president went on to say that the navy forces hit, the helicopters hit, the F-16 fighters hit and the interceptors hit, which is unbelievable at all.

    Mubarak said that the first time “I heard of the matter I thought there must be something wrong. It cannot be that way. But I was assured the F-16 were used to shell unarmed people that have neither airplanes nor anything else at all.”

    The president added that “ I do not defend anyone but I defend peace and stability in the region. What goes on at present will lead to a catastrophe and will harm the interests of all the foreign powers in the area.”

    In an answer to a query on whether there has been any moves to halt more deterioration in the current position, Mubarak said that “We are continuing moving onwards and contacts never stop. I sent a message yesterday to US president and had sent him another one on May 10. There are also contacts with all peace-loving countries that should assist and actively do something in the peace process.

    Finally, the president said that the statements issued by any country will not lead to any outcome with Israel. “We can voice many statements if that would work.” he added. “Statements won’t reach any solutions. Each one should be aware of the path he is treading. Those countries have to press Israelis to be conscious of the line they are following. Israel kicked off ceaseless fighting. But retaliation will be ceaseless as well. That’s what we fear most.”