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Last update - 10:20 27/12/2008
Arab journalist blasts Egyptian FM for failing to censure Livni Gaza threats
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service
Tags: Israel News, Egypt, Hamas 

A prominent Arab journalist launched a blistering attack on Saturday against Egypt's foreign minister for the perceived evenhandedness of Cairo's policy towards Israel and the Palestinians, according to Israel Radio.

In an editorial penned for the London-based pan-Arab daily Al-Quds al-Arabi, the paper's editor in chief, Abd al-Bari Atwan, takes Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit to task for failing to voice displeasure with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's threats against Hamas during Livni's meetings with senior officials in the Egyptian capital this week.

Rejecting a call for restraint by Hosni Mubarak, Livni on Thursday told the Egyptian President that Israel will act to halt "unbearable" rocket attacks by Gaza militants.
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"We cannot tolerate a situation in which Hamas continues to target Israel, Israel's citizens, and this situation is going to be changed," Livni told the Egyptian leader.

Atwan wrote that Aboul Gheit's conduct - and his demand that both Israel and Hamas act with restraint and refrain from steps that would inflame tensions - did not distinguish him from that of a foreign minister of Sweden or Costa Rica, according to Israel Radio. The editor also doubted whether Egypt would allow a Hamas official to make similar threats towards Israel.

Mufid Shihab, an Egyptian cabinet minister, brushed aside Atwan's criticism, explaining that Mubarak invited Livni to Cairo after the Egyptian leader sensed that Israel was seriously contemplating a massive military offensive in the Gaza Strip, Israel Radio reported.

Aboul Gheit told Haaretz on Thursday that abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit is alive and being treated well by his captors, but an Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip may hurt efforts to bargain for his release.

The Egyptian foreign minister also warned Israel that the situation in Gaza "might get out of hand" and that Iran is "interfering in Arab affairs."

Livni landed in Cairo on Thursday and met with Mubarak, Omar Suleiman, the head of the country's intelligence service and Gheit. She told them Israel will not continue to restrain itself from responding to the barrage of rockets launched by Gazan militants for long.

"The situation has slided again to a confrontation," Gheit said. "We are hoping that both parties would restrain their actions. Hence they would allow us to build and to establish that situation where by we can bring an end to the tension, then to restore the quiet and then we would work on Gilad Shalit anew."

Gheit said the security situation was linked to talks regarding a prisoner swap that would entail the release of Shalit. A military operation by the IDF would be hazardous to such a process , he said.

"He is part of a bigger and more general problem between Hamas and Israel," Gheit said, referring to Shalit. "My understanding from our own intelligence is he is okay and well treated."

Gheit did not talk about the possibility that an aggressive Israeli operation may spill over or affect Egypt as well.

"It might get out of hand," he explained. "We are warning both that it is better not to clash militarily. Help us to help you. [An IDF operation] will be bad because people would suffer on both sides and then the possibility of reconciling differences and of finding lasting solutions will diminish."

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      1.   Abd al-Bari Atwan: No Journalist 18:02  |  Brad 27/12/08
      2.   A prominent Arab journalist launched a blistering attack on an 19:45  |  Jew- and Bookburner 27/12/08
      3.   so what else is new,an arab whining and crying about mistreatment 21:04  |  terrornator 27/12/08
      4.   Blame Hamas 21:22  |  JoJo 27/12/08
      5.   Egypt is affraid of Israel 22:19  |  Maria 27/12/08
      6.   Measured but necessary Gaza critics 22:45  |  H.H.M. 27/12/08
      7.   Arab leaders are all cowards 00:48  |  God The Almighty 28/12/08
      8.   Atwan`s bark 01:02  |  charles soper 28/12/08
      9.   Maria 01:38  |  Brad 28/12/08
      10.   whatever 14:52  |  palestinian 15/01/09
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