Peres Visit's Egypt

Jewish President Shimon Peres is greeted by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, on 23 October 2008; in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

The leaders are meeting for discussions towards various topics, which some are of international importance; which was thought to also include on securing the release of HRM Deborah of Palestine, who is a US political hostage and has been imprisoned for over 50 years.

HRM Deborah has been subjected to extreme torture (which caused most of my bones to be broken some twice, especially a visible broken jaw), forced labor, among other horrible things which are numerous and hard to think about sometimes because it was attempts to destroy ever facet of my life and at too many times my mother (who was assassinated 1995), for 37 years.

There where attempted assassination on numerous occasions, on two particular occasions almost caused my death, one in 1997 and the second in 2000; which this has been for the majority of my life.

Most of the details of my experiences, even thing’s especially when I was a child that was at that time hard to understand, because I was never guilty of anything; just that I am Palestine royality and am now the Queen; all information to my understanding, has been extensively documented, which I am grateful; because I am quilty of nothing.

I was told once that I went through the extreme conditions that usually would happen to a man, not a woman and apparently, many people are surprised; I have survived thus far. For me, it was always faith in Allah and perseverance.

Throughout this blog and to the best of my abilities, I have tried to be helpful; to explain my life, situations that where asked of me; which at times has been very hard for me and so very sad mostly the loss of too many good people by unnatural means, the majority by assassination.

Which HRM Deborah of Palestine is overwhelmed and very happy over such kindness by Peres and Mubarak and to everyone that has cared about me. The emotions I am feeling at this time, is very hard to put into words.

A Transformation in Time

An Egyptian looks from her balcony in front of a statue of Talat Harb, called father of Egypt's economic independence who established the first national bank in Egypt in 1920, in Cairo, Egypt; on 7 October 2008.

Stocks markets across the Arab world recorded steep losses last Tuesday, with Egypt's benchmark index hitting a two-year low.

President Bush Discusses Freedom Agenda

This speech is in response, to something Queen Deborah of Palestine wrote earlier, for the Bush Administration didn’t nor still does not wish the global community to know the truth; about there slave situations, they have created for over 100 years in various countries in the world and within the U.S., it was reported.

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
July 24, 2008

Video

Audio
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Please be seated. Henrietta, thank you for the kind introduction. I am honored to join you all today to express America's solidarity with those who yearn for liberty around the world.

Captive Nations Week was first observed in 1959, at a time when Soviet Communism seemed ascendant. Few people at that first gathering could have envisioned then what the -- that the Cold War would end the way it did -- with the triumph of the shipyard workers in Poland, a Velvet Revolution in Prague, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the peaceful collapse of the Soviet Union. Captive Nations Week is a chance for us to reflect on that remarkable history, and to honor the brave dissidents and democracy activists who helped secure freedom's victory in the great ideological struggle of the 20th century.

Captive Nation Week is also a chance to reflect on the challenges we face in the 21st century -- the challenge of the new ideological struggle against violent extremism. In this struggle, we can go forward with confidence -- free nations have faced determined enemies before and have prevailed, and we will prevail again.

I appreciate your leadership of USAID, Henrietta; and I want to thank all those who work for this very important Agency. I appreciate you being on the front lines of compassion and decency and liberty.

I'm honored to be here with the Secretary of Commerce, Carlos Gutierrez. The Cuban dissidents have no better friend than Carlos Gutierrez. Think about America -- Carlos was raised, born in Cuba. Today he sits in the Cabinet of the President of the United States. I love what our country represents. And Carlos, I thank you for serving.

I'm proud to be here with Ambassador John Negroponte. He's the Deputy Secretary of the Department of State. Deputy Secretary of Defense, Gordon England, is with us. Ambassador Mark Dybul, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator. Thanks for coming, Mark. Other members of the administration -- a lot of members from the Diplomatic Corps. Thank you for coming. I'm proud to be in your presence.

I believe America is the hope for the world because we are a nation that stands strongly for freedom. We believe every man, woman, and child is given the gift of liberty by our Creator. That's a fundamental belief of the United States. This cherished belief has guided our leaders from America's earliest days.

We see this belief in George Washington's assertion that freedom's cause, as he put it, the cause is "the cause of mankind."

We see it in Lincoln's summoning of "the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men, in all lands, everywhere."

We see it in Wilson's pledge to make the world "safe for democracy" in World War I, and FDR's determination to make America "the arsenal of democracy" in World War II.

