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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