By Mohammad Baali
Albawaba.com - Cairo
Dozens of Egyptian lawyers staged a rally on Sunday in solidarity with the Palestinian Intifada, while opposition parties and other professional associations condemned the visit by the Israeli foreign minister to the country.
The opposition also assailed the government for a letter sent to Israel congratulating it on its foundation anniversary.
The lawyers’ demo came at the start of the second conference on Jerusalem held annually by the Bar Association.
The head of the syndicate, Sameh Ashour, reiterated in his speech at the opening ceremony “Egypt’s lawyers’ support for the Intifada and all means of struggle against the Zionist enemy.”
Secretary general of association, Seifel Islam Hassan Al Banna called, for his part, for unity among the Arab and Muslim nations in the face of Israel.
The attendants, who represented other associations and political opposition parties, decided to send an envoy to the presidential office to “condemn a letter of congratulation that has been sent to Israel on the anniversary of its foundation.”
They also denounced receiving Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres in Egypt.
Peres held talks with President Hosni Mubarak on the Jordanian-Egyptian initiative, which aims at stopping violence in the Palestinian lands.
Mubarak announced after the meeting that the Palestinians and Israel have agreed on a ceasefire.
The lawyers’ conference underlined the association’s policy of revoking the membership of any lawyer “involved in normalization with Israel.”
