Jan.  30, 2001

Mubarak reaffirms importance of peace for
regional stability

    In an interview with channel II of Israeli TV broadcast late Monday, Mubarak voiced deep concern over the current instability in the region and called on Israel to work out a just peace formula with the Palestinians.

    Mubarak excluded any thinking in entering a new military conflict with Israel, accusing the latter of unleashing war calls. He underlined that the Egyptian army defends Egypt, reaffirming commitment to signed agreements.

    On recalling the Egyptian Ambassador in Tel-Aviv, Mubarak said that he had taken the decision when the Israeli army was bombarding the Palestinians with tanks, aircraft and artillery.

    He made it clear that there is no balance in force between the Israelis and Palestinians. Mubarak conditioned the return of the Egyptian Ambassador to Tel Aviv on Israel's implementation of the Taba agreement and the restoration of calmness.

    Mubarak denied any contacts between himself and the Israeli Likud Party Leader Ariel Sharon. He said "I saw Sharon once in my life in 1982." Mubarak reminded the world of Sharon’s reality, adding that he hears his statements every now and then as well as terrible stories about him in massacres committed in Sabra and Shatela , in Lebanon.

    "Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat is capable of making peace," said Mubarak. He denounced the Israeli waiting for new Palestinian Leaders to conclude peace with them.

    On reaching a Syrian-Israeli peace deal, Mubarak reaffirmed Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad’s desire to make peace provided the restoration of territories occupied by Israel in 1967.

    Mubarak urged Israel to return to pre-1967 borders and called on Israeli leaders to refrain from threatening of war and violence.

    Asked about how he would deal with the coming Israeli Prime Minister, Mubarak said that he is not pre-occupied with the issue.

    He pointed out that the Israeli people would choose their Prime Minister that would serve their own interests.

    Mubarak said, "if Sharon seeks regional stability, it will be fine." Though Israel has been established in 1948, its leaders have not been able to understand the psychology of the Arab world, said Mubarak, adding that Arafat can not just push a button and the Intifada is off.

    He reiterated his call to restore Palestinian sovereignty over Al-Haram Al-Sharif, noting that if it happens, peace can be realized.

    Mubarak slammed Israeli claims that Arafat does not take any decisions without consulting him. He underlined that such rumors are Israeli-made and that Arafat has his own institutions.

    Mubarak underlined that Egypt helps the Palestinians to realize peace. He reaffirmed that Arafat is not authorized to relinquish sovereignty over holy sites in Jerusalem, asserting that not even a single Islamic state would accept such a thing.

    Mubarak said that he told Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Former US President Bill Clinton that no solution can be reached without the restoration of sovereignty over Al-Haram Al-Sharif.

    When Palestinian sovereignty is restored and peace is made, there will be no problem, said Mubarak, adding that Arafat can never cede sovereignty over holy sites.

    On his concern over a possible deterioration of the situation with the Palestinians and Arafat’s loss of control, Mubarak said it all depends on the Israeli leadership.

    He elaborated that the Israelis make too many mistakes in dealing with the Arab world.

    Mubarak underlined that Bashar Al-Assad can never give away any single inch of the occupied Syrian territories.

    He stressed the importance of restoring them in full including the Syrian-controlled part of Tiberias lake.

    Asked what can be done in the coming phase, Mubarak said the Middle East peace process should be implemented and Israeli Leaders should stop talking about war.

    Mubarak criticized the executive of Sharon’s election campaign who threatens to launch war against Egypt. He noted that such threats could lead to the eruption of terrorism which is "worse than war."

    Meanwhile, the President asserted that the complicated issues of refugees and Jerusalem can be solved with further negotiations reaffirming that Jerusalem, under Palestinian supervision, will always be open for practising rituals for the followers of the three revelated religions.

    Mubarak called on the Israelis to allow the return of refugees. He voiced astonishment over the Israeli obsession of the return of those Palestinians who have been living in other countries for fifty years.