Resolving the crisis

Although Egyptians, led by President Mubarak, continue to be outraged by Israel's actions in the occupied territories, Cairo has welcomed the latest American position
In an outburst of anger against Israel's "excessive" use of force against the Palestinians, President Hosni Mubarak on Sunday warned that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's "arrogance" will be his downfall. Mubarak's statements came one day after an Arab League meeting decided that Arabs should halt political contacts with Israel until it ceases its aggressions against the Palestinians.
Mubarak and the Arab League were responding to Israel's use of American-made F-16 jet fighters to strike at Palestinian targets. Soon after the strikes, Mubarak began working the phones on Friday, speaking with US President George W Bush, French President Jacques Chirac, Russia's Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell announced on Monday the appointment of a new peace envoy to the region to speak to the concerned parties in the search for a way out of the escalating violence. Egypt welcomed the move as well as Washington's positive reception of the Mitchell report which lays the blame for the violence with both sides and makes a number of recommendations to bring the parties back to the negotiating table.
"Egypt welcomes the positive American position, voiced by Secretary Colin Powell, on the Mitchell report and the Egyptian-Jordanian initiative," said Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher. He added that Egypt specifically welcomed Powell's declaration that the United States will make intensive efforts to come up with a framework for implementing the recommendations of the Mitchell commission as well as the Egyptian-Jordanian initiative.
Maher said that he has been directed by President Mubarak to "cooperate with the US administration to attain the required objective... which is peace, security and prosperity for all."
Earlier, Maher said that the Arab League's decision did not mean that the Egyptian embassy in Tel Aviv and the Israeli embassy in Cairo would be shut down. "The embassies are continuing their normal work," Maher said on Sunday, explaining that the league's decision concerned contacts "higher than the usual level."
Mubarak, speaking at an impromptu press conference earlier that day, said that the interests of the US and Europe are certain to be harmed if the situation continues to "deteriorate" in the region. He added that Arab public opinion cannot tolerate the ongoing injustice against the Palestinians day in and day out. He drew a bleak picture of the situation in the Middle East, predicting "disaster" for Israelis and Arabs alike.
He said that "the use of F-16 jet fighters is beyond comprehension. I am shocked. These jets are used to defend and intercept," said Mubarak, himself a onetime air force officer. "What are they striking? The Palestinians have nothing. They throw stones and sometimes use mortars, and the response comes in the form of F-16 missile attacks. This is senseless."
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana agreed, saying on Monday that "to fight with F-16s is not the way to make peace in the region." Solana, who spoke after an hour-long meeting with Mubarak, warned that the violence in the Palestinian territories could spill over into the region. "We are really on the verge of a very critical situation and everybody with common sense has to do the utmost to stop it."
Solana, who was a member of the Mitchell commission which investigated the eight-month Intifada and the Israeli response, said he would attempt to convince leaders in the region to implement the recommendations of the Mitchell report. He wanted to see a cease-fire, followed by confidence-building measures and a return to the negotiating table. "I would like to make a very clear appeal for the immediate cessation of violence," said Solana. He later traveled to meet with leaders in the Palestinian territories, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel in an attempt to find a constructive role for the EU to play in ending tensions. "Now it is up to the leaders to implement what is there and we would like very much to see the conclusions of the report implemented," said Solana.
Cairo was also angered by Tel Aviv's declarations that by using F-16 fighters against the Palestinians, it was purposely sending messages to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and his Arab supporters. "[Sharon] must stop making such statements and sending such messages," warned Mubarak. "[Sharon's] arrogance of power is futile and will be his downfall." Mubarak said that as a military man, Sharon should be aware of the consequences of war and try to avoid them. "I thought he might be a man of peace, but he has proven he doesn't want peace," said Mubarak.
He noted that "everyone should understand that military force will never bring security to the region. It will be a disaster for the Israelis as well as the Arabs." Mubarak continued, saying "words are not enough. Israel has begun a fight which will rage on and lead to more retaliation." He called on "peace-loving nations" including US and European countries to "intervene and convince [the Israelis] to calm down. Foreign interests in the region will be harmed because we are on the verge of a crisis." The president also noted that Arab public opinion is watching the security and peace situation unravel, hinting that the anger of the Arab masses will be taken into account by Arab decision-makers.
Asked by Al-Ahram Weekly about the fate of the Egyptian-Jordanian peace initiative, Mubarak said that the proposal is "still on the table." He added that while the Europeans agreed to the initiative, and the Americans "did not criticise it," Israel's feedback was discouraging. "Their remarks [aim] to spoil the initiative," he said. However, Mubarak added that Cairo was undeterred. "We have to do something," he said. Maher stressed the same, saying that Israel "must stop [its aggression] so we can proceed on the path to peace."
Saturday's Arab League meeting supported the Egypt-Jordan peace proposal, as did Annan who said on Monday that he was encouraged that Mubarak "has indicated that he will stay engaged" in peace efforts. "As one of the two countries that made peace with Israel, his commitment to the peace process is important," said the UN chief. "I hope that [Jordan's] King Abdullah will also stay involved."
Cairo has been in constant contact with various capitals in the Arab world and the West. For several months, Mubarak forewarned the Americans and Europeans that the escalation of violence since the Intifada broke out on 28 September will become "more complicated." "I fear that the deteriorating situation takes us to a point of no return," stressed Mubarak.
On Monday, and before the American announcement was made, the president met with US Ambassador to Cairo Daniel Kurtzer to voice Egypt's "deep concern" for what is taking place in the region and urge the US to play a more active role in curbing the violence.
Kurtzer later met with Maher to, according to the former, "coordinate very closely [and] hopefully persuade the Israelis and Palestinians to reduce the violence and restore some confidence between them."
By Nevine Khalil and Soha Abdelaty
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