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Mubarak: Arafat alliance with Iraq could spark regional war

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Thursday, March 29, 2001

AMMAN — Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has warned the Palestinians not to form an alliance with Iraq and Syria, Middle East Newsline is reporting.

Arab diplomatic sources said Mubarak has sent a series of messages to Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat that warn of the consequences of his emerging alliance with Iraq and Syria. The sources said these messages warn Arafat that such an alliance would cost the Palestinians both political and financial support and lead the region into war.

On Tuesday, the Arab League summit heard an appeal from Iraqi President Saddam Hussein for an Arab war against Israel. "We do not agree to any deals on Palestine, all of Palestine from the Jordan [river] to the Mediterranean, including Jerusalem, its crown," Saddam said in a message read by his deputy, Izzet Eddin Ibrahim.

Arafat's alliance with Iraq and Syria began after the failed Camp David summit in July, the sources said. They said that by that time Arafat had embarked on plans to launch fighting against Israel amid pressure by the United States to reach a peace accord with the Jewish state.

Since August, cooperation between Arafat and Mubarak has been reduced, the sources said. The sources said Mubarak privately blamed Arafat for the widespread protests throughout Egypt in support of the Palestinians and against the regime in Cairo.

"They are on speaking terms," an Arab diplomat said, "but there is very little to say. You can say that the cooperation between the two men is on the level of rhetoric."

On late Tuesday, Arafat met Syrian President Bashar Assad for 45 minutes on the sidelines of the Arab League summit. The meeting capped months of efforts by Arafat to hold direct talks with the Syrian leader.

"There was a discussion on coordination and continued consultations," PA Information Minister Yasser Abbed Rabbo told PA radio on Wednesday. "The relations are moving in a positive direction."

The new Palestinian axis with Iraq and Syria also includes increased cooperation with Iran, the sources said. They said that for the first time since the PA was established in 1994, Arafat has given the Iranian-sponsored Islamic Jihad a free hand to strike Israeli targets. The Jihad claimed responsibility for two bombings in Jerusalem on Tuesday.

Mubarak is said to have warned Arafat that his alliance with Iraq will torpedo any hopes for Arab financial aid to the PA. Arafat's support for Baghdad has angered Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, which oppose the unconditional lifting of United Nations sanctions from Iraq.

Jordan has been sidelined as a result of Arafat's new alliance, the sources said. They said Arafat has ended any semblance of cooperation with the Hashemite kingdom and is believed to be supporting pro-Iraqi elements in Jordan that are pressing King Abdullah to sever relations with Israel.

Despite the new alliance, Arafat continues to discuss various peace plans with Egypt and Jordan, the sources said. But the effort is regarded as low profile and meant to maintain Palestinian relations with the United States, which is calling for a return to peace talks with Israel.

In New York, the United States has vetoed a Palestinian proposal to send United Nations forces to the Palestinian areas. The U.S. veto came at the end of nearly a week of deliberations in the Security Council.

The United States was the only one on the council to vote against the Palestinian proposal. Nine other council members supported the resolution and European Union countries abstained.

Thursday, March 29, 2001


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