Israel Matzav

Moussa says he would honor Egypt-Israel peace treaty

Arab League chief Amr Moussa, who is a candidate for President of Egypt, says that he would honor the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty (Hat Tip: Daily Alert).

Speaking to a few hundred Egyptians packed into a cultural center in the upscale neighborhood of Zamalek, Moussa said he would "listen to the young people of Egypt" and work with them to make Egypt a regional powerhouse.

When asked about Egypt's peace treaty with Israel, he said: "We as Egyptians have a responsibility to lay the foundations for peace."

"We cannot rebuild Egypt ... while adopting an adventurous foreign policy," he said, adding "we would be kidding ourselves" if Egyptians didn't recognize Israel as a state.

However, Moussa said he would possibly reconsider the terms of a controversial gas deal under which Egypt sells Israel 60 billion cubic feet (1.7 billion cubic meters) a year for 15 years.

The deal has drawn criticism at home, with some saying the gas was being sold at below-market rates. Others resent Israel's treatment of Palestinians, and say Egypt should not supply energy to Israel.

But note, as I have pointed out before,

Moussa enjoys wide popularity in Egypt, largely because of his scathing criticism of Israel, a country seen by most Egyptians as an enemy despite the 1979 peace treaty between the two neighbors.

So is Moussa becoming a realist who understands that Israel is here to say? Would he love to get rid of us but also realizes that the cost to Egypt would be too high? Or is this a tactic to mollify the 'international community' in a bid to convince it not to seek another candidate that is more amenable to friendly relations with its neighbor?

Hmmm.

Labels: Amr Moussa, Arab obsession with Israel, Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:51 AM