Egypt: No summit until Israeli-Palestinian violence stops

In this story: Protests in Arab capitals 'The true meaning of war' RELATED STORIES, SITES

From CNN Correspondent Jane Arraf

CAIRO, Egypt (CNN) -- The Egyptian government is opposing a new Israeli-Palestinian summit until the current Mideast violence ends, the nation's foreign minister said Tuesday.

U.S. President Bill Clinton is proposing an Israeli-Palestinian summit at the Egyptian resort of Sharm al-Sheikh. The White House said Clinton talked with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Monday and would do so again.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said Arabs will not deal with threats or deadlines like the one issued by Barak over the weekend for Arafat to stop the violence or Israel would consider the peace process at an end.

Protests in Arab capitals

Television footage of Palestinian civilians being shot by Israeli security forces has sparked violent reactions in a number of Arab capitals such as Cairo, where police beat university students to quell anti-Israeli protests.

Egypt alone in the Arab world has struggled for almost 20 years to maintain peace with Israel in the face of domestic and external opposition.

'The true meaning of war'

Mubarak reminded some of his fellow Arab leaders and those too young to know what it meant to be at war.

"Whoever is calling for war hasn't suffered from it -- doesn't know the true meaning of war," Mubarak said. "The word war is not a simple one -- the decision to go to war is very difficult."

But to replace talk of war with talk of peace, officials said the Palestinians and their Arab backers must have an incentive to come to the table.

Egypt isn't giving up on the peace process, officials said, but it acknowledges there is still a lot of groundwork to be done before a summit can take place.

Barak lifts deadline on Palestinians; says he'll attend U.S.-hosted summit if called
October 9, 2000
U.N. secretary-general heads for Mideast meeting with Arafat, Barak
October 8, 2000
Bus shooting caps turbulent day in Middle East
October 7, 2000
Israel closes Palestinian borders anticipating more violence
October 6, 2000
Gaza fighting subsides despite failure at talks
October 5, 2000

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