isopatch,
Don't know if this was posted, but of interest for both colors of gold:
worldtribune.com
Mubarak calls Bush
with war alert
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Tuesday, May 22, 2001
CAIRO — Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is again warning that the
Middle East is sliding toward war.
"The situation is deteriorating in a serious manner and will get more
complicated," Mubarak said. "I fear it might reach a point of no return."
Mubarak has telephoned President George Bush to discuss the latest violence
in the region.
U.S. angered by attack on Palestinian security chief
Over the weekend, the Egyptian president also telephoned French President
Jacques Chirac, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Russian President
Vladimir Putin, Middle East Newsline reported.
Mubarak said Israel's response to Palestinian mortar attacks is excessive and
escalating tension. It was the latest warning by the Egyptian president that the
Middle East is heading toward war.
The Egyptian president said that such a war will harm U.S. and Western
interests in the Middle East. He said Israel's use of F-16 warplanes in bombing
Palestinian Authority security installations on Friday marked a major escalation
in the war.
What is happening will lead to a catastrophe and harm the interests of foreign
powers in the region. The West and the United States have interests in the
region."
Mubarak said he was stunned by Israel's use of the F-16 multi-role fighters.
Egypt has more than 200 such aircraft.
"When I heard that, I thought: it's not possible, it must be a mistake," Mubarak
said. "And I checked to make sure F-16's had indeed been used."
In Damascus, Syrian Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam warned Israel of
retaliation for any renewed attacks by the Jewish state. Khaddam said Israel
realizes that an attack against any Arab country will result in a "strong and
costly response" and could prompt a regional conflict.
In Jerusalem, Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer threatened to
attack Syrian targets in retaliation for Hizbullah strikes agains the Jewish state.
Once again, Ben-Eliezer addressed Syrian President Bashar Assad.
"We will continue to fire on Bashar Assad and his troops in Lebanon if we are
attacked," Ben-Eliezer said. "Syria is the real boss in Lebanon and it authorizes
the transfer of weapons to Hizbullah."
Mubarak also said, however, that his country will support peace efforts.
This includes support of the Egyptian-Jordanian plan to end the
Israeli-Palestinian war and resume peace talks.
Israel's military continued to pound PA positions overnight Monday. These
included a suspected mortar factory in Gaza as well as PA installations in
Ramallah. In one attack, the daughter of PA security chief Jibril Rajoub was
injured.
On Monday, Palestinian sources said two combatants from PA Chairman
Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement were killed as they were on their way to
placing a bomb near an Israeli installation. This, as Israeli security officials are
said to be preparing for Arafat's ouster. Israeli sources said Arafat's regime is
teetering toward collapse and Arafat might choose to flee into exile.
In Washington, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee again called
on the Bush administration to stop weapons shipments to Israel. The group said
Israel's use of the F-16 against PA targets violated U.S. law.
"Instead of standing against efforts aiming at protecting the Palestinians, the
U.S. administration should rather lead these efforts as it is the key source of
these weapons to Israel," the group said.
U.S. Vice President Richard Cheney expressed concern over Israel's use of
F-16s against the Palestinians. But Cheney refused to say what the United
States would do should Israel continue to deploy the U.S.-made aircraft.
****
I continue to hope for peace for the Middle East, but realize it is a hope that seems against the odds.
Best Regards,
Roebear |