We see it in Kennedy's promise to "pay any price to assure the survival and success of liberty," and Ronald Reagan's call to "move toward a world in which all people are at last free to determine their own destiny."

Over the years, different Presidents, from different eras, and different political parties, have acted to defend and advance the cause of liberty. These actions included bold policies such as the Lend-Lease Act, the Marshall Plan, the Berlin Airlift, the creation of NATO and the Voice of America, support for freedom fighters in Central America, and the liberation of Grenada and Panama. And because we were steadfast in liberty's defense, the cause of freedom prevailed.

At the dawn of a new century, our belief in the universality of freedom is being challenged once again. We saw the challenge on September the 11th, 2001. On that day terrorists, harbored by a tyrannical regime thousands of miles from America, brought death and destruction to our shores. We learned important lessons: To protect America, we must fight the enemy abroad so we don't have to face them here at home. And to protect America, we must defeat the ideology of hatred by spreading the hope of freedom.

Over the past seven years, this is exactly what we have done. Since 9/11, we recognized that we're at war and we must stop new attacks before they happen -- not wait until after they happen. So we're giving our intelligence and law enforcement and homeland security professionals the tools they need to stop terrorists before they strike again. We're transforming our military to meet the threats of a new century. We're putting pressure on the enemy. We've captured or killed thousands of terrorists -- including most of those responsible for the September the 11th attacks. We've removed regimes in Afghanistan and Iraq that threatened our citizens and the peace in the world. And now we're helping the people of those two nations fight the terrorists who want to establish new safe havens from which to launch attacks on America and our friends.

In the long run, though, the best way to defeat the terrorists is to offer a hopeful alternative to their murderous ideology -- and that alternative is based on human liberty. We've seen a hopeful beginning for the cause of liberty at the start of the 21st century. Over the last seven years, we've seen the citizens in Afghanistan and Iraq emerge from tyranny to establish representative governments. We've seen citizens in Georgia and Ukraine stand up for their right to free and fair elections. We've seen people in Lebanon take to the streets to demand their independence. We've seen strides toward democracy taken by nations such as Kuwait and Liberia, Mauritania and Morocco, and Pakistan.

It's in our national interest to continue liberty's advance -- because we know from history that the advance of freedom is necessary for our security and for world peace. Just think about World War II. During that conflict Japan and Germany were enemies of America who invaded their neighbors and destabilized the world. And today, Japan and Germany are strong democracies and good friends and strong allies in the cause of peace.

During the Cold War, the nations of Central and Eastern Europe were part of the Warsaw Pact alliance that was poised to attack Western Europe. Today, most of those nations are members of the NATO alliance, who are using their freedom to aid the rise of other young democracies. In these experiences, we have seen the transformative power of freedom. We've seen that free societies don't harbor terrorists, or launch unprovoked attacks on their neighbors. Free societies are peaceful societies. And that is why the United States of America must continue to cause -- to lead the cause of freedom.

Over the past seven years, we've learned that leading the cause of freedom requires combating hopelessness in struggling nations. Combating hopelessness is in America's security interests, because the only way our enemies can recruit people to their dark ideology is to exploit distress and despair. Combating hopelessness is in our moral interests -- Americans believe that to whom much is given, much is required. So the challenge for America in the years ahead is to continue to help people in struggling nations achieve freedom from corruption, freedom from disease, freedom from poverty, freedom from hunger and freedom from tyranny.

In the years ahead America must continue to use our foreign assistance to promote democracy and good government. Increased aid alone will not help nations overcome institutional challenges that hold entire societies back. To be effective, our aid must be targeted to encourage the development of free and accountable institutions.

In the past seven years we've more than doubled the federal budget for democracy and governance and human rights programs. We've increased the budget for the National Endowment of Democracy by more than 150 percent since 2001. We've transformed the way we deliver aid by creating the Millennium Challenge Account, which is a new approach to foreign assistance, which offers support to developing nations that fight corruption, and govern justly, and open their economies, and invest in the health and education of their people. The challenge for future presidents and future Congresses will be to ensure that America's generosity remains tied to the promotion of transparency and accountability and prosperity.

