Determined to breach what he described as 'the psychological wall' between Jews and Arabs, the late Egyptian President and peacemaker Anwar Sadat made a dramatic visit to Israel and embraced an adversary, more than 20 years ago.
It was a momentous event that left indelible images: Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin receiving Sadat, the courageous Arab statesman praying in a mosque in Jerusalem's Old City, and addressing the Knesset, Israel's parliament.
But long before that historic mission to make peace with Israel, much to the consternation of many Arabs, Sadat was waging war against the arch-enemy while continuing his search for political answers to the Palestinian question. He had witnessed his nation being battered by the conflicts, experienced the anger of his own people tormented by economic hardship, and seen their fury finding expression in a riot.
Sadat staked everything for peace. He also showed the resolve, in 1973, to re-open the door to a market-oriented economy.
Years after his death at the hands of assassins, the pursuit of peace in the Middle East continues, despite the disappointments, such as the one this week when Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak walked away from the table, agreeing there were disagreements over sensitive issues.
While, for now, reconciliation eludes the principal players, Ambassador Ossama Elashiry, the Consul-General for Egypt in Hong Kong, points out that the Middle East peace process, in which President Hosni Mubarak plays a 'pivotal role', has assumed greater importance in the context of regional stability and economic security.
