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Ambassador to Return to Israel on End of Violence: Mubarak
The return of Egyptian ambassador to Israel who was recalled Tuesday in protest against Israeli excessive use of force against Palestinians will depend on the end of violence in the Palestinian territories, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said Wednesday.
Mubarak made the remark in talks with visiting US Defense Secretary William Cohen on the escalating clashes between Palestinians and Israelis, the official Middle East News Agency reported.
Mubarak said that "it is imperative for both sides to stop violence and to return to the negotiating table" and "conditions, including a cessation of violence, have to be met" for the return of Ambassador Mohammed Bassiouni to the Jewish state.
Egypt Tuesday decided to recall its ambassador to Israel a day after Israel launched air strikes on Gaza City and other Palestinian areas to avenge a bomb attack on an Israeli settlers' school bus in Gaza, which killed two Israelis and injured nine others.
The Israeli authority held Arafat's Fatah faction responsible for the blast, which has been denied by the Palestinian leadership. The Israeli offensive left at least four Palestinians dead and over 100 others injured.
It was reported that Cohen had urged Egypt to stay in the Middle East peace process during his talks on Tuesday with his Egyptian counterpart Mohammed Tantawi. This was Washington's first reaction to Cairo's decision to withdraw its ambassador to Israel.
"This is the time to stay engaged, not to disengage," Kenneth Bacon, spokesman for Cohen said, adding that Egypt had been a vital force in the peace process and should remain so.
As the first Arab state that signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, Egypt has been playing a mediatory role in the Middle East peace process.
Egypt is also regarded by the US as one of its most important partners in the Middle East and Washington has been offering it about US$2.1 billion in economic and military aid each year.
Egypt was Cohen's penultimate leg of a nine-nation Gulf and Mideast tour and his last stop is Israel.
Israel Not to Recall Ambassador
In response to Egypt's recall of its ambassador to Israel, Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami said that Israel had no plan to recall its ambassador from Cairo.
He said that the recall of its ambassador by Egypt from Israel was a "grave decision." "Egypt has a most central role in settling the conflict and the ambassador has to take part in this central role," Ben-Ami told local media.
Mubarak Has Right to Recall Ambassador
Israeli President Moshe Katsaw stressed that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has the right to recall Egyptian ambassador to Israel for consultations over the latest developments.
His remark came after Mubarak ordered Egypt's ambassador to Israel to return immediately following Israeli air strikes on Gaza City and other Palestinian areas to avenge a bomb attack on an Israeli settlers' school bus in Gaza, which killed two Israelis and injured nine others.
Egypt Recalls Ambassador
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has ordered Egypt's ambassador to Israel to return immediately in view of the escalating situation in the Palestinian territories, the official Middle East News Agency reported on November 21.
Earlier in the day, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has cancelled a scheduled visit on Tuesday to Cairo for the worsening situation in Gaza Strip, where Israel launched air strikes late Monday night on Gaza City and other Palestinian areas to avenge a bomb attack on an Israeli settlers' school bus in Gaza which killed two Israelis and injured nine others.
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