The kiss of death?

Foreign Minister Maher, paying a visit to the US, expressed Egypt's 'extreme concern' over the escalating Israeli attacks against the Palestinians. Hoda Tawfik reports from Washington
Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher, who was in New York on Monday, telephoned US Secretary of State Colin Powell in Washington to voice Egypt's "extreme concern for the deteriorating situation in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories."
Maher's initial reaction was that the measures taken by Israel against the Palestinian people and leadership are "totally unacceptable." He urged the United States to intensify its efforts to stem the tide of violence and stop Israeli attacks against Palestinians.
Maher, who had met with Powell in Washington last Thursday, was expected back in Cairo on Wednesday. His visit to Washington started a week ago, before the latest escalation of violence, but even then, Maher warned that Israel's defiance of the US view of a Middle East peace settlement -- enshrined in Powell's 19 November speech -- is a call for a violent reaction from the Palestinians to the Israeli provocation. Maher urged the administration to intervene and stop Israeli killings and assassinations of Palestinians in order to pave the way for the implementation of the US plan. "The US has to stand firm and confront the Israeli provocations," Maher told American officials.
The latest cycle of violence was triggered by the targeted Israeli killing of Abu Hannoud, the Hamas military leader. Hamas hit back with suicide bombings in Jerusalem and Haifa on Saturday and Sunday. The attacks then resulted in massive Israeli retaliatory strikes. Some analysts believe that Ariel Sharon's reaction is the kiss of death to the Middle East peace process. Others seem to cling to the hope that, ultimately, there will be no choice but to seek peace at whatever expense.
Maher was hoping to leave the US encouraged after a good visit, but that was before the "disaster." "Still, we urge the US, Europe and the world to continue their efforts to put peace back on track," he said. "We want to see the Israeli [aggressive] practices stop and to see the US urge Israel to stop their actions. We are willing to help if the Israelis refrain from these actions."
Maher's assessment of his visit is positive. The United States affirmed its recognition of the important role Egypt is playing in connection with the peace process under very difficult circumstances, and also in connection with the struggle against terrorism, he said. Maher also found sympathetic ears to Egypt's request for assistance in reviving its economy that suffered major losses as a result of the 11 September attacks against the United States. Among Egypt's requests for economic help, it is seeking to expedite the release of $500 million from the US. Maher told Al-Ahram Weekly that he won the administration's consent in principle, but some details remain under discussion. "We are not asking for new aid, but to expedite the timetable of delivery," he said.
The very important question of a possible extension of military action beyond Afghanistan was also raised at Maher's meetings at the State Department and with National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. Maher told the Weekly that he had expressed Egypt's concern on this issue, particularly with regard to military action targeting an Arab country. "This would be a mistake," he told Powell.
Powell responded that America recognises Arab concerns, but did not commit himself to anything, Maher said. "I am sure that our position has received attention and I am sure the administration will take it into consideration," he added.
In his talks with Washington officials, Maher also raised the issue of Egyptians who were detained in the United States following the 11 September attacks. At a meeting with the Egyptian community in New York on Tuesday, Maher said that the Foreign Ministry was paying close attention to this issue. Mahmoud Allam, the Egyptian Consul- General in the United States, said the detained Egyptians are estimated to be "several hundred." He said that US authorities provide the Egyptian embassy and consulates with a detailed account of the investigation on a daily basis, with information about the names and status of those detained.
The Egyptian consulate in New York has made available to New York detainees a toll-free telephone line to inform the consulate about their conditions. "They are well-treated by US authorities and we have not received a single complaint about ill-treatment," Allam said. He added that some detainees have been freed already, others were found to have no IDs or residence permits, and others were deported to Egypt.
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