Egypt: An Israeli threat to assassinate the Palestinian Hamas leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, was strongly condemned at the weekend by the Foreign Minister of Egypt, Mr Ahmed Maher.
The threat followed last week's bomb attack by a Hamas militant at the Erez border crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip, in which four Israeli soldiers and security personnel, as well as the bomber herself, lost their lives.
Mr Maher was speaking to journalists after a meeting in the Egyptian capital with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, who was visiting on behalf of Ireland's European presidency. Mr Cowen also met the Egyptian President, Mr Hosni Mubarak, and the Secretary-General of the 22-nation Arab League, Mr Amr Moussa.
Regarded as a moderate in the Arab world, Mr Maher said threats from the Israelis did not help the peace process and that his government was trying to achieve a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant factions.
Nevertheless he appeared optimistic about prospects for a cessation of hostilities: "I think that a ceasefire can be obtained and we are continuing our efforts. All it requires is for both parties to agree that it has to be reciprocal. It doesn't mean that there has to be a formal, signed agreement but there has to be an understanding that steps taken by one party to put an end to violence should be reciprocated by similar actions by the other party," Mr Maher said.
Meanwhile, Mr Moussa said after meeting Mr Cowen at the Arab League offices in Cairo: "We are facing a very serious situation, and lesser prospects of real movement. The occupation by Israel gives rise to a lot of resentment and resistance in the Palestinian Territories."
He blamed the lack of progress towards peace on "intransigent" Israeli policies such as the building of the security barrier between Israelis and Palestinians, as well as the refusal to stop building Jewish settlements and "besieging" cities and towns in the territories.
He also claimed Israel was refusing to deal with "the basic issues" such as control over Jerusalem, the rights of refugees, withdrawal from the occupied territories and the question of a Palestinian state.
"This is the problem of the Middle East, it is not a question of what happened in Erez," Mr Moussa said.
At a press conference in the Arab League offices, Mr Cowen said: "We need to see a situation where steps are taken to show the people that politics can work, that negotiations can be resumed, that the road map can be implemented. People need to see visible, concrete steps to confirm that. The problem is, we have a common analysis, but we don't as yet have an implementation phase."
Asked if he would condemn the Israeli security barrier, Mr Cowen said, "We have a very clear European Union position: there should be no incursions into the occupied territories in relation to what is an extreme security measure which has been taken. We understand from the Israeli government that it is a temporary and reversible measure but we certainly say that there should be no incursions into the occupied territories in relation to building of any security fence by a government. If they work within their own internationally-recognised borders, that is a different issue.
"But clearly the best way of solving all of that problem is to get a political solution and a just and lasting peace that meets the just requirements of the Palestinians as well as Israelis," he said.
Israel plans to dispute the International Court of Justice's right to rule on its huge barrier going up inside the West Bank, political sources said yesterday, but Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon signalled some flexibility on the route. Mr Sharon met top ministers to discuss strategy ahead of next month's hearing by the Hague-based court. - (Reuters)