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Egypt demands complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza
Egypt demanded Israel on Monday to completely withdraw from Gaza Strip to the positions they held in 2000, prior to the outbreak of the Palestinian uprising, Intifada, to restore security and calmness to the region, to ensure the legitimacy of the Palestinian elections, planned for next week. In an interview with Egyptian radio on Monday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said that "the aim Egypt is working for is to restore confidence and calm so that the Palestinian people in all the Gaza Strip can take part in a legitimate election process under international supervision. That can be achieved only by complete Israeli withdrawal from the areas Israeli forces have occupied since 28 September, 2000 (the eve of the intifada)." Aboul Gheit added that the presence of the Israeli army in Gaza was a "provocation" perpetuating a cycle of violence. Yesterday, Israeli tanks moved into the northern areas of the Gaza Strip and Israel claimed that the operation was aimed at stopping Palestinian fighters from launching mortar and rocket attacks against the Israeli soldiers and settlements. The raid in Beit Hanoun started just hours after Israeli army ended its three-day incursion into Khan Younis refugee camp in southern Gaza. Aboul Gheit said there was no comparison between Israel's offensive and the Palestinian resistance and attacks, which are a direct result of provocations by Israeli forces. Posted by: Fred 2005-01-04 |
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