WASHINGTON Ñ A front page interview with the New York Times has dramatically raised the profile of Egyptian
President Hosni Mubarak days before his departure for the United States.
President George Bush has summoned Mubarak for a Camp David strategy session this weekend at which the Egyptian leader will present a peace plan that may become part of a comprehensive U.S. proposal for a Palestinians state.
On Tuesday, the New York Times quoted Mubarak as saying that Egyptian
intelligence had warned Washington of a terrorist attack a week before the
Sept. 11 Islamic suicide attacks on New York and Washington. A U.S.
intelligence official has denied the report and the newspaper said Mubarak
might have sought to "burnish Egypt's credentials, which have been
questioned in Congress, in advance of his visit to Washington this week."
The Camp David meeting takes place amid signs the Bush administration lacks a consensus on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"The administration simply doesn't know where to go," a U.S. official
said. "The problem is Arafat and Bush thinks Mubarak can help."
After the Mubarak summit, the officials said, Bush will decide whether
to launch a U.S. initiative regarding the Palestinians. The proposal is said
to be supported by the State Department and opposed by the Defense
Department.
Officials said Mubarak will be asked to contribute to a U.S.-led effort
to reform the PA while launching negotiations that would lead to an
independent Palestinian state. They said Mubarak will be asked to press PA
Chairman Yasser Arafat to impose a ceasefire to facilitate the proposed
negotiations.
Mubarak will meet Bush on Friday and Saturday at at the presidential retreat at Camp David and an advance Egyptian team is discussing an agenda
for the talks with White House aides. U.S. officials said Bush is expected
to discuss Mubarak's plan to establish an interim Palestinian state in 2003.
The Egyptian president has drafted a plan that calls for a Palestinian
state next year in the Gaza Strip and 42 percent of the West Bank in the
wake of Palestinian elections and a restructuring of security agencies.
After the establishment of a Palestinian state, Egypt envisions Israel and
the new Palestinian state launching negotiations for an Israeli withdrawal
from the entire West Bank.
Mubarak, who has been consulting with Saudi leaders, will also meet Vice
President Richard Cheney, Secretary of State Colin Powell and National
Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. He is also expected to meet congressional
leaders and representatives of the American Jewish groups.
Officials said Mubarak is expected to request additional help, including
military aid. They said the military request will be pursued by Egyptian
Defense Minister Hussein Tantawi.
Mubarak's visit to Washington will be followed by that of Israeli Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon. Sharon was invited by Bush and this is his second
visit to the United States in less than a month. The meeting on June 10 will
be reserved for a discussion on reviving Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts
that would lead to a Palestinian state.
On Tuesday, the Jerusalem Post reported that the administration has also
invited Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk A-Shaara to Washington. The talks are
expected to focus on the prospect that Syria will participate in any Middle
East peace conference.
