RAMALLAH, Feb 4 (JMCC) - Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestine Liberation Organization leader Dr. Hanan Ashrawi have called on Western governments for help during Egypt's massive protests and failed regional peace negotiations.

Dr. Ashrawi has asked the Quartet to increase support for Palestinian statehood. Netanyahu has sought American and European assistance dealing with it's currently unstable neighbor Egypt.

While Netanyahu reaffirmed his support for peace with Egypt, Dr. Ashrawi called on the Quartet to put more pressure on Israel to stop settlements, support 1967 borders and a Palestinian capitol in East Jerusalem, and disengage from Gaza.

“There needs to be a qualitative shift in the way the Quartet does business, and in the way the international community approaches Palestinian-Israeli peace making, Dr. Ashrawi said in a press release. When The Quartet meets tomorrow in Munich, he said they should resolutely support 1967 borders, establish East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state, stop settlement expansion and the seige of Gaza.

“Only in this way can the Quartet inject a positive momentum for peace and stability at a time when the region is undergoing critical transitions, Dr. Ashrawi said. 

Israel is nervously watching the hundreds of thousands of Egyptians demanding regime change in Cairo's Tahrir Square, fearing perhaps a new government hostile to the current peaceful status quo. Netanyahu's office issued a statement reaffirming Israel's interest in peace with any future Egyptian administration: Israel believes that the international community must require any Egyptian government to preserve the peace agreement with Israel.

Netanyahu has asked US President Barak Obama and others to grant recognition to beleagured Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's replacement only if the new government accepts certain preconditions. 

Although Netanyahu is not drawing a comparison between Hamas rule and a new Egyptian government, he would like to see, along with demands for democracy and respect for human rights, that the international community set as a condition that any new government in Cairo abide by the international agreements to which the Mubarak regime had signed, according to officials.

The matter was made clear to the Americans and many other countries, a senior official in Jerusalem said. We are not opposed to democracy in Egypt but it is important for us to preserve the peace agreement.

Read more at Haaretz...