In the years ahead, America must continue to promote free trade and open investment. Over the long term, trade and investment are the best ways to fight poverty and build strong and prosperous societies. Over the past seven years, we expanded the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which is spreading prosperity by dramatically increasing trade between the United States and Africa; implemented free trade agreements with 11 countries, creating hope and opportunity for both our citizens and the citizens of these nations. We're striving to make this the year that the world completes an ambitious Doha trade agreement -- will open up new markets for Americans' goods and services and help alleviate poverty around the world. The challenge for future presidents and future Congresses is to reject the false temptation of protectionism and keep the world open for trade.

In the years ahead, America must continue to fight against disease. Nations afflicted with debilitating public health crises cannot build strong and prosperous societies for their citizens. America is helping these nations replace disease and despair with healing and hope. We're working in 15 African nations to cut the number of malaria-related deaths in half. Our Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, known as PEPFAR, is supporting the treatment of more than 1.7 million people. And Congress will soon pass legislation to significantly expand this vital initiative. We're expanding our efforts to train health workers for the poorest countries, to treat key neglected tropical diseases such as river blindness and hookworm. The challenge for future presidents and future Congresses will be to continue this commitment, so that we can lift the shadow of malaria and HIV/AIDS and other diseases once and for all.

In the years ahead, America must continue to lead the fight against global hunger. Nobel Prize winner Norman Borlaug once said: "You can't build peace on empty stomachs." Americans are answering the call to feed the hungry. This year, the United States has provided more than $1.8 billion in new funds to bolster global food security. We're the world's largest provider of food aid. I strongly believe we must transform the way that our food aid is delivered. One innovative proposal is to purchase up to 25 percent of our food assistance directly from farmers in developing world. This would help build up local agriculture; it will help break the cycle of famine. And I ask the United States Congress to approve this measure as soon as possible. The challenge for future presidents and future Congresses will be to find still other innovative ways to alleviate hunger while promoting greater self-reliance in developing nations.

In the years ahead, America must continue to lead the cause of human rights. The Soviet dissident Andrei Amalrik once compared a tyrannical state to a soldier who holds a rifle on his enemy, until his arms finally tire and the prisoner escapes. It's important we never strengthen the arms. The role of free nations like ours is to put pressure on the arms of the world's tyrants and strengthen the prisoners who are striving for their liberty.

Over the past seven years, we've spoken out against human rights abuses by tyrannical regimes like those in Iran, Sudan, and Syria and Zimbabwe. We've spoken candidly about human rights with nations with whom we've got good relations, such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia and China. In keeping with this commitment, today I renew my call for the release of all prisoners of conscience around the world -- including Ayman Nour of Egypt, Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma, Oscar Biscet of Cuba, Riad Seif of Syria.

To ensure our government continues to speak out for those who have no other voice, I recently issued a directive instructing all senior U.S. officials serving in undemocratic countries to maintain regular contact with political dissidents and democracy activists. The challenge for future presidents and future Congresses is to ensure that America always stands with those seeking freedom -- and never hesitates to shine the light of conscience on abuses of human rights across the world.

As Henrietta mentioned, with us today are individuals who suffered terribly in the cause of freedom, and whose stories inspire our country, and their examples of resilience and resolve should give us courage. I'm not going to mention all the ones I met, but I'd like to make -- mention some.

First, we stand with Blanca Gonzalez. Her son, Normando Hernandez Gonzalez, remains in Castro's gulag for speaking the truth about the Cuban regime. Bienvenidos. (Applause.)

We stand with Olga Kozulina. Her father, Alexander Kozulin, remains in prison in Belarus for the "crime" of running for President. Welcome. (Applause.)

We stand with Manouchehr Mohammedi. Both he and his brother were viciously tortured by the Iranian authorities. He was the only one who survived and escaped. Welcome to America. (Applause.)

We stand with Cho Jin Hae, who witnessed several of her family members starve to death in North Korea. She herself was tortured by the communist authorities. (Applause.)

Thank you all for coming. I thank the others who took time out of their day to meet me, as well. I appreciate your testament to the universal desire for freedom.

This morning, I have a message for all those throughout the world who languish in tyranny: I know there are moments when it feels like you're alone in your struggle. And you're not alone. America hears you. Millions of our citizens stand with you, and hope still lives -- even in bleak places and in dark moments.

Even now, change is stirring in places like Havana and Damascus and Tehran. The people of these nations dream of a free future, hope for a free future, and believe that a free future will come. And it will. May God be with them in their struggle. America always will be.

Thank you for letting me come by, and may God bless you all. (Applause.)

