BBC: Mubarak accepted hosting Palestinians in Egypt, 1983

CAIRO – 29 November 2017: Former President Hosni Mubarak accepted settling Palestinians in Egypt, upon request from the United States, more than three decades ago, according to secret documents BBC legally obtained and published.

It was stated in these documents that Mubarak said he would accept the American request only if it came within a proper framework to end the Arab-Israeli conflict. This information was revealed by the former Egyptian president during a meeting with the then-British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in 1983.

According to BBC, Mubarak’s meeting with Thatcher occurred on his way back to Egypt, after meeting with former American President Ronald Reagan in February 1983, eight months after the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in order to expel Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) leadership due to alleged assassination attempt by small Palestinian militant group on Israeli ambassador to London.

In a previous episode of the BBC’s secret documents, it was reported that The Egyptian Embassy warned the British authorities of a possible threat to Mubarak during his visit to London in 1983.

The embassy said, according to the documents, “Two members of a Palestinian hit squad led by Roushdy Abdel Rahman Ouda (aka Sa’ad Ouda) were in town and had been visiting Claridge’s (hotel) regularly; apparently, it was to ensure that the staff would become accustomed to their presence.”

The embassy also expected, according to the documents, the arrival of additional members of the squad in London.

Mubarak returned from his second visit to London in 1983, reportedly, without any security problems.

Former President Mubarak is the fourth Egyptian president. He ruled the country from 1981 until February 11, 2011, when he was forced to step down, following demonstrations against him.