April  24, 2002

President Mubarak addresses on the Occasion of the Liberation of Sinai

    On this great day, of 1982, the Egyptian flag fluttered high over the land of Sinai, crowning Egypt's priceless scarifices in defence of our land, honour and our dignity.

    This was the greatest homage to the souls of more than 100,000 martyr, whose precious blood watered every inch of Sinai over a series of wars that continued for more than half a century, in defense of Egypt's security, national soil and the rights of its Arab nation.

    The legal battle over Taba was the last chapter of a great epic where the Egyptian people and its armed forces were involved in defense of thier land.

    It's first chapters started following the 1967 setback, with events and goals escalating through years of the war of attrition reaching its remarkable peak in October 1973.

    It was then that the Egyptian armed forces managed to score a decisive military victory.

    As a result, aggression was crushed down setback rectified, Egyptians' confidence restored.

    Accordingly, a new status quo was imposed on the Middle East region.

    That situation was accomplished in spite of difficult international conditions and tilting balance of power and shortages in weapons and equipment, and the atrocious psychological warfare levelled against Egypt throughout those depressing years.

    Tribute is due to Egypt's brave soldiers who entered this glorious epic starting from Ra's Al Ish to the event of the Great Crossing.

    Greatings to the devoted martyrs whose exalted souls now flutter contentedly above Sinai, beholding how their noble sacrifices have born fruit as thier homeland has been totally liberated.

    Now, in Sinai, there goes on a splendid and massive battle of reconstruction that complements the battle of liberation.Thus the Nile Valley and Sinai are united into an integral whole, as a means of protecting Egypt's higher interests and boosting its national security.

    Here, we pay homage to Egypt?s hero, late President Anwar As-Sadat who took the war decision to restore the land and who made the historical initiative to settle peace and stability against a backdrop of Egyptian popular support and a strong faith in the capability of Egyptian Armed forces to restore land and protect peace.

    Tribute is also due to the faithful people of Egypt who endured gross sacrifices in preparation for the land restoration in order to safeguard their homeland and accomplish their aspirations for peace, prosperity and stability.

    Fellow Citizens,
Twenty years have passed since this massive achievement took place in April 1982.

    Although, Egypt restored every spot of its land, yet its pan-national commitment to the Arab nation?s issues has always guided its dedicated efforts to reach a comprehensive and just peace.

    Thus, the Palestinians can set up their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital on the territories occupied in 1967, Syria can restore the whole of the Golan Heights up to of June-4, 1967 borders and Lebanon can restore those parts of its lands still under Israeli occupation.

    The current practices on the Palestinian occupied terrtories constitute a blatant breach of all laws, conventions and norms.

    These include reoccupation of the Palestinian Authority's territories, disgracefulsiege of its democratically-elected leadership, systematic and premeditated brutal aggression against Palestinian unarmed people with the intent of crushing down their demands for putting an end to occupation and restoring their legal rights foremost of which is the establishment of an independent state with Jrusalem, as its capital.

    These acts also demonstrate absence of a clear vision of peace on the part of the Israeli government that mistakenly thinks that military power will succeed in materializing its promises of security and stability to its electors.

    This time, Israel has exceeded all bounds; besieging the Holy Church of the Nativity, committing horrendous human rights violations in all Palestinian towns and villages espcially in the city and camp of Jenin.

    In an attempt to cover up these violations, it denied humanarian relief organizations and the media access to these towns, villages and camps until it has totaly obliterated signs of the heinous crimes committed by the Israeli Defence Force under the pretext of fighting terrorism.

    In so doing, it resorts to morbid interpretations that seek on the one hand to place the Palestinian legitimate resistance against occupation on equal footing with terrorism and, on the other, to avoid branding the Israeli horrid practices as state terrorism.

    We, in Egypt have condemned the use of violence and counter-violence as a means of settlement and firmly believe that to establish, at the earliest chance, an independent Palestinian state living side by side with Israel; enjoying peace and security within their respective internationally recognized borders is the only road to peace and stability in the Middle East.

    However, Israel has consistently refused to implement Security Council resolutions calling for withdrawal, without delay, from Palestinian territories.

    It has also refused to enter into real peace negotiations based on the Madrid Peace Conference terms of reference, on top of which are United Nations resolutions 242 and 338 and the land-for-peace principle, the Arab initiative recently approved by the Beirut Summit, other US as well as other international visions of peace approved by the Security Council.

    All this has brought about in the current escalation of acts of violence and counter-violence. These were triggered by a sense of humiliation, despair, frustration, loss of hope for any near prospects on the part of the Palestinian people.

    Mistaken is the Israeli government to think that its military operations in the Palestinian territories will bring about security and stability.

    The only harvest it will reap will be deepened feelings of hate, animosity and will for retaliation not only on the part of the Palestinians but also of about 300 million Arabs living between the Gulf to the Atlantic Ocean.

    Mistaken is the Israeli government to attempt to undermine the Palestinian Authority and its democratically and legitimately elected leader who will remain as the only president capable of rallying the Palestinians around the just peace option.

    Also mistaken will be the Israeli government should it continue to violate human right and to defy international will, relying on the remission by some world power to carry out their aspired-for role and abandonment thereby of their international responsibilities in return for temporal and closed-end interests.

    Despite feelings of frustration that prevailed throughout the Arab street towards these events, yet the civilized attitude showed by the people of Egypt in expressing their feelings has been highly indicative.

    With full awareness, they found out that they should not allow this crisis to affect our political, economic and social gains accomplished over years. They also recognized that it was important that popular and official reactions should not exceed such limits that may obstruct our efforts to safeguard these gains or our ability to accomplish more. Nor should this affect our ability to play our leading in the peace process.

    It is our duty now to keep on the alert, to stick to wisdom and reason, to rationally guard our steps. We should close our ranks towards the proper target, to persistently resist all attempts to split Arabs ranks.

    Moreover, we should join hands with all peace-loving forces so as to encircle forces of aggression in the interest of a just, comprehensive and balanced peace.

    I pray to God Almighty to decide with truth between us and our folk, preserve our own unity and guide us to the right path.

    He is the Best Sustainer and Best Supporter.

    May Allah's peace and mercy be upon you.