Egypt warns Israel not to attack Syria
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SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Monday, July 16, 2001
CAIRO Ñ Egypt has put Israel on notice that an attack on Syria will have consequences.
Egyptian officials have warned the Jewish state that Cairo will not
stand by idly should Syria be attacked. The officials also warned Israel
against destroying the Palestinian Authority.
For their part, Syrian sources confirmed that a test of a Scud B missile
with a chemical warhead took place on July 1. The sources said this was a message to
Israel not to launch any attack on Damascus, Middle East Newsline reported.
The warnings were issued on the eve of a visit by Israeli Foreign
Minister Shimon Peres. It was the first visit by Peres to Cairo under the
current government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Peres met Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Sunday. Hours before
the meeting, Mubarak's adviser Osama El Baz, warned Israel that Syria would
not be alone in any Israeli attack.
"If Israel intends to launch military operations against Syria," El Baz
said, "it would pay dearly for its mistake because Syria cannot be alone in
the event of an Israeli aggression."
The adviser, however, said the chance of war between Israel and Syria is
low.
El Baz also warned Israel against destroying the PA. He said this would
destroy any Israeli relations with the Arab world. Mubarak also was expected
to meet PA Chairman Yasser Arafat on Sunday.
Overnight Sunday, PA gunners fire mortars toward the Israeli community
of Nahal Oz and at Jewish settlements in Gaza.
Israeli military sources said Arafat's Fatah movement is taking the lead
in attacks. A government report submitted to the Israeli Cabinet warned of
Palestinian
plans to attack Israeli cities.
On Sunday, the London-based A-Sharq Al Awsat daily said Egypt and Syria
are preparing a leadership summit to discuss the Israeli-Turkish strategic
relationship. The newspaper said a meeting between Mubarak and Syrian
President Bashar Assad will take place soon.
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