Mubarak says Arab states won't normalize ties with Israel until peace deal signed

Published today (updated) 17/08/2009 13:21

Bethlehem - Ma'an -

Arab states will not normalize ties with Israel until a formal peace deal is signed with the Palestinians, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said on Monday.

Interviewed by the daily Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram, Mubarak said the experience of 1991's Madrid peace conference discouraged Arab states from further normalizing ties without reciprocal gestures by Israel.

Mubarak was in Washington on Monday, where he was expected to tell US President Barack Obama that Arab nations want peace, but are unwilling to permit concessions until Israel takes steps in that direction.

Obama had asked Arab countries to make overtures toward Israel, such as allowing Israel to use their airspace or opening economic interest offices, as a way of jump-starting peace talks between Israel and Palestine

The US has also demanded that Israel freeze settlements, including for so-called natural growth, but all sides have refused to take the first step, with Palestinians having cut off negotiations with Israel during the Gaza assault last winter.

Mubarak will meet with Obama on Tuesday, according to American news reports.

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