Background:
In a press conference after the Israeli military operation in South Lebanon in 1996, President Mubārak’s advisor Usāma al-Bāz comments and states his country's stance on the matter. He also responds to the questions of journalists and reporters from all over the world on the other incident known as the Europa Hotel massacre in Cairo that occurred at around the same time.
Side A:
President Mubārak’s advisor Usāma al-Bāz, also the Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs comments on incidents that happened in South Lebanon and Cairo. He firstly makes an opening statement on the Israeli military operation that occurred in South Lebanon, as he described the Israeli attempt as inconceivable and out of proportion as it resulted in many casualties at the Lebanese side. He then referred to the role of Egypt regarding the situation and its contact with Arab and European leaders and even the Israeli president Shimon Peres. This operation, he said would make all Arabs question the intentions of Israel, and how the security of Israel would come at the expense of threatening the Arabs.
Many questions were asked regarding topics including; terrorism, diplomatic relations with Israel, Ḥizb Allāh (Hezbollah), and the link between this incident and the Europa Hotel Massacre in Egypt (referring to the attack on Greek tourists).
Al-Bāz added that suicidal attacks do not serve a cause; it makes the situation more violent. He also mentioned that everyone, not just Arabs, are dissatisfied with the Israeli attempts, even European and Asian countries. He referred to these kinds of operations as a collective punishment that does not into account the civilians and those who never took part of suicidal attacks. He also mentioned that the French and American proposals to the problem are to end the attacks from both sides.
Side B:
Al-Bāz stresses on the point that by their action, the Israelis did not prevent Ḥizb Allāh from attacking and just targeted civilians as a form of collective punishment on the entire Lebanese population.
Moving on to the massacre that occurred in Egypt, General Minyāwī, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Interior responds by saying that the police forces and the ministry of interior are working tirelessly to collect information of the possible involvement of Al-Jamā'ah al-Islāmīyah and that they have already arrested some suspects. When both were asked about the causality between the two incidents, they said that it is too early to relate the two events. Al-Bāz mentioned that the "escalation in tension in the region could convince or stir a group of people to undertake some violent actions". They also mentioned that the enforcement of terrorism in Egypt has been reduced.
When asked whether the incident in Egypt could have been masterminded by Israel, Al-Bāz stated that in such cases, hard evidence is what drives the security forces and not allegations made by the media. At the end they mentioned that Ministry of Interior is completely alert and would pursue its battle against terrorism.
