WASHINGTON, White House (Islam Online)-Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s visit came at an important time in the Middle East peace process. President Mubarak made attempts to push the Middle East peace initiative forward as negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians resume.
But President Clinton could not convince Syrian Hafez Al-Assad to come to the negotiating table. Among the outstanding issues between Syria and Israel are how the Israelis are to withdraw from the Golan Heights, what security assurances they will receive in return and where the final border will be drawn.
Syria wants Israel to withdraw to the border that existed before June 1967, when Israel captured the Golan. Israel has resisted that demand because it would extend Syrian territory to the Sea of Galilee, a key source of water for the Jewish state. Israel prefers the international border drawn in 1923, which would create a small buffer between Syria and the Galilee.
Officials refused to say what obstacles prevented an agreement, but White House spokesperson Joe Lockhart made it clear that little if any progress was made toward resuming the negotiations that broke off in January between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Syria's foreign minister.
"It's impossible to predict when those talks might resume," Lockhart said. "There are significant differences. I don't believe that from the position of the United States, we believe that it would be productive for those talks to resume now . . .. The significant differences [between Israel and Syria] remain and were not narrowed."
Egypt plays an important role as a Middle East peace talks mediator, and because of its support for the peace process it receives more U.S. aid than any other country, except Israel.
Mubarak is now pushing for more private American investment in Egypt’s economy, as well as assistance from major programs to promote information technology. Despite the strategic alliance between Egypt and the United State there is much friction.
The American led inquiry into the crash of Egypt Air flight 990 off the Atlantic Coast last October strained ties. Leaks from the investigation suggesting that a co-pilot deliberately crashed the plane caused outrage in Egypt.
The vocal American Copts community, who raised controversy during President Mubarak’s previous visit to Washington, expressed concern for Egypt’s Coptic Christian minority. In Egypt’s recent sectarian violence more than 20 Copts were reported dead.
