Arab Anger About Israel Rises After Powell's Visit
Egypt, the first Arab state to make peace with Israel, further scaled back those ties today by announcing that it would halt all cooperation between the two governments on agricultural issues.

In an interview with the official Middle East News Agency, President Mubarak said he did not want to sever Egypt's diplomatic ties to Israel because that "would give Israel the opportunity to free itself from any obligation or commitment and to thrust out its hand unhindered."

Diplomats said Egyptian officials told American diplomats on Tuesday evening that Mr. Mubarak was not feeling well, and today, Secretary Powell said, the Egyptians reported that he was "indisposed." Privately, though, officials hinted that Mr. Mubarak's decision to skip the meeting had nothing to do with his health. Mr. Mubarak finally spoke with the secretary of state by telephone during his brief stop in Cairo.

In the news agency interview, which was conducted two days ago but released only this afternoon, Mr. Mubarak also made it clear that his disagreement with the United States focused on attacks by Palestinians.

"I told Secretary Colin Powell bluntly, when he visited Egypt and when he called me from Ramallah after his meeting with President Arafat, that I do not think anyone should believe that the Jerusalem attack will be the last," Mr. Mubarak said, referring to a suicide bombing that killed six Israelis last week.

"We have to deal with the core of the problem," Mr. Mubarak insisted. "We have to get rid of the frustration and desperation of the people."

Mr. Maher was more blunt. "We support the right of the Palestinians to oppose the occupation," he said. "You may disapprove of certain aspects of the resistance. But resistance is a legitimate response of the occupied against the occupiers."
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/18/international/middleeast/18ARAB.html