Egypt's Mubarak: Middle East peace by year's end: The Swamp

Posted January 16, 2008 8:37 AM

Presidents Bush and Mubarak at Red Sea resort called "city of peace.'' Photos by Silva

by Mark Silva

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt – Despite the persisting violence that imperils prospects for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak today lent his voice to a chorus of leaders holding out an ambitious hope for a peace agreement by the end of this year.

And President Bush, meeting with Mubarak here at the conclusion of an eight-day tour of the Middle East in which Bush has sought support of Arab leaders for negotiations he is spurring between the Israelis and Palestinians, emphatically underscored how serious he is about achieving an agreement this year.

Mubarak told Bush – as other Arab leaders have told the president during his six-nation tour – that resolution of the conflict for Palestinians is key to a broader peace throughout the region.

“I wish to reach a peace agreement before the end of his term,’’ said Mubarak, standing alongside Bush. “We are keen on supporting peace efforts. We are ready, hand-in-hand with the United States of America and the Quartet (of international leaders) and all other regional stakeholders… to put an end to this Israeli-Palestinian conflict… and open new horizons in the Middle East to more peace and security.’’

Bush, basing his own optimism for peace talks on the commitment of Israeli and Palestinian leaders to secure a lasting agreement, also reiterated his promise to return to the region – Bush, who made his first visit to Israel as president during this tour, plans to return for the nation’s 60th anniversary in May.

“When I say I’m coming back to stay engaged, I mean it,’’ Bush said by Mubarak’s side, “and when I say I’m optimistic we can get a deal done, I mean what I’m saying.’’

The Four Seasons where Bush and Mubarak met today.

The two leaders met in a glamorous resort by the Red Sea in this city at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, which Israel had occupied after war with Egypt and which returned to Egypt in 1979, following Camp David accords which led Egypt to become the first Arab nation to reach a peace treaty with Israel.

The Egyptians like to call Sharm el-Sheikh “the city of peace,’’ but it is for sure a thriving and expanding complex of seaside resorts epitomized by the palm-gardened Four Seasons Resort where the two leaders met and issued a joint statement.

Mubarak has ruled this nation for nearly three decades. He rose to power in 1981, following the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, who had made peace with the nation that defeated Egypt in war less than a decade before.

And Mubarak, president of the most populous Arab nation, was among the Arab leaders who supported Bush’s Middle East peace conference in Annapolis in November, when Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas agreed to formally open negotiations aimed at an agreement.

The Sinai Peninsula ends at the Red Sea here, the mountains behind and the man-made gardens of palms at the resort here in the foreground.

Their goal by year’s end is to fashion the contours of a Palestinian state which will not only be contiguous, but also exist in peace with Israel. Yet they face many more issues that much be resolved, including Israeli settlements and Palestinian rights.

Their prospects for an agreement by year’s end have been called into question by renewed violence in the Gaza Strip just this week, as Bush was concluding an eight-day trip that opened with talks with Olmert in Jerusalem and with Abbas in Ramallah.

”I want to thank your for support in Annapolis – it is important that you were there,’’ Bush told Mubarak. “Egypt is an important nation… It sends a clear signal. People watch Egypt.’’

Comments

Well, this ought to p-ss off the Loony Left. They don't like it when Bush is successful and when good things happen.

Posted by: John D | January 16, 2008 9:55 AM

Political theater by our vanishing lame duck, being kided along by autocratic strong men--Sorry,Ducky, weep for your legacy as the worst president in history--Hie thee to Crawford Abbey and weep for the damage you have wrought--

Posted by: reef | January 16, 2008 10:21 AM

They don't like it when Bush is successful and when good things happen.

Stop lying Johnny D. I would be very happy and like it very much if White House staffers were to walk in the Oval Office only to find this man swinging lifelessly with his belt around his neck.

Posted by: Anonymous John E | January 16, 2008 10:38 AM

It must have been that "Crazy" Sword Dance Boy George was doing with his GoomBahs from the Middle East.

After watching him in action,get it get any worse over the next year?

Oh yeah,in between dances,the "Mad Bomber" thru a couple of peace deals together!!!!!!

Posted by: Raving Loon | January 16, 2008 10:41 AM

An example of the worst mankind has to offer, the friggin Loony Left:

Is there any doubt you morons are sick, demented, deranged, ill and worthless?

Posted by: John D | January 16, 2008 12:11 PM

Is there any doubt (by someone other than John D) that he has no room for complaint about even this twisted, inappropriate comment because he's at least this bad -- this "sick, demented, deranged, ill and worthless" -- himself, if not worse?

John D: No greater waste of perfectly good gravity to keep him from floating off into orbit.

Posted by: Op109 | January 16, 2008 12:48 PM

What I find rich is that that stalwart of truth and democracy Hosni Mobarak says there will be peace in the Middle East next year, and Mr. Dyslin erupts in a frenzy as if there were a snowball's chance in Egypt of such an event occurring.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love him to be right. But isn't this the same kind of frenzied last minute deal-making that conservatives chastise Clinton for? Don't they make the argument that since Clinton pushed too hard, too fast, he brought on the seconde Intifida?

What if all this "better late than never" diplomacy blows up in Bush's face? Oh, I know, I'm sure you'll just fall back and blame Clinton.

Anyway, here's to peace in the Middle East. Next year in Jerusalem!

Posted by: Jones | January 16, 2008 12:48 PM

John D,
On the dubious assumption Anonymous John E is John E or a member of the "Loony Left" and not you or one of your pals, how do you know he's not talking about Osama Bin Laden. After all the sentence said "this man swinging lifelessly". Not sure if the pronoun 'this' refers to President Bush or to Bin Laden. Maybe you can tell us what you meant...er, I mean maybe Anonymous John E can tell us what he meant.

Posted by: john | January 16, 2008 1:05 PM

To be 'Anonymous' all you have to do is forget to fill in the name field.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 16, 2008 6:35 PM

Well, I guess we are looking forward to a new era of peace and tranquility.

Maybe now we can spend the 'peace dividend' on National Health Insurance??

Posted by: C.Morris | January 16, 2008 7:14 PM

Posted by: C.Morris | January 16, 2008 7:17 PM

"Well, this ought to p-ss off the Loony Left. They don't like it when Bush is successful and when good things happen.

Posted by: John D | January 16, 2008 9:55 AM"

Mr. Dyslin,

Please call my office and make an appointment. I want to try to help you. I am sure you can once more become productive member of society with professional guidance.

Thank you.

Sincerely yours,

Dr. Jennifer Melfi, PHDP

Posted by: Dr. Melfi | January 16, 2008 7:23 PM

"Dr. Melfi," I am a productive member of society. However, you need to help the Elgin Mental Health Center recapture escapee John E. You know, the guy who while middle aged, lives at home with mumsy and dadsy, in their basement and has nothing else to do but blog and get drunk every day.

Posted by: John D | January 16, 2008 9:47 PM

Posted by: mommy | January 17, 2008 12:00 AM

Bush/Middle East autocratic rulers meetings were primarily aimed at blowing smoke up each other's asses; no more no less.

Posted by: Emmanuel St John | January 17, 2008 1:07 AM