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Wednesday, October 07, 1998
President Hosni Mubarak has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of undermining trust between Egypt, Arabs and Israel. In a 15-minute interview with channel 2 of the Israeli TV broadcast Monday night, Mubarak cited Netanyahu’s non-compliance with his pledges. "Since taking over, he (Netanyahu) has not implemented anything. The peace process has come to a stop," said Mubarak, adding he was not optimistic that Netanyahu would implement any agreement he would reach with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat or that the Syrian-Israeli peace talks would resume. "Syrian President Hafez Al-Assad does not trust the Israeli premier in view of what is occurring on the Palestinian-Israeli peace track," noted Mubarak. "I tell the Israeli people sincerely that there would be no security with the Palestinian people without handing over their land and containing the dispute. Giving the Palestinians their land is the biggest guarantee for the Israeli citizen," said Mubarak. The Egyptian leader warned against the gravity of the situation in the region should the peace talks with the Palestinians remain stalled. This would lead to acts of violence, he cautioned. He criticised Netanyahu for using the phrase "Israel's southern enemies" while referring to Egypt's growing military power. "Netanyahu's use of the word enemies is shameful and it is inappropriate for him to use such words .... This way, Israel is deepening hatred and animosity between the Egyptian and Israeli peoples," added Mubarak. Asked to comment on Netanyahu's claim to victory in 1973, Mubarak said :"This means that Egypt has been dragged into peace. Let him read the book by Golda Meir (Israel's Prime Minister in 1973), in which she said she was about to commit suicide when the Egyptians started crossing the Suez Canal. It is shameful that he says this now. "This is inappropriate, very silly and unexpected from the Israeli premier.... had it not been for the US weaponry (rushed to the Jewish state during the 1973 war), you would not have been able to stop the war." Mubarak told the Israeli TV. He affirmed that the 1973 war was not aimed at occupying Israel. "Egypt does not think of fighting a war, not only against Israel, but also against anybody else. We are interested in development and raising people's living standards." He remarked that every now and then Israel is threatening to go to war. On Israeli concern over the Egyptian army's sophisticated weaponry, he cited the Israel's arsenal of nuclear and biological arms and long-range missiles. We are the ones who feel concerned over the Israeli nuclear weapons." Asked how the situation would be if the Palestinians were not given back their territories, Mubarak predicted the eruption of violence, killings and assassinations. Reiterating Israel's responsibility for peace stalemate, he said : "You are demanding Arafat to take measures. This is not in the interest of Israel. Now you do not take these words seriously. But after a while, you will say, Mubarak's talk was right but when it is too late," he said. He added that Egypt could not help push the peace process forward while Netanyahu does not heed counselling. "I met Netanyahu several times. He does not act upon anyone's advice." On Egypt's stand if Ariel Sharon is named Israel's Foreign Minister, Mubarak said: "We welcome him and anybody to talk with and help find a solution. This help, however, does not mean that Egypt pressures one party to accept what he does not like." "We want peace and cooperation. The Egyptian businessmen evade dealing with Israel or cooperation with Israeli businessmen. There were joint interests during the time of (assassinated Israeli premier) Rabin. This cooperating has been halted, and this is regrettable, but no cooperation could be forged under the current circumstances." |
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