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Last update - 22:35 06/12/2008
Egyptian paper urges top cleric to purify his hand after Peres handshake
By The Associated Press
Tags: Egypt, UN, Peres, Israel news


Several opposition newspapers and lawmakers in Egypt called on the country's top Islamic cleric to resign Saturday for shaking the Israeli president's hand at a conference.

Egyptian media has been running a photo of Grand Sheik Mohammed Seyed Tantawi shaking hands with Israeli President Shimon Peres almost daily since the two met at a United Nations-sponsored interfaith dialogue in New York last month. The photo has been accompanied by critical editorials and comments by lawmakers.
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Al-Osboa newspaper said in an editorial Saturday that Peres' hands were tainted with the blood of thousands of Palestinians who have lost their homes in Israel.

The paper called on Tantawi - the sheik of al-Azhar, Sunni Islam's pre-eminent institution and oldest university - to ritually purify his hands after the shake.

Egypt is one of the only Arab countries to make peace with Israel, but the attitude of the country's citizens toward the Jewish state remains cool over the treatment of the Palestinians.

Tantawi, who was appointed by the Egyptian government, was quoted in Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper and several others as saying he shook the Israeli president's hand without recognizing him.

A spokesman for al-Azhar was quoted in the paper as blaming Tantawi's handlers for not paying attention and misdirecting the cleric toward Peres.

Hisham Kassem, an Egyptian activist and publisher, expressed doubt about Tantawi's version of the story, saying "how can you go to an interfaith meeting and not know who Peres is?"

"Tantawi needs to be honest with the press," Kassem told The Associated Press. "So what if he shook the man's hand? War and anger has gained us nothing. There must be time for negotiation."

Peres' office declined comment on what it called Egypt's internal matters.

But at the time of the meeting, his office said the encounter was pleasant, and Tantawi and Peres sat next to each during a dinner and had a very serious conversation.

Many Egyptian opposition lawmakers have called for the cleric to step down over the handshake.

"I feel shame because the person who did this is the head of one of Islam's greatest institutions," lawmaker Hamdein Sabaheen was quoted as saying Saturday in Al-Dustour newspaper.

The UN-sponsored interfaith conference held in New York in mid-November attracted 80 countries and 14 world leaders, including Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah.


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  • Saudi King meets with group of prominent U.S. Jews in New York
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      1.   Cleric 22:31  |  Leon 06/12/08
      2.   So by same logic they call for Mubarak to purify hands 22:46  |  reasoning 06/12/08
      3.   HAARETZ AND DIPLOMACY 23:15  |  Brant 06/12/08
      4.   is he saying a house is blood 23:15  |  potash katiftof 06/12/08
      5.   how primitive can u get 23:23  |  sWeis Melbourne 06/12/08
      6.   Despicable 23:38  |  CM 06/12/08
      7.   Is sad to say but as... 23:42  |  Pepe 06/12/08
      8.   Why purify? Just cut his hand off! 23:43  |  McQueen 06/12/08
      9.   The Egyptian attitude isn`t "cool" it`s disgustingly hostile 23:44  |  McQueen 06/12/08
      10.   Pyramids 23:53  |  Pedro 06/12/08
      11.   to #2 reasoning 23:55  |  FalluJah 06/12/08
      12.   How come these people do not achieve any kind of greatness? 23:58  |  Tom Lobo Meyer 06/12/08
      13.   BRAZIL SUPPORTS THE EGYPTIANS. 00:06  |  Marcos Ribeiro 07/12/08
      14.   How many Coptic houses & Churches this "cleric" order demolished 00:29  |  Genuine Tosefta 07/12/08
      15.   Morons! 00:53  |  Bill Foonman 07/12/08
      16.   With peace like this who needs wars 01:06  |  Dan 07/12/08
      17.   Pedro, Hebrew slaves built them 01:09  |  judith 07/12/08
      18.   Egypt is Israel`s greatest enemy 01:18  |  Arnold Kemps 07/12/08
      19.   They did not build the pyramids, Pedro! 01:39  |  Dr. Jack 07/12/08
      20.   BRAZIL SUPPORTS THE CLERICS....... 02:56  |  Brant 07/12/08
      21.   WHAT "OPPOSITION NEWSPAPERS"? 04:11  |  indrajaya 07/12/08
      22.   To all those who claim Jews built pyramids 04:38  |  Adam 07/12/08
      23.   AdamTo all those who believe Jews built pyramids – you are right! 05:51  |  Regards 07/12/08
      24.   Israeli treatment of Palestinians 06:36  |  Shmendrik Nashashibi 07/12/08
      25.   This would not be published without government approval 07:24  |  PETER SM 07/12/08
      26.   Beware of one`s "friends." 07:45  |  howiej 07/12/08
      27.   Changed cleric 08:41  |  Ros 07/12/08
      28.   This is our "Peace Partner" 10:42  |  Shuki 07/12/08
      29.   Shaking handsake. 11:47  |  Aviva 07/12/08
      30.   Egypt in decline 14:20  |  US CITIZEN 07/12/08
      31.   Egypt as example of "great" Arab civilization 15:15  |  Raymond in DC 08/12/08
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