Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak Attacks Hamas and Its Supporters: "If We Wanted We Could Have Paid Them Back in Spades, But We Do Not Bother with Small Fry"

Following are excerpts from an address delivered by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, which aired on Egyptian TV on January 24, 2010.

Hosni Mubarak: Despite Egypt's continuous efforts to revive the peace process and to achieve Palestinian reconciliation, we are subject to blatant attacks from Arab and regional powers, which have never done what Egypt has done for Palestine and the Palestinians.

These powers have never done what Egypt has done for Palestine and the Palestinians, and all they do is to pretend to support the Palestinian cause, and to trade in the suffering of the Palestinians.

Egypt will not succumb to pressure or extortion, and will not allow anarchy at its borders, or terror and destruction on its soil.

We have ample reliable information. The people who wage these campaigns and who organize rallies in a fellow Arab country in order to attack Egypt are living in houses of glass. If we wanted, we could pay them back in spades, but we do not bother with small fry.

We may tolerate these campaigns of slander and insults, but we will never accept any disregard for our borders, any transgression against our soil, or the targeting of our soldiers and institutions.

The works and engineering fortifications on our eastern border pertain to Egyptian sovereignty, and we will not accept any interference by anyone, whoever he may be.