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Al-Ahram Weekly 31 August - 6 September 2000 Issue No. 497 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 31 August - 6 September 2000 Issue No. 497
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters And the clock ticks on
President Hosni Mubarak's meeting with Bill Clinton in Cairo on Tuesday comes at a critical turning point in the Middle East peace process, one during which all parties recognise that time is running out.The US official who briefed reporters accompanying Clinton on his African tour emphasised that Washington was aware that by the end of September Jewish holidays will start. And when the Israeli Knesset reconvenes right-wing Israeli parties, led by Likud, will escalate their attempts to get rid of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak's government. And by November the US presidential race will be in full swing which means American initiatives and direct involvement will be nil.
Due to this tight schedule, all parties are expected to work day and night in order to bridge the gaps in the positions of the two sides.
In this respect, President Clinton was firm in stating that without Egypt's involvement in this process, an agreement won't be possible.
President Mubarak responded by confirming that Cairo will do its best to reach an agreement by September.
The US administration is, of course, perfectly aware of the strength of Egypt's commitment to achieving a comprehensive peace in the region, which is why it must take on board Mubarak's warning that not a single Arab or Muslim leader could accept Israeli proposals on sharing sovereignty over Islamic holy sites in East Jerusalem.
The US administration, keen as always to bend before the vagaries of an electoral system now threatening Barak's survival, must develop an equal keenness not to alienate the feelings of one billion Muslims worldwide, or attempt to pressure the leaders of Islamic countries into accepting the unacceptable situation where their citizens would be forced to seek the occupier's permission in order to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque or the Dome of the Rock.
Any settlement that fails to find a just solution to the problems of millions of Palestinian refugees, on the basis of UN resolutions confirming their right to return and compensation for their suffering, would also serve only to foment future trouble and instability in the region.
