The article, appearing this past Friday in the government-controlled newspaper, began defensively, saying that Egypt is not a third party to the Arab-Israeli conflict, but a direct participant. Egypt is "a central player in the collective Arab struggle to realize legitimate Arab rights and safeguard Arab national security. As the largest Arab power Egypt has consistently availed itself of its regional and international connections in the service of Arab causes and interests. And this applies to Egypt's relations with Israel," Nafie wrote.
The proof of Egypt's devotion to Arab causes, the editor explained, is in the fact that Israel and Egypt periodically have strained relations. To reassure Arab readers regarding his nation's loyalty to the Arab people, Nafie continued, "If the tenor of Egyptian-Israeli relations has improved today, this is because Egypt perceives a propitious opportunity for setting the Palestinian-Israeli track back on its proper course.... It should be stressed, here, that before taking such actions Cairo coordinates closely with the Arab parties concerned, as evidenced by the intensive talks held in Cairo recently with a top-level Palestinian delegation and President Mubarak's recent meeting with President Al-Assad in Sharm El-Sheikh."
In addition to its relations with Israel, "Cairo is prevailing upon the Bush administration to fulfill its pledge to realize the establishment of an independent Palestinian state," the article said. To that end, the Egyptian columnist continued, the US must press for "the eventual withdrawal of Israel from territories occupied in 1967."
In a self-congratulatory statement, Nafie wrote: "In its handling of its relations with Israel Egypt has struck a judicious balance between the pursuit of Egyptian national, and Palestinian [and] Arab, interests."
The article went on to list recent Egyptian successes in its "handling" of relations with Israel: "Egypt has succeeded in securing the return of six Egyptians being prosecuted in Israel... saving the lives and future of these misguided youths...."; "750 members of the Egyptian Border Forces will be detailed to patrol the Philadelphi Route on the Egyptian-Israeli border."; an agreement signed with the US and Israel setting up "Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZ).... Although the products will have a percentage of Israeli components.... this agreement [will] stimulate at least $1 billion boom in Egyptian textile exports over the next two to three years... will also generate more than 250,000 new jobs and help attract more foreign investment...."
As for the issue of Egypt's defense of "Palestinian [and] Arab, interests," Nafie wrote: "In their recent meeting with [Ariel] Sharon, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit and head of intelligence Omar Suleiman obtained an Israeli pledge to lift roadblocks, to keep Israeli soldiers away from polling zones and other measures needed to create an atmosphere conducive to free elections. ...Through understandings reached with the Israelis, Egypt was also instrumental in opening the taps of foreign economic aid to the PA so that it can disburse back pay to civil servants, purchase equipment and uniforms for the PA police and security forces, commence reconstruction and take other urgent measures to improve the quality of life for the Palestinian people."
Egypt also sees itself as an honest broker for internal relations between factions in the Palestinian Authority, the Al-Ahram article implied, as evidenced by the repeated meetings in Cairo between the various PA groups and leaders.
Concluding, the editor of the government-backed newspaper wrote, "Egypt's various diplomatic drives cannot be viewed separately from one another: they are interlocking components of a vision that integrates the pursuit of national, Palestinian and Arab interests. Our hope is that the Palestinian factions understand the comprehensive context of Egypt's actions and proceed in the same spirit to place the higher interests of the Palestinian people above all other considerations."
The proof of Egypt's devotion to Arab causes, the editor explained, is in the fact that Israel and Egypt periodically have strained relations. To reassure Arab readers regarding his nation's loyalty to the Arab people, Nafie continued, "If the tenor of Egyptian-Israeli relations has improved today, this is because Egypt perceives a propitious opportunity for setting the Palestinian-Israeli track back on its proper course.... It should be stressed, here, that before taking such actions Cairo coordinates closely with the Arab parties concerned, as evidenced by the intensive talks held in Cairo recently with a top-level Palestinian delegation and President Mubarak's recent meeting with President Al-Assad in Sharm El-Sheikh."
In addition to its relations with Israel, "Cairo is prevailing upon the Bush administration to fulfill its pledge to realize the establishment of an independent Palestinian state," the article said. To that end, the Egyptian columnist continued, the US must press for "the eventual withdrawal of Israel from territories occupied in 1967."
Hosni Mubarak and Ibrahim Nafie
In a self-congratulatory statement, Nafie wrote: "In its handling of its relations with Israel Egypt has struck a judicious balance between the pursuit of Egyptian national, and Palestinian [and] Arab, interests."
The article went on to list recent Egyptian successes in its "handling" of relations with Israel: "Egypt has succeeded in securing the return of six Egyptians being prosecuted in Israel... saving the lives and future of these misguided youths...."; "750 members of the Egyptian Border Forces will be detailed to patrol the Philadelphi Route on the Egyptian-Israeli border."; an agreement signed with the US and Israel setting up "Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZ).... Although the products will have a percentage of Israeli components.... this agreement [will] stimulate at least $1 billion boom in Egyptian textile exports over the next two to three years... will also generate more than 250,000 new jobs and help attract more foreign investment...."
As for the issue of Egypt's defense of "Palestinian [and] Arab, interests," Nafie wrote: "In their recent meeting with [Ariel] Sharon, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit and head of intelligence Omar Suleiman obtained an Israeli pledge to lift roadblocks, to keep Israeli soldiers away from polling zones and other measures needed to create an atmosphere conducive to free elections. ...Through understandings reached with the Israelis, Egypt was also instrumental in opening the taps of foreign economic aid to the PA so that it can disburse back pay to civil servants, purchase equipment and uniforms for the PA police and security forces, commence reconstruction and take other urgent measures to improve the quality of life for the Palestinian people."
Egypt also sees itself as an honest broker for internal relations between factions in the Palestinian Authority, the Al-Ahram article implied, as evidenced by the repeated meetings in Cairo between the various PA groups and leaders.
Concluding, the editor of the government-backed newspaper wrote, "Egypt's various diplomatic drives cannot be viewed separately from one another: they are interlocking components of a vision that integrates the pursuit of national, Palestinian and Arab interests. Our hope is that the Palestinian factions understand the comprehensive context of Egypt's actions and proceed in the same spirit to place the higher interests of the Palestinian people above all other considerations."