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Egypt's FM dismisses US-Israeli deal

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 03:23:39 GMT | PressTV | read more

Egyptian foreign minister, Ahmed Aboul

Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit has dismissed a US-Israeli agreement aimed at cutting off weapons smuggling into the Gaza Strip.

The deal signed in Washington on Friday helped pave the way for Egyptian-brokered cease-fire Saturday.

However, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said Saturday that his country would not be bound by the agreement.

The US and Israel can "do what they wish with regard to the sea or any other country in Africa, but when it comes to Egyptian land, we are not bound by anything except the safety and national security of the Egyptian people and Egypt's ability to protect its borders," Aboul Gheit told reporters.

The US-Israeli deal outlines a framework under which the US commits detection and surveillance equipment, as well as logistical help and training to Israel, Egypt and other nations to be used in monitoring Gaza's land and sea borders.

"Egypt will never accept any foreign presence of monitors on its land," said Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in a televised speech Saturday. "I say this is a red line I have not and will not allow to be crossed."

Egypt has invited Turkey, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Jordan to a meeting Sunday in the Egyptian Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheik to discuss Gaza, Egypt's official news agency reported.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy will co-host the summit along with Mubarak, said Sarkozy's office.