May. 20th, 2002

Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak stressed that the current events in the Middle East had shrouded international relations with apprehension and growing pessimism.

    In an interview with The Sunday Times, she reiterated that the "unspeakable suffering" of the Palestinians over the past few weeks was a flagrant breach of international law and human rights.

    "What happened in Israel now has taken us back a long way. We were progressing, very slowly, but it was coming. But now, to tell you the honest truth, I do not know from where we are going to start again," Mrs. Mubarak said.

    "The suffering of the Palestinians has been so great; I hope it won't get any worse.

    We have all got our fingers crossed that things will at least stay as they are. Then, sometime soon I hope, we can get back to the negotiating table."

    Asked about the role of women in the society, Mrs. Mubarak said: "Women are the key to social change because an educated mother will pass her knowledge to her children."

    "In Egypt, family life comes first," she says. My first ten years were dedicated to my home and children."

    The paper said two weeks ago Mrs. Mubarak led an aid convey to Egypt's border with the Gaza Strip in order to embarrass the Israeli government into letting it through.

    She said: "The situation was desperate I needed to do something, and we had the support of all Egypt behind us."