END

Sarkozy welcomes Assad in Paris

French President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) welcomes Syrian President Bashar al-Assad prior to a meeting at the Elysee palace on July 12, 2008 in Paris, on the eve of Paris summit of the Mediterranean countries.

12 July 2008

Paris-French President Nicolas Sarkozy has welcomed his Syrian counterpart, Bashar Assad, to the Elysee Palace.

The meeting, part of a weekend of diplomatic efforts centred on the Middle East, marks a return to the world stage for the Syrian president.

Relations between the two countries became strained following the assassination in 2005 of Lebanon's former Prime Minister, Rafiq Hariri.

France accused Damascus of involvement, an allegation denied by Syria.

'Boost'

Mr Sarkozy will later host a meeting between Mr Assad and Lebanon's newly-elected president, Michel Suleiman, a day after the formation of a new unity government in Beirut.

Mr Suleiman told the Associated Press that Lebanon wanted an "exchange of ambassadors and diplomatic relations" with Syria.

The two countries have not had diplomatic relations since Rafiq Hariri's death.

The Paris visit is a big boost for Mr Assad, helping Syria to break out of its diplomatic isolation, says BBC world affairs correspondent Nick Childs.

But critics say it is too much of a reward, when there are still serious question-marks over human rights in Syria and its alleged role in the killing of Hariri.

Earlier on Saturday, Mr Sarkozy held talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who will be a key player in the French leader's plan for a union of Mediterranean states, our correspondent adds.

Mr Sarkozy is hosting a summit on Sunday to launch this union, which will be attended by 43 leaders of countries in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

Only Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is expected to boycott it.

(From left to right) Lebanese president Michel Sleimane, Qatari Emir Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, French president Nicolas Sarkozy and Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad attend a press conference at the Elysee Palace on 12 July 2008 in Paris, on the eve of the Paris summit of the Mediterranean countries; with the Leaders from some 40 countries.

Haniya Tours New Rafah Building

Grand Mufti’s of Jerusalem (Prime Minister) Ismail Haniya (C-L) visits with others, at the new building for crossing the border at Rafah, between the southern Gaza Strip and Egypt on 10 July 2008.

Developing Nations Open Summit in Malaysia

6 July 2008

Kuala Lumpur-The 11th meeting of foreign ministers of the Group of Eight Islamic Developing Countries (D-8) started its work on Sunday.

The meeting was inaugurated by Malaysian Foreign Minister Rais Yatim who stressed the need for further cooperation among the D-8 member states.

The D-8 compromises Iran, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey.

It was set up in 1997 as an economic alliance with the objective of improving the position of Muslim developing countries in the global world economy through the diversification of their economies by creating new opportunities via increased trade relations.

The ministerial meeting would be followed up by the sixth Summit of the D-8 heads of states due to be held on July 7-8.

The theme of the Summit is "Meeting Challenges Through Innovative Cooperation."

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran is expected to leave Tehran for Kuala Lumpur Sunday evening to attend the D-8 Summit.

This is the first time that Malaysia is hosting the D-8 Summit.

The last summit was hosted by Indonesia, the current chairman of D-8, in Bali, Indonesia on 13th of May 2006.

Meeting of the D-8 states' senior officials known as the 25th Session of the Commission of D-8, was held between July 4-5 in Kuala Lumpur.

The opening session of the 6th Summit of D-8 would be held on July 8 with a speech by Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah bin Ahmad Badawi.

More in the inaugural ceremony, the D-8 presidency would be handed over to Malaysia by the group's current chairman President of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Malaysia would be the D-8's president for two years.

The 2008 Summit is expected to adopt the decision on the setting up of the D-8 Permanent Secretariat and D-8 Roadmap for Economic Cooperation in the Second Decade of Cooperation.

Keeping Rafah Open

Grand Mufti’s of Jerusalem (Prime Minister) Ismail Haniyeh (R) watches the honor guard during his visit to the Security and Protection Forces' headquarters on 3 July 2008 in Gaza City.

Haniyeh sought to calm tensions with Egypt following a series of clashes between Egyptian Police and stone throwing protesters yesterday, in an effort to keep the Rafah crossing open.

It is very agreeable to keep Rafah crossing open, even after the recent terrorist attack as of yesterday, under one condition and one can almost be sure at this time that Egypt would agree; to keep security in place even with the crossing open until the terrorist problem in Palestine is secure.

Personal Note: I wish to thank everyone for there kindness and I am very happy, by what I see.

