Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak last night sharply criticized Prime Minister Sharon, saying that Sharon \"knows nothing of diplomacy, but only killing.\" Speaking to students in Egypt, Mubarak called on the United States to take a more active role in peace-making efforts in the Middle East, as \"calling for restraint and peace is not sufficient.\"
In a related item, Middle East News Line (MENL) reports that the Bush administration has succeeded in persuading Congress not to reduce U.S. military aid to Egypt. The congressional effort sought to trim at least $100 million from the current annual military aid level of $1.3 billion. Administration officials said that Congress was persuaded that any attempt to reduce U.S. aid to Egypt would only hurt American interests during the current violence in the Middle East. The officials said Egypt has remained a key factor in preventing an Arab-Israeli war. The first four of 24 F-16 fighter jets arrived in Egypt yesterday, and the filling of the compete order will result in an Egyptian air force fleet with more than 215 F-16 jets, the fourth largest such fleet in the world.
In a related item, Middle East News Line (MENL) reports that the Bush administration has succeeded in persuading Congress not to reduce U.S. military aid to Egypt. The congressional effort sought to trim at least $100 million from the current annual military aid level of $1.3 billion. Administration officials said that Congress was persuaded that any attempt to reduce U.S. aid to Egypt would only hurt American interests during the current violence in the Middle East. The officials said Egypt has remained a key factor in preventing an Arab-Israeli war. The first four of 24 F-16 fighter jets arrived in Egypt yesterday, and the filling of the compete order will result in an Egyptian air force fleet with more than 215 F-16 jets, the fourth largest such fleet in the world.