— A 10-member Egyptian parliamentary delegation left for home yesterday after a week’s visit to Israel, saying their talks and tours of the country had changed their minds about Israel. They said they now have a clearer picture of the various viewpoints within Israel.
Dr. Mohammed Ahmed Abdallah, leader of the group, said before leaving that “It is obvious and clear that normalization (of relations) is a fact, peace in the Middle East is a fact, peace between Israel and Egypt is a reality.”
Dr. Mustafa Kamel Murad, leader of Egyptian opposition Liberal Party, said “I have now changed my views about Israel. I have a clearer picture about the points of view of the different political parties here. We had a picture before, but it was vague. Now this picture is clear–that we all–the big majority–want peace, and even the extremists want peace but they are different in their view on how to obtain it.”
The Egyptians were visibly moved during a visit to the Yad Veshem Holocaust Memorial last Friday. They said it gave them a deeper insight into Israel’s stress on the need for security. Dr. Ferkhunda Hassan Youseff, the only woman in the group, remarked: “Now I understand, certainly, Israeli acts and deeds that I didn’t understand before.”
During their week in Israel the Egyptian parliamentarians met with government and opposition leaders and visited Kibbutz Maagan Michael.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
