PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) held a join press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, at which time he called for a cessation of fighting and a dialogue at the earliest possible time.

While Abu Mazen is compelled to stand behind Hamas-controlled Gaza, he is actually pleased with the dismantling of Hamas, which has ousted him from Gaza and threatens his Fatah powerbase in Yehuda and Shomron as well. His term expires in the beginning of January and he recently announced he will not seek another term in office.

Aboul Gheit stated his country did its utmost to prevent Israel from launching the attack, stating the IDF operation must come to a halt. He added that in order to reach a ceasefire, both side must want it.

Egypt is particularly concerned that if the IDF operation expands, it will lead to widespread rioting by Islamic fundamentalist factions in Cairo, which may indeed threaten the fragile regime of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)