E
gyptian
presidential front-runner Amr Moussa pledged to adopt a tougher stance
on Israel than his predecessor Hosni Mubarak if elected president next
month.
In an 80-page political program released by
his office on Wednesday, Moussa dedicates the final chapter to “national
security and foreign policy.” Under the article titled “returning
to historic, honorable principles in dealing with the Palestinian
question as a priority of Egyptian national security,” Moussa writes
that Egypt has experienced “years of laxity” in its dealings with
Israel.
He adds that “all forms of political, economic
and legal support must be given to Palestinians in their struggle for
rights.” The Arab Initiative for comprehensive peace with Israel
ratified in 2007 will serve as his primary guideline, writes Moussa,
with the goal of “solving the conflict rather than managing it.”
Moussa concludes that he will tie development
of Egyptian-Israeli relations to “Israel’s level of willingness to end
the conflict, step by step and commitment by commitment.”