Ahead of his departure from Cairo for NYC to attend the UN General Assembly, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi was interviewed by the New York Times. Morsi used the 90-minute interview to address America’s obligations to the PA (Palestinian Authority) and towards the establishment of the State of Palestine.

“’Successive American administrations essentially purchased with American taxpayer money the dislike, if not the hatred, of the peoples of the region,’ he said, by backing dictatorial governments over popular opposition and supporting Israel over the Palestinians.”

Morsi told the Times he hopes to “repair relations” between Washington and the Arab world as well as “revitalizing the alliance with Egypt”, both “essential” components for regional stability.

Regarding concerns of the newly-elected Egyptian administration honoring peace agreements signed in the past with Israel, Morsi tells America that it too has signed agreements and it remains obligated by the Camp David Summit which addresses “Palestinian self-rule”.

Regarding American allegations that Egypt responded too slowly to the violent protestors outside the US Embassy, he explained they acted as they did to avoid inflaming the hostile situation, rejecting the legitimacy of the US criticism.

“’If you want to judge the performance of the Egyptian people by the standards of German or Chinese or American culture, then there is no room for judgment,’ he said. ‘When the Egyptians decide something, probably it is not appropriate for the US. When the Americans decide something, this, of course, is not appropriate for Egypt.”’

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)