President Mubarak called on Israel to reconsider its policies and the way it treats Palestinians and Arabs in general and cited the Egyptian-Israel peace treaty as an inspiration for such policies. "If it chooses peace and fulfills its requirements with good intentions, this will encourage the Arabs to trust it, and this is the core of the Arab peace initiative," he said in reference to Israel.
Speaking to the Armed Forces magazine, in commemoration of the 6th of October war, he encouraged Israel to complete its settlement freeze and make a concrete step in peace negotiations before asking for Arab initiatives.
Mubarak stressed that "Israel should make the brave choice between peace, security and stability, or illegitimate occupation and adherence to positions that have proved to be futile. There is no doubt the occupation will end. Security is attained through peace and not armed power, but imposing a status quo does not grant legitimacy or give anyone his rights. Rather, it prolongs the dispute and guarantees more bloodshed, and threatens the future of the region and future generations."
The president addressed the Israelis saying, "Before you lose the opportunity for peace again, you have the example of the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty which should inspire Israeli politicians, and should influence the way they formulate their policies toward Arab parties. Anything other than this will be a waste of time and will destroy hopes for peace. This will subject the region to greater tension and will have dire consequences for everyone, which Egypt, who opened the road to peace in the region, does not want."
He further emphasized that wasting time and political posturing is not in anyone's interest, but rather will lead to dire consequences for Israel, more so than any other party. He added that Israel should not miss this historic chance to achieve a comprehensive settlement to the six-decade conflict.
Mubarak confirmed that he stands on the side of the poor and low-income people in their quest for better stands of living. "During my trips and visits to inaugurate new projects, I always tell government officials that simple citizens must be our focus, because we have them to thank for our achievements. They must reap the benefits from the endurance and sacrifices that they went through during the reconstruction and reformation process and must be assured of the future of their sons and grandsons," he emphasized.
He continued, suggesting that he closely follows the suffering of the people in regard to transportation, soaring prices and living expenses and is fully aware of the concerns of the Egyptian family. He pointed out that he followed the bread crisis and the high prices of food hourly until prices went down. "What we have achieved through a policy of economic reform, and financial and monetary plans over the last five years has helped us to face the global financial crisis with minimal losses," Mubarak added. He promised the people of Egypt saying, "In all honesty, the financial crisis will end sooner or later. It is already showing signs of retreat. We will survive the crisis with a greater ability to attract investment and resume growth, thus providing more job opportunities, increasing incomes and raising the standard of living within a year."
