Home
Politics
"An historic settlement is within reach, one that would give the Palestinians their state and freedom from occupation while granting Israel recognition and security to live in peace," he wrote.
Obama's recent speech in Cairo marked a turning point in US relations with the Muslim world, according to Mubarak, whose country signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, the first Arab state to do so.
But "Israel's relentless settlement expansion, which has seriously eroded the prospects for a two-state solution, must cease," Mubarak said.
"For their part, the Palestinians must continue to develop their institutional capacity while overcoming their division to achieve their aspirations for statehood."
The "ambitious" agenda that Obama outlined in his Cairo address earlier this month "must now be followed by forward-looking steps in order to chart a new course in America's relationship with the Arab and Muslim world," Mubarak wrote.
On Monday Mubarak said he also considered Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's call for Palestinians to recognize Israel to be a torpedo to any chance for agreement.
"The call to recognize Israel as a Jewish state complicates things further and scuppers the possibilities for peace," state news agency MENA quoted Mubarak as saying at a military ceremony.
US State Department Spokesman Ian Kelly said: "We welcome President Mubarak's words and his vision of a comprehensive peace between Israel and all Arab states, including a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and peace between Israel and Syria, and Israel and Lebanon.
"We also appreciate Egypt's strong leadership role in the region in trying to implement this vision," Kelly said in statement.
"We agree with President Mubarak on the importance of seizing this moment to put an end to decades of conflict in the Middle East and with his unambiguous message that, in order for this vision to become a reality, all parties in the region must do their part, including Arab states in the region," Kelly said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Obama's recent speech in Cairo marked a turning point in US relations with the Muslim world, according to Mubarak, whose country signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, the first Arab state to do so.
But "Israel's relentless settlement expansion, which has seriously eroded the prospects for a two-state solution, must cease," Mubarak said.
"For their part, the Palestinians must continue to develop their institutional capacity while overcoming their division to achieve their aspirations for statehood."
The "ambitious" agenda that Obama outlined in his Cairo address earlier this month "must now be followed by forward-looking steps in order to chart a new course in America's relationship with the Arab and Muslim world," Mubarak wrote.
On Monday Mubarak said he also considered Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's call for Palestinians to recognize Israel to be a torpedo to any chance for agreement.
"The call to recognize Israel as a Jewish state complicates things further and scuppers the possibilities for peace," state news agency MENA quoted Mubarak as saying at a military ceremony.
US State Department Spokesman Ian Kelly said: "We welcome President Mubarak's words and his vision of a comprehensive peace between Israel and all Arab states, including a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and peace between Israel and Syria, and Israel and Lebanon.
"We also appreciate Egypt's strong leadership role in the region in trying to implement this vision," Kelly said in statement.
"We agree with President Mubarak on the importance of seizing this moment to put an end to decades of conflict in the Middle East and with his unambiguous message that, in order for this vision to become a reality, all parties in the region must do their part, including Arab states in the region," Kelly said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
