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Middle East
Mubarak calls Sharon, thanks him for Maher visit
2003-12-23
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak telephoned Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Tuesday night to thank him for the "welcome and the successful meetings" held Monday in Israel with his Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher.
We're glad Ahmed survived his visit, too...
Officials in the prime minister’s office said, "The two leaders discussed ways to advance the diplomatic process in the region. Mubarak emphasized his desire to advance Egyptian relations with Israel and expressed his interest in helping to advance the peace process." Meanwhile Farouk Kaddoumi, head of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s political department, arrived in Cairo on Tuesday to apologize for the violent harassment of the Egyptian Foreign Minister within Al-Aqsa mosque by Palestinian thugs extremists during the visit. "My main mission in coming to Egypt, upon the mandate of Palestinian President [Yasser] Arafat, is to present our extreme apology for what happened to Mr. Ahmed Maher during his visit to Jerusalem," Kaddoumi told reporters at the airport.
I’m waiting for ara-fat to apologize for all the other violence he’s perpetrated in the region
He called the attackers "a rogue group that has no connection to the Palestinian people."

Egyptian daily newspapers carried front-page stories denouncing the incident, along with photographs of a visibly shaken Maher being led through the mosque compound by police and security guards. The semi-official Al-Akhbar carried the headline: "A criminal attack carried out by a group of Palestinians on Ahmed Maher at Al Aqsa Mosque," while the more conservative Al-Ahram blared across its front page: "Ahmed Maher saved from a despicable attack inside Al Aqsa Mosque after peace mission to Israel." Ghassan Charbel, the assistant deputy editor of the London-based daily Al Hayat, wrote in his column that the attack was "a dangerous incident, hard to believe and unbearable."
I didn't find it all that surprising. The Paleos have built their culture of violence and intimidation with the cheers of the Egyptians ringing in their ears. Why'd they think they were exempt?
Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa told Egypt’s Middle East News Agency while visiting Kuwait on Tuesday that "we are sorry for such an assault, which could never serve Arab interests."
since when has ANYTHING they’ve done actually served arab interests?!
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s office issued a statement Monday denouncing the "irresponsible" attack, pledging that it "will not derail Egypt’s efforts to achieve a resumption of Palestinian-Israeli talks, with the effective participation of other peace-loving partners."
"other" partners? there’s someone participating besides the paleos?
Posted by:PlanetDan

#3  ... only the Egyptian FM. Which really did make it Politically Incorrect. This is really amusing watching various entities spin this way and that.
Posted by: Glenn (not Reynolds)   2003-12-23 7:28:19 PM  

#2  When I heard that the Paleos had beaten Bill Maher, I was very excited. Too bad it was only the Egyptian FM.
Posted by: Tibor   2003-12-23 7:05:16 PM  

#1  Hosni could make a clear statement by sealing the Gaza tunnels with concrete. I think Arafat's degenerative disease is making him less and less visible...quivering lip and drool complete the image
Posted by: Frank G   2003-12-23 5:24:13 PM  

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