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Mubarak Says Sharon Welcome If He Wants Peace
by Sarah Darwish
CAIRO, Jan 30 (IslamOnline) - In an interview with Israeli Television, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said Monday he would welcome the success of extreme rightwing leader Ariel Sharon in upcoming Israeli elections only if Sharon aimed to achieve peace in the Middle East.
Mubarak, whose country was the first Arab nation to sign a peace treaty with Israel, denounced has Israeli threats of war against Egypt in launching military attacks at vital structures like the High Dam on the Nile River.
"Egypt does not even think of getting through a military conflict halting the development process," he said, affirming that the mission of the Egyptian army is to defend the nation and not attack any country.
He, however, warned that there would be "no peace in the region unless the Arabs regain all their human and civil rights, including…Palestinian sovereignty over Jerusalem, the return of Palestinian refugees and the evacuation of the Syrian Golan Heights," occupied by Israeli troops since the 1967 war.
In the interview, Mubarak pointed out that Palestinian sovereignty over East Jerusalem and the holy sites does not conflict with the freedom of religious practice granted to every Muslim, Christians and Jew.
Speaking of the al-Aqsa compound, Mubarak said, "[Palestinian president Yasser] Arafat would never give up the holy sanctuary."
Moreover, Mubarak commented that Arafat is the only Palestinian figure qualified to negotiate a peace deal with Israel, but stated that any changes in the ruling authority in Israel or Palestine would not make a great difference in the peace process.
He also said that the Palestinian Authority is sovereign in their decision-making process, explaining that Egypt has nothing to do with Palestinian decisions after statements had been made by some Israeli officials accusing Egypt of pressuring the Palestinians not to give up al-Aqsa.
Asked about the recall of the Egyptian ambassador to Israel, Mubarak said it symbolized opposition to the excessive violence used by Israeli forces against the Palestinian people.
Sharon, well known for his enmity towards Arabs and Muslims, and his participation in the violent massacres in Sabra and Shatila in south Lebanon in 1984, has vowed to consider an attack on Egypt an option once assuming power.
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