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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 2 - 8 November 2000 Issue No. 506 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 2 - 8 November 2000 Issue No. 506
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region Interview International Economy Opinion Culture Features Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters A passing cloud
IN AN INDICATION that a "summer cloud" in Egyptian-Palestinian relations is clearing, high-level talks took place this week at the Red Sea resort of Sharm Al-Sheikh, reports Nevine Khalil. President Hosni Mubarak conferred on Monday with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat on the unrelenting confrontation between Palestinians and Israelis in the Palestinian territories. Discussions centred on the deteriorating conditions and increasing violence between Palestinian stone-throwers and Israeli troops armed to the teeth with automatic rifles, missiles, tanks and combat helicopters.
Arafat's visit came one week after an Arab summit ended in Cairo without calling for a freeze of relations with Israel -- the minimum measure anticipated at the time -- which triggered anti-Egypt demonstrations in the Palestinian territories. Despite statements by Palestinian officials lauding Egyptian efforts, protesters in Gaza and the West Bank reportedly burned Egyptian flags because they had expected even greater Egyptian support for their cause at the Arab summit. At least two national newspapers, Akhbar Al-Yom and Al-Gomhouriya, reacted with scathing editorials condemning the Palestinian action.
On the eve of Arafat's visit, Foreign Minister Amr Moussa described the situation in Egyptian-Palestinian relations as a "summer cloud." The Cairo press had accused the Palestinian Authority of failing to stop the hostile demonstrations and warned that Egypt would not accept insults from Palestinians at a time when it is trying to support their struggle.
To ease tensions, Arafat condemned the demonstrations in an interview with Egyptian television broadcast on Tuesday. He said that these were "attempts by fanatic forces in the Arab world, who unfortunately take direct orders from abroad to conspire against [Arabs]. It is nothing new." The Palestinian leader said that protesters who burned flags are currently being tried by the Palestinian state security courts.
Arafat noted that Mubarak was very hospitable in calling for an Arab summit to stem the violence against the Palestinians. "It was a strong, noble and nationalistic stand on the part of President Mubarak," he said, denying that Egyptian officials force his hand to make compromises with the Israelis. "Contacts are always in the framework of consultations," he stressed.
For three hours on Monday, Mubarak and Arafat reviewed ways of implementing the Arab summit resolutions and providing international protection for the Palestinian people. Mubarak promised to "take action on the Arab and international levels" to help the Palestinians, according to Arafat. "We don't expect everything to happen all at once," said Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo after the meeting.
Nearly 150 Palestinians were killed and 5,000 injured since Al-Aqsa uprising broke out on 28 September. A US-brokered truce declared during last month's Sharm Al-Sheikh summit failed to stem the violence.
