US foreign policy fails, Trump is not a politician: Khazen

CAIRO – 17 May 2018: A Lebanese columnist, Jihad al-Khazen, revealed in an exclusive interview with Egypt Today that the tripartite military strike on Syria has failed, describing the U.S. policy in the Middle East as “a failed policy.”

Khazen pointed out that the U.S. withdrawal from Iran nuclear agreement has only one target, banning any country, except Israel, from possessing nuclear weapons in the Middle East. He added that Trump cannot be considered as a politician.

What are the consequences of the tripartite military strike on Syria in the light of Trump’s policy in the Middle East?

U.S. policy in the Middle East is “a failed policy” as the American President Donald Trump supports the Israelis against Palestinians; he lately considered Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Moreover, Trump recognizes Qatar as a partner in his fighting against terrorism, though Qatar itself supports armed groups. I see that Trump harms the American foreign policy.

What is the stance of the Arab countries towards the military strike on Syria?

The Arab states do not have the capability to prevent or support any American raid. The United States claims friendship with countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates only to sell arms to them. Also, it has reduced military aid to Egypt and increased it to Israel and then it claims to be a friend of the Arabs. I think Trump is a friend to his own interests and wants to establish relationships that benefit his companies after he leaves the White House. He is a merchant and not a politician.

Do you expect a military clash between Russia and America and the allies of both countries, (Iran and Israel)?

I do not expect a US-Russian military confrontation. The real confrontation has already begun between Israel, supported by the US, and Iran in Syria. Until now, all Israeli strikes that have launched against Iran in Syria are limited, but if escalated, the Iranian Hezbollah, which owns thousands of missiles, may enter as a party in the clash. The occupation state, Israel, has entered four wars with Hezbollah in the past and did not win any of them and I think that Hezbollah is stronger than it was four years ago.

There are some strategic demands to freeze Egypt and Jordan's peace treaty with Israel. What do you think?

I wish that Egypt and Jordan break the peace treaty they signed with Israel. Egypt represents half of the nation and no development in the Palestinian issue will take place without its interference.

What is your comment on Israeli terrorism against defenseless Palestinians on "Land Day,” which has won full US support, how do you see the Peace process in Trump's era?

Palestinians are suffering from Israeli terrorism before and after "Land Day". The protestors who participated on "Land Day" were unarmed and Israeli snipers killed more than 40 of them and injured one hundred others. The Israelis also killed 2,200 Palestinians in their last war on the Gaza Strip.

In your opinion, is the U.S. launching systematic campaigns against Egypt, especially through its media outlets, such as the Washington Post and the New York Times, despite the fake image of the good and supportive relations between Egypt and America?

The journalists who attack Egypt in Washington Post and the New York Times are known for their support to Israel. I hope that President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi takes a firm stance against the U.S. policy. Egypt can, with the help of Saudi Arabia, unite the whole Arab world. The U.S. must understand that patience has limits and that they have exceeded these limits with the Arab world.

Is the U.S. attack on Egypt related to the fall of the rule of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt? To what extent is America still supporting the Brotherhood?

The United States and Israel want the Muslim Brotherhood to rule Egypt to destroy Egypt's future. The U.S. and the European Union support the Brotherhood behind closed doors; they also support Qatar publicly. If Egypt manages to eliminate terrorism, its economy will be strong enough to start a renaissance we have not seen before.

Who backs terrorism in North Sinai? Is it possible to link the systematic campaigns of some Western and Arab countries against Egypt with the Egyptian army campaign in 2018 to eliminate terrorism?

ISIS, Ansar Bait al-Maqdis, and terrorist organizations in Syria and Yemen are receiving funds from Arab enemies to launch terrorism attacks on Sinai.