Egypt's PM says will wage war on Israel if $100 billion raised

Ha'aretz Daily ^

[RCW2001]

Egypt's PM says will wage war on Israel if $100 billion raised

By News Agencies

Egyptian Prime Minister Atef Ebeid hinted to a Persian Gulf newspaper Wednesday that his country would be ready to wage war on Israel if the Arab states were to send $100 billion to fund it.

"If you want to take action, if you are ready to rise to the challenge, you must send $100 billion," the prime minister told Al Itiihad when asked why Egypt, which is "the largest Arab state," had not responded to Israel's offensive against the Palestinians.

"I told you that we wanted $100 billion," he told the paper when asked if Egypt could at least "expel the Israeli ambassador" from Cairo.

"The Arab world must allocate $100 billion from Arab coffers deposited around the world. It must say to Egypt: 'This is the national budget. This budget is at your disposal, start the confrontation'."

Mubarak: Egypt will continue policy of restraint
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said Wednesday that Egypt would continue a policy of moderation and practice restraint.

"Our duty now is remain alert, act with wisdom and reason, and make sure we plan our steps without emotional overreaction," he said.

The speech marked the 20th anniversary of the full return of the Sinai peninsula to Egypt after its 1979 peace treaty with Israel.

He accused Israel of using "state terrorism" to crush what he called legitimate Palestinian resistance to occupation.

Israel "has prevented aid agencies and media from entering towns, villages and refugee camps in order to conceal the brutal crimes the Israeli army committed," Mubarak said in a televised speech.

It "uses arguments equating legitimate Palestinian resistance with occupation and terrorism... to avoid its ugly Israeli practices being depicted as state terrorism," he added.

The operations "will only deepen the feelings of hatred, resentment, and the desire for revenge among not only the Palestinian people, but some 300 million Arabs," Mubarak said.

The president also said that Israel had "crossed all borders with its siege of the Church of the Nativity and the crude violation of human rights in Palestinian cities, and in the matter of Jenin and its refugee camp there."

[Bosco]

Bake Sale!

[Paleo Conservative]

I wonder how much it would cost Egypt if the Aswan dam were breeched?

[weikel]

That be short the IAF would destroy the Nile Dams and put the area of Egypt where 90+% of the population lives deep underwater.

[Dallas]

Let me see if I got this straight.....

Israel is supposed to stand by, and wait while Egypt raises $100 billion, and not blow their ass to hell in the interim........not a good plan.

[Dudoight]

It is time to stop the millions we are giving Egypt each year. Israel HAS oppressed those in occupied areas. Palestine has a right to independence and autonomy. Israel must withdraw or we are going to be drawn into this militarily. We don't need this.

[Djarum]

Announcement: I'll wage war on Egypt if someone sends me $100 billion.

[toddst]

The (Israeli) operations "will only deepen the feelings of hatred, resentment, and the desire for revenge among not only the Palestinian people, but some 300 million Arabs," Mubarak said.

Strictly for domestic consumption. Egypt isn't going to do anything but talk IMHO.

[Cicero]

I wouldn't worry too much about this. I think he's just pulling their legs. "Give us a hundred billion," he says, "and then we'll see what happens next. . . ." Or, if you prefer, "Put your money where your mouth is."

[Frances_Marion]

#7 ROFL! I think this Egyptian PM used to be an islamic televangelist or something...

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

[ikanakattara]

Maybe they'd just like to go ahead and steal the Q-bomb...

[RCW2001]

Yeah...$100 billion could buy quite a few of those. Last I heard rumored was $200 million a pop from the old Soviet arsenal. That was a few years back so considering inflation, stock rotation and all...price is now probably much higher, but hey, we are talking a little piece of ground here. Shouldn't take THAT many...

[Gaston]

Egypt's PM says will wage war on Israel if $100 billion raised

Being that Egypt's GNP is $42 billion I think for $100 billion Egypt's army would do whatever you asked.

[blam]

"Israel is supposed to stand by, and wait while Egypt raises $100 billion, and not blow their ass to hell in the interim........not a good plan."

No kidding. ..and bad news for any contributors too.

[krogers58]

Israel posesses 3, the last I knew, balistic missile submarines. At all times, at least one sub is at sea. It would take only one sub to absolutley devastate the whole arab world. Military action, or the talk thereof, by the Arab leaders, is all bluster, meant to appease the "Arab Street", and to deflect attention from all of their internal economic collapses.

[sheik yerbouty]

May all Egypt share the waters of Lake Nasser!