Diplomatic sources close to the presidency have denied rumors, published in Lebanese newspaper Al-Safir on Tuesday, that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is going to Germany in two days for medical treatment.
They said the president will meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, after the latter postponed his trip which was originally scheduled for Tuesday. Mubarak is also scheduled to attend graduation ceremonies of military schools as well as some regional and African summit meetings.
The sources accused Al-Safir of publishing rumors that an Israeli newspaper started, which claimed that President Mubarak’s last visit to France was also for medical treatment.
They explained that those rumors target Egypt because it supports certain causes in the region, and affirmed that the president is in good health and performs his duties normally.
The sources also said Netanyahu postponed his visit so that it is not mistakenly linked to any possible hostile action by the Israeli navy against the Libyan humanitarian aid ship heading to the Gaza Strip. They pointed out that former Israeli Foreign Minister Tsipi Livni’s meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit was linked to the Israeli attack on the strip in 2008.
In a related development, a spokesperson for the Gaddafi International Charity and Development Foundation said on Tuesday that the Israeli navy has ordered the captain of the Libyan ship to sail to the Arish seaport, insisting that he will not be allowed to sail to the strip.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Maariv newspaper on Tuesday said that Rabbi Ovaida Yosef, the spiritual leader of Israel’s conservative Shas Party, has prepared a letter to President Mubarak wishing him good health, happiness and a long life, which Netanyahu will deliver to Mubarak during his visit.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
