With Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff
For the story behind the story...
Monday, Oct. 16, 2000 11:00 a.m. EST
EgyptAir Crash Fuels Anger Toward
Israel
It is no small coincidence that the
Israeli-Palestinian controversy has taken the
stage in Cairo today.
Egypt is the major political, cultural and
military power in the Arab world.
A staunch U.S. ally, it has been a bulwark of
stability in the region.
But this year it has not been a helpful friend
in the peace process. Reports by Thomas Friedman
and others quote U.S. sources as saying the
peace process collapsed earlier this year
because Egypt's Hosni Mubarak told Arafat not to
compromise on Jerusalem.
This past Saturday, the New York Times reported
on the growing war sentiment on the streets of
Cairo - and criticism of the Muslim clergy there
for not calling for a jihad against Israel.
Unstated in the Times article is the effect of
the crash of the EgyptAir flight off the coast
of Massachusetts last November.
American authorities were quick to claim the
pilot, whom the FBI has said was a religious
fanatic and sexual pervert, crashed the jumbo
jet in a suicidal fit.
The Egyptians are livid over the claims.
A recent report in Egypt's Al Ahram, considered
the official voice of the government, lays out
why Egypt doesn't believe the suicide pilot
theory, and why Egyptians believe Israel
masterminded the air disaster.
Excerpts from Al Ahram (misspellings corrected):
1) There [were] 34 generals of different
ranks from the Egyptian armed forces on
board the plane, among them ... a general
who held a doctorate in atomic sciences, who
was not listed on the passenger list and was
about to go to Cairo to see his family after
spending more than 15 years in the states.
And more than 20 pilots who successfully
completed training in operating Apache
helicopters that were sold recently to
Egypt. Also on board were other generals who
successfully completed training in launching
the famous American Patriot missiles. The
training of those generals lasted 3 yrs and
has cost Egypt billions, which Egypt paid in
full.
2)Israel vehemently denounced the training
program of those generals upon their arrival
in the U.S. three years ago, and Israel
called the training program "A THREAT TO
ISRAEL'S SECURITY."
3)Cairo started a big campaign to rid the
region of weapons of mass destruction. The
campaign has targeted mainly Israel since it
is the only country in the region that
possesses such dangerous weapons.
4)Israel started a campaign accusing Egypt
of seeking to modernize its armed forces and
of possessing missiles that threaten the
security of Israel, especially joint
American-Israeli missiles and jet fighter
technology. Egyptian defense minister
Mohamed Hassan Tantawi announced last
October that war with Israel is not ruled
out, and he also announced that Egypt is
continuously building its armed forces to be
in a state of readiness.
5)One day before the tragedy, the American
authorities provided hotel accommodation in
a 3-star hotel for the airplane crew, which
constitutes a violation of the simplest
norms of international aviation, where the
crew is usually accommodated in the airport
hotel or in a 5-star hotel.
6)On the same day, a crew member of pilots
and flight attendants of Israel's airline El
Al checked in the same hotel with a general
from the Israeli intelligence (MOSSAD) who
was in charge of the crew's luggage and
personal belongings.
7)Just A few hours prior to the incident,
one of the EgyptAir flight crew complained
to the hotel security that someone has
sneaked into his room, because he noticed
signs of somone's attempt to open his
suitcase by breaking the locks, but the
hotel security assured him of no foul play
as long as nothing was missing.
The Al Ahram article went on to list eight more
anamolies in the case.
There is no clear evidence information is
accurate. But one thing is certain: It is widely
believed in Egypt, helping to fan the flame of
hostility toward the U.S. and Israel.
