Military

DATE=10/25/00

TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT

NUMBER=5-47229

TITLE=EGYPT / PROTESTS

BYLINE=DALE GAVLAK

DATELINE=CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Ever since the violence began in Israel and the Palestinian territories, university students in Cairo have been holding demonstrations against the Israeli actions. Dale Gavlak was at a demonstration and filed this report.

TEXT: /// ACT OF DEMONSTRATIONS ///

Hundreds of Egyptian protesters are venting their outrage at the deaths of their Palestinian brothers and the sacrilege of their holy shrine committed by the visit of Israeli hardline opposition leader Ariel Sharon. They cry out, "Mohamed's army is coming, beware oh Jews!" Others demand jihad or holy war against Israel.

/// ACT PROTESTERS SHOUTING WE WANT WAR WITH ISRAEL ///

Mr. Sharon's by-now famous visit to al-Aqsa mosque has sparked four weeks of bloody clashes claiming the lives of scores of mainly Palestinian civilians.

University students have been at the forefront of Egypt's demonstrations. The government has posted security vehicles outside Cairo University, the country's largest center of higher education, and at the American University in Cairo. Inside the vehicles are black uniformed riot police equipped with batons and tear gas canisters. They are ready, should the protests turn violent, to take action.

The university protesters are demanding an end to the killing of Palestinians at the hands of Israeli troops. But despite the virulent words against Israel, many of the students, like 19-year-old Sarah Kabil from the American University in Cairo readily acknowledge that war is not their first choice.

/// KABIL ACT ///

All we want is peace, and we want the Palestinians to have their rights. We don't want war if Israel gives Palestinians what they want, then if not, maybe we will have to.

/// END KABIL ACT ///

Drama student Maya Attiyeh says it's not a question of being Palestinian or Egyptian because they are all Arabs. She says that jihad or holy war is an obligation for Muslims in peril.

/// ATTIYEH ACT ///

As Muslims, we must do it. But as Egyptians we will not do it and not succeed in doing it until we have (all) Arabs ... agree to it.

/// END ATTIYEH ACT ///

Other Egyptians, including many students, say they simply don't want to pay the human and military costs of a war with Israel. They remember that in the past three conflicts with Israel, it has been their country, and not other Arab states, that has suffered the biggest loss of lives.

For many of the students, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak adopted the right tone at the recent Arab summit in Cairo. He was, they say, forceful but moderate. Engineering student Ahmed Kamel credits President Mubarak with achieving a balanced Arab response toward Israel.

/// KAMEL ACT ///

Mubarak is very intelligent. He doesn't want to declare war and he doesn't want what's happening in Palestine to continue.

/// END KAMEL ACT ///

But acting student Maya Attiyeh expressed her disappointment that the Arab leaders did not speak out more forcefully for the Palestinians.

/// ATTIYEH ACT ///

I felt that, with the Arab summit, together maybe we could do something, maybe it would begin for the people who are sacrificing their lives, their country, the mosque, everything.

/// END ATTIYEH ACT ///

As the violence continues in Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories, the students say they too will continue their protests on behalf of their Palestinian brethren. (Signed)

NEB/DG/KL/PLM