Arab media watch: July 27

Dubai: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak drew praise as well as flak for his stance towards the Israeli aggression. Here are excerpts from some of the comments published.

Al Ahram (Egypt), editorial

President Mubarak has given advice to everyone while on his way back to Egypt from Saudi Arabia.

He cautioned not to fall for ill-planned adventures without assessing the consequences.

Egypt, since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on Lebanon and Palestine, has sought to stop the fighting, showing strong support for the Lebanese and Palestinian people.

Egypt has not shown bias towards a particular group because as president Mubarak said, Egypt realizes its responsibility and makes decisions based on the good of the Arab Umma (nation) with special attention given to every detail.

Al Akhbar (Egypt), comment by Mohammad Abdul Munem

In his press release, and with precise clarity, President Mubarak announced there was a "moral mess".

It is worth remembering the phrase "moral mess" because that is what is happening in the region and not what comes out of the mouth of secretary of state Condoleezza Rice.

Al Quds Al Arabi (UK-based), comment by Abdul Bari Atwan

No one asked President Hosni Mubarak to send his troops to fight a war against Israel on behalf of Lebanon or Palestine.

This is because there is a deep-seated conviction by the vast majority of Egyptians as well as other Arabs that he [Mubarak] or other Arab leaders will not react even if Israeli forces occupied the Holy City, Mecca, and destroyed the holy mosque and the Ka'aba and built a Jewish synagogue on top of them.