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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan | |
| Tapes Reveal Egyptian Leaders' Tacit Acceptance of Jerusalem Move | |
| 2018-01-07 | |
| [NYT] As President Trump moved last month to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, an Egyptian intelligence officer quietly placed phone calls to the hosts of several influential talk shows in Egypt. "Like all our Arab brothers," Egypt would denounce the decision in public, the officer, Capt. Ashraf al-Kholi, told the hosts. But strife with Israel was not in Egypt’s national interest, Captain Kholi said. He told the hosts that instead of condemning the decision, they should persuade their viewers to accept it. Palestinians, he suggested, should content themselves with the dreary West Bank town that currently houses the Palestinian Authority, Ramallah. "How is Jerusalem different from Ramallah, really?" Captain Kholi asked repeatedly in four audio recordings of his telephone calls obtained by The New York Times. "Exactly that," agreed one host, Azmi Megahed, who confirmed the authenticity of the recording. For decades, powerful Arab states like Egypt and Saudi Arabia have publicly criticized Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians, while privately acquiescing to Israel’s continued occupation of territory the Palestinians claim as their homeland.
The SIS said that the people mentioned in the article were incorrectly labeled “the hosts of several influential talk shows in Egypt.” “Mr. Mofid Fawzy is a journalist who stopped TV presenting years ago contrary to the claim made in the Times’ report,” the SIS statement said. The release also said the talk show hosted by Hassaseen was off the air several weeks ahead of the Jerusalem decision. "The renowned movie star Yousra has no relation whatsoever to presenting TV talk shows and is a household name in the movie and acting industry in Egypt and the Arab world; a fact Mr. Kirkpatrick should have been aware of given his long stay in Egypt," the SIS said. "Moreover, Mrs. Yousra has denied knowing someone by the name Ashraf El-Kholi or that she discussed with anyone the issue of Jerusalem… adding that she was not present in Egypt during the period specified in the report," the press release said. The SIS added that Yousra would seek legal action for defamation. The statement also asserted that Egypt’s positions on international issues are conveyed by the president, the minister of foreign affairs and in official statements, not from “alleged leaks from an anonymous source.” “The Times’ report contains allegations regarding Egypt’s position on the Jerusalem issue mentioned in the so-called ‘audio recordings.’ It is inappropriate for The New York Times, a reputable newspaper, to publish such allegations,” the SIS said. The statement added that Egypt has expressed “in word and dead” its position on the Jerusalem issue at the United Nations despite threats by the US to cut off aid to countries that condemn its Jerusalem decision at the UN General Assembly. | |
| Posted by:Besoeker |
| #3 And why would they have anything to say about what we choose to do? |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2018-01-07 21:49 |
| #2 Nothing like releasing this to stir up trouble in Gaza and Cairo...the NYT is just scum. This is irresponsible. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2018-01-07 12:26 |
| #1 Is this some of that smart diplomacy we were promised by the Obola crew? |
| Posted by: AlanC 2018-01-07 09:10 |