No Terrorism for Egypt

Youths who are associated or their families with Mahmoud Abbas’s terrorist organization throw stones towards Egyptian security at the Rafah border crossing in the southern Gaza Strip, on 2 July 2008.

Clashes erupted because know one who is associated with terrorism, was allowed to cross into Egypt.

Rafah Border Opens for Three Days

While the ambulances carry the patients, Palestinians wait at the gate of the Rafah border crossing to Egypt on 1 July 2008 in the southern Gaza Strip.

Egypt opened the border crossing with Rafah on Tuesday for three days for the limited passage of people such as Palestinians stranded in Egypt and Gazan’s seeking medical treatment abroad.

Rafah Border Opens for those Returning from Egyptian Medical Treatment

Palestinian boys sit under a destroyed section of the Gazan border fence separating Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip at Rafah on 18 June 2008, as an Egyptian look-out tower looms in the background.

Egypt opened its border with the Gaza Strip today, a security official said, to allow Palestinians to return to Gaza, after receiving medical treatment.

A Palestinian boy climbs on a destroyed section of the Gazan border fence separating Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip at Rafah.

The military towers on the Egyptian side of the border, is there to protect Egypt from Mahmoud Abbas terrorists, who would try to infiltrate into Egypt for terrorist activities.

Fly amongst the Valley of the Kings

Hot air balloon overlooking a mountain in Luxor, Egypt.

Fly as the distant balloon journeys,

Silhouetted by crimson mountains

hewn as shades of pomegranate.

Prosperity as savored with lips

moistened of dew.

For a thousands years is just one day,

As a thought is a lifetime.

-Deborah

Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, (aerial view ) Luxor, Egypt.

Jibes highlight Bush-Mubarak rift

20 May 2008

UK-It has emerged that US President George Bush and President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt were studiously absent from each other's speeches at the World Economic Forum in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, as the BBC's Magdi Abdelhadi reports from Cairo.

The pre-conference photo session was cordial enough - but that is where the niceties ended.

Both leaders' speeches contained strong criticism of the other. And it appears neither wanted to be present as the other spoke.

Mr Bush's sarcastic remarks about Arab politics were clearly offensive to the Egyptians, as well as to other Arab officials.

He said that "too often in the Middle East, politics has consisted of one leader in power and the opposition in jail".

Mr Mubarak has been in power for nearly three decades and many of his political opponents are in prison.

Reference to Iraq

In his speech, Mr Mubarak said the imposition of democracy from abroad could only bring chaos and instability.

That was obviously a reference to Mr Bush's troubles in Iraq, used frequently by Arab rulers to rebuff Washington's pressure to allow for greater political participation.

Mr Mubarak also sought to dispel the right-wing neo-con American doctrine that lack of democracy breeds terrorism.

He said the main cause of instability in the region was the unresolved conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

While these disagreements are not in themselves new, the insistence of both men to highlight them in an international venue, in front of world cameras, shows the extent of the rift between them.

President 'on way out'

Officials from both sides often acknowledge that there are disagreements, but that the two countries share common strategic interests.

However, the bulk of Mr Bush's speech was about the lack of political reform in Arab societies.

It reflected the president's frustration with Arab rulers who not only resist his freedom agenda, but are also reluctant to endorse his tough stance against Iran.

It is now obvious that Arab autocrats have weathered the storms of the Bush era and that they can afford to ignore him, knowing that he has only a few months left in office.

Opposition sets Deadline for Egyptian Gas Export to Israel?

22 May 2008

Written by The Media Line Staff

The Egyptian opposition is demanding the government renegotiates the price of gas being exported to Israel by June 5 or face public protest, the Egyptian newspaper The Daily News Egypt reported.

The protest will be held outside the pumping stations in Al-'Arish and Damietta, the headquarters of the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Company and the Ministry of Petroleum. Member of Parliament Esmat Al-Sadat, who is the spokesperson for the campaign, was quoted as saying that exporting gas to Israel was a crime.

A statement released by the organization states that, “After all this talk of national security and regional balance and the local need for energy, this gas exportation to Israel is a real catastrophe.”

MP Al-Sadat also pointed out that Egypt would earn an additional $18 billion if the price agreed to in the original deal that was signed in 2005 were adjusted to current world prices, due to the steep rice in energy prices globally in the past few years.

