Report reveals Egypt's support for US policy on Jerusalem al-Quds

Rasa - A new report shows that an Egyptian intelligence officer has directed several influential talk show hosts in the country to promote Washington's recent controversial decision on Jerusalem al-Quds.

News ID: 435657

Date: 08 January 2018 - 18:29

RNA - In four audio recordings of telephone calls obtained by The New York Times, Captain Ashraf al-Kholi told the hosts that instead of condemning the US policy, they should persuade their viewers to accept it.

“We, like all our Arab brothers, are denouncing this matter,” Kholi said, referring to President Donald Trump's declaration last month that the US was recognizing Jerusalem al-Quds as the “capital” of Israel and planning to relocate the American embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy city.

“After that, this thing will become a reality. Palestinians can’t resist and we don’t want to go to war. We have enough on our plate as you know,” he added.

The dramatic shift in Washington’s Jerusalem al-Quds policy drew fierce criticism from the international community and triggered protests against the US and Israel worldwide.

Meanwhile, the United Nations General Assembly voted by a resounding majority to reject Trump’s Jerusalem al-Quds move.

During the phone calls with the Egyptian talk show hosts, Kholi also expressed concerns about a new Palestinian intifada (uprising).

“The point that is dangerous for us is the intifada issue. An intifada would not serve Egypt’s national security interests," he said.

The Egyptian officer also suggested that Palestinians should content themselves with the West Bank city of Ramallah that currently houses the headquarters of the Palestinian Authority.

“At the end of the day, later on, Jerusalem won’t be much different from Ramallah,” he said. “Concessions are a must and if we reach a concession whereby Jerusalem will be — Ramallah will be the capital of Palestine, to end the war and so no one else dies, then we would go for it.”

In a conversation with host Saeed Hassaseen, who also serves as a lawmaker at the Egyptian parliament, Kholi said he was conveying "the stance of Egypt’s national security apparatus and what it stands to benefit from in this matter of announcing Jerusalem to be the capital of Israel, OK?”

“Give me orders, sir,” Hassaseen replied. “I am at your command.”

According to the report, all the recipients of Kholi's calls vowed to convey his arguments in broadcasts.

Egypt has full diplomatic relations with Israel and enjoys close military and intelligence cooperation with the occupying entity.

The Tel Aviv regime lays claim to the whole Jerusalem al-Quds, but the international community views the ancient city’s eastern sector as occupied land and Palestinians consider it as the capital of their future state.

847/940