Hazem Abd Al-Rahman wrote, in the December 8th edition of Al-Ahram, in praise of enhanced Egyptian-Israeli relations, which "occupy an important place in Egypt's foreign policy...." He gave several reasons for his position, as follows:
1. "Enhancing relations with Israel also increases Egypt's ability to influence Israel's policy towards the Palestinians in the territories in a way that will fulfill the [Palestinians'] national aspirations...."
2. Developed relations with Israel "can open a window that will free Egyptian-Israeli relations from any form of reliance upon [Egypt's] relations with the US. It is not natural, necessary, or essential for relations with Israel to be influenced by [Egypt's] relations with the US. Namely, we hope that [Egypt's] relations with Israel will be strong, self-sufficient and completely independent from relations with the US."
3. Warning against allowing relations with other Arab countries to influence Egypt's relations with Israel, Al-Rahman wrote that "the development of Egyptian-Israeli relations could step up the impact of the Arab factor in relations with Israel. This is a very important point because through these [Egyptian-Israeli] relations, the Arabs can achieve positive results."
The Al-Ahram article concludes:
"Objective analysis on this matter cannot lead to any other conclusion. It is time to drop the negative attitudes towards Israel, and relations with it. The basic value of the peace accord between Egypt and Israel lies in the fact that it expunges the term 'prohibition' or 'taboo,' which was created in the past by Arab policies towards Israel, and which turned relations with Israel into an abomination that could not be allowed.
"Relations with Israel are a privilege and a correct [step] which should be developed in a way that will fulfill the achievable interests."
[Translation by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).]
1. "Enhancing relations with Israel also increases Egypt's ability to influence Israel's policy towards the Palestinians in the territories in a way that will fulfill the [Palestinians'] national aspirations...."
2. Developed relations with Israel "can open a window that will free Egyptian-Israeli relations from any form of reliance upon [Egypt's] relations with the US. It is not natural, necessary, or essential for relations with Israel to be influenced by [Egypt's] relations with the US. Namely, we hope that [Egypt's] relations with Israel will be strong, self-sufficient and completely independent from relations with the US."
3. Warning against allowing relations with other Arab countries to influence Egypt's relations with Israel, Al-Rahman wrote that "the development of Egyptian-Israeli relations could step up the impact of the Arab factor in relations with Israel. This is a very important point because through these [Egyptian-Israeli] relations, the Arabs can achieve positive results."
The Al-Ahram article concludes:
"Objective analysis on this matter cannot lead to any other conclusion. It is time to drop the negative attitudes towards Israel, and relations with it. The basic value of the peace accord between Egypt and Israel lies in the fact that it expunges the term 'prohibition' or 'taboo,' which was created in the past by Arab policies towards Israel, and which turned relations with Israel into an abomination that could not be allowed.
"Relations with Israel are a privilege and a correct [step] which should be developed in a way that will fulfill the achievable interests."
[Translation by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).]