Ever since the signing of the peace agreement between Israel and Egypt in 1978, there has been stiff public opposition in Egypt against normalization with Israel, ranging from business to culture. However, on the official level there is a high level of cooperation and Egyptian Chief of Intelligence ’Umar Suleiman is frequently in Israel for discussions regarding the situation in Gaza.

Brotherly Love

U.S. President George W. Bush, left, walking with global terrorist Mahmoud Abbas after addressing the press in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on Saturday.

This picture is from a news source and when I saw it, I laughed so hard; I doubled over in my chair with tears of laughter streaming from my eyes.

This reminded me of an old Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy movie, when towards the end they are walking down the road, into the distant sunset.

Then the picture frame goes closed, ‘The End,’ is shown on the screen.

Furthermore, the title for this post is from the picture itself and not from me.

The World Economic Forum on the Middle East Kicked off Today

Bush Allegedly Attempted to Overturn the Armistice Agreement for Peace in Palestine

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni (C) sits next to global terrorist Salam Fayyad (CR) during the opening session of the World Economic Forum on the Middle East at the Sharm el-Sheikh International Congress Centre on 18 May 2008.

The World Economic Forum on the Middle East kicked off today with addresses from U.S. President George W. Bush who said that peace in the Middle East was possible by the end of the year but needed action on both sides and 'tough sacrifices' and his Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak who said that Arab states would not support a peace deal that does not meet the demands of the Palestinians.
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni (C) sits next to global terrorist Salam Fayyad (CR) during the opening session of the World Economic Forum on the Middle East at the Sharm el-Sheikh International Congress Centre on 18 May 2008.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak inaugurated the meeting by giving a keynote speech at the opening session of the three-day event, which was attended by some 14 heads of state and government including U.S. President George W. Bush.

Bush gave a special address at the opening session on the situation of the Middle East, particularly the Palestinian issue.

The WEF Mideast conference also brought together over 1,500 high-ranking officials, leading business figures, leaders of civil society and the media from some 60 countries and regions.

With the theme of "Learning from the Future," the three-day event will focus on a series of futuristic scenarios that explore the impact of long-term global trends on the Middle East.

Some hot topics, such as regional tourism, water resources, sustainable development in the region, soaring food prices and the consequences of global inflation on Mideast, will also be high on the agenda of the international meeting.

Incorporated as a foundation in 1971 and based in Geneva, Switzerland, the WEF is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (R) meets with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni (L) after the opening session of the World Economic Forum on the Middle East at the Sharm el-Sheikh International Congress Centre on 18 May 2008. Mubarak said today that Arab states would not support a peace deal that does not meet the demands of the Palestinians.

Mrs. Bush's Egypt Boat Trip

Mrs. Laura Bush is seen as she prepares to leave on the Challenger Boat Tour Saturday, 17 May 2008, off the coast of Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

Mrs. Laura Bush listens to Dr. Mohamed Salem, Head of the South Sinai Protectorates, Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, as they prepare to depart for a coral reefs and ocean conservation tour Saturday, 17 May 2008, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

Joining them are Ms. Hilda Arellano, USAID Cairo Mission Director, and Mr. Amir Ali, Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association.

Mrs. Laura Bush and Mrs. Anita McBride, Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to the First Lady, listen to Mr. Amir Ali, Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association.

Mrs. Laura Bush speaks with members of the media following her participation in a coral reefs and ocean conservation tour.

Bush Has Meeting with Hamid in Egypt

U.S. President George W. Bush walks with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai following their meeting in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, 17 May 2008.

While U.S. President George W. Bush may look like a man on a mission, he also looks like a man in some form of desperation, scrambling for when his next meal will come; makes one put fingers on the chin.

Gaza-Egypt Border Temporarily Opens

Palestinians on foot and in ambulances enter the main border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt on 10 May 2008 in Rafah, Gaza. Egypt agreed to temporarily open the border for two days by some reports.

Rafah Border Crossing Temporarily Open

Palestinians carry their belongings to the gate as the main border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt is opened 10 May 2008 in Rafah, Gaza.

Egypt agreed to temporarily open the border under a deal between the Palestine legal government and Cairo officials.

Palestinians who needed more extensive medical assistance were also let into Egypt for care, this included wounded from Mahmoud Abbas's terrorist organization.

A patient from Mahmoud Abbas’s terrorist organization.

A Palestinian woman carries her belongings to the gate.

A Youthful Silhouette

Palestinian youth are silhouette playing near the Rafah border point between Egypt and the Gaza Strip on 26 April 2008.