By diplomatic means

As Israel steps up its violence against Palestinians, Cairo warns of 'dangerous' consequences, reports Soha Abdelaty.
The scenario has become all too familiar. Every time a step is taken towards ensuring a cease-fire, it is followed by an outbreak of violence that takes the Palestinians and Israelis back to square one. For Cairo, Israeli aggression is the predominant factor that is impeding progress.
"The Middle East is witnessing an unprecedented escalation in the cycle of violence and destruction," President Hosni Mubarak told police officers and state officials on Sunday at the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of Police Day. Mubarak laid the blame squarely on Israel, saying that the ongoing violence is "a result of Israel's total neglect of its obligations as an occupation force, its persistence in humiliating the unarmed Palestinian people and its refusal to take steps toward serious peace negotiations."
This week proved no different.
In retaliation for the killing of six Israelis in Khadera on Friday by a Palestinian gunman, Israel blew up the building of the Voice of Palestine Radio Service and laid siege to Arafat's headquarters the next day. Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher condemned the act, saying that it heightened the danger of the current situation. He also said that Israel's actions showed that it was "targeting the Palestinian Authority and the voice of the Palestinian Authority."
Mubarak warned the world against Israel's use of the war against terror as a pretext to label the Palestinian Authority (PA) an organisation that supports terrorism to justify stepping up its repression of the Palestinians. This is just an "excuse to obstruct President Arafat and to thwart his efforts to reach a solution," Mubarak said on Sunday. "Israel is putting pressure [on Arafat] to continue the cease-fire. At the same time, it is increasing its use of violence and intimidation, disregarding its legal obligations and international condemnation of its policies and its actions, which are against peace," he added.
Despite Cairo's dismay over the current situation, Maher, in a lecture at the Cairo Book Fair, affirmed that Egypt will continue to push ahead with its efforts for peace. Lecture attendees, however, accused the government of not doing enough to stop Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people. Maher defended the government's efforts, saying that since "we do not want war," Egypt is pursuing "diplomatic and political means." He added that such efforts take time and that in circumstances such as those prevailing in the region, any action must be carefully calculated. "We have to deal with the situation in a way that guarantees our goals," he said.
Cairo is hopeful that its appeals to the US and the international community to halt the Israeli aggression against the Palestinians will be heeded. "Without the American efforts and [Anthony] Zinni's efforts to put an end to the violence, especially by Israel, the situation will not improve [and we will not be able to] begin implementing the Mitchell recommendations and the Tenet plan," Maher told reporters on Saturday. This is the message that Egypt relayed to its American visitors this week. Zinni is the US's special envoy for the Middle East.
After meeting with Maher, Assistant Secretary of State for Political and Military Affairs Lincoln Bloomfield told Al-Ahram Weekly that even though Zinni is not currently in the region, "There is a part of US policy that you cannot see day-to-day, but it is a very intensive effort -- a diplomatic effort in Washington involving the president and the secretary of state. We are always involved."
Many Egyptians, however, are critical of the US role in the peace process. Questions were raised at the Cairo Book Fair about the US's double-standard in its policies for the region. Maher said, it is "our role to correct this," which he said could be done by using Egypt's close relations with the US.
Although the US and Egypt agree on the necessity of reaching a lasting peace in the region, the two countries sometimes differ on how to achieve this goal. One example is the call by the Palestinians, supported by Egypt, for international observers to monitor the situation in the region. The US repeatedly rejected this suggestion when it was brought before the Security Council, saying that both parties must agree on such a proposal before it gives its assent, and Israel has time and again vehemently rejected the proposal.
Concerning sending observers to the occupied territories, John Negroponte, US permanent representative at the United Nations (UN), told reporters after meeting with Egyptian officials on Sunday, "I certainly am sensitive and appreciate and understand the view of Egypt and of the other Arab countries. We do have a difference of view there, but I think that good friends can agree to disagree from time to time."
As Arafat's headquarters continue to be encircled by the Israeli army, book fair attendees asked the foreign minister about the implications of this action for the immediate future, particularly in the light of the Arab League Summit to be held in Beirut towards the end of March. Maher said that on his recent visit to Israel, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon assured him that Arafat would not be harmed. "I do not think that they would be so stupid, blind and ignorant to attempt to harm President Arafat." The minister, however, seemed less confident that Israel would not try to prevent Arafat from going to Beirut for the summit. "I hope they realise that if this takes place, it will have very grave consequences," Maher said, adding that such an action would require a "stand by us and the entire world."
Recommend this page
© Copyright Al-Ahram Weekly. All rights reserved
Send a letter to the Editor