Egypt's role in the Palestinian issue will change notably after the overthrow Mubarak's regime, said Alan Groats, Assistant General Manager of the French newspaper "Le Monde Diplomatique” at a seminar at the French Cultural Center Monday. Groats said that Mubarak was a main ally of the United States, so he pressured the Palestinian Authority (PA) to achieve American objectives. He added that it was necessary for the U.S to find an Arab guarantor for peace after the PA accepted the establishment of the Palestinian state through negotiations. Groats said Egypt accepted that role by holding peace conferences in Sharm al-Sheikh and pressuring the PA and Hamas. The French expert added that the U.S should monitor the situation after Egyptians overthrew the Egyptian former regime, and the next government could adopt a different stance on the Palestinian issue. Groats discussed Turkish Prime Minister Ragep Tayyip Erdogan's recent visit to Cairo, asking how Egyptians can benefit from the Turkish experience. He requested that Egyptians to create their own model regardless of the experiences of other countries. He said that the world witnessed a notable change during recent years so Arab states should open economic ties with new economic powers such as China, India, and Brazil. Researcher Nabil Abdel-Fatah said the Arab revolutions would move to the Gulf monarchies that impose their influence through the oil policy. He added that the Egyptian revolution could affect Saudi Arabian and Yemeni policies.
