Sources in Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office confirmed Thursday that Israel had
agreed to take part in a summit meeting with Palestinian, Jordanian and Egyptian representatives, scheduled to take place this Monday in Sharem el-Sheik.
The summit, proposed by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, is a show of support for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and newly appointed Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.
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| Egypt to host Israeli-Palestinian summit / Ronny Sofer and AP |
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Abbas aide says Mubarak invited Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian leaders to attend summit in Egypt next week; Olmert's office: Talks aimed at bolstering Palestinian emergency government |
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Preliminary discussions about the summit began Wednesday, upon Olmert's return from Washington. Cairo, said sources in Olmert's office, is to issue a formal announcement soon.
Prime Minister Olmert
intends to bring to the summit Washington's sentiments on the situation in Gaza and the new Palestinian government.
He hopes, said the sources, that meeting with officials from Jordan and Egypt - the more moderate Arab States in the region – would help cement the new Palestinian regime in Ramallah as a viable partner in the peace process.
"Time is a key factor," chief Palestinian negotiator Dr Saeb Eerkat told Ynet Thursday.
"The occupation must come to its end now and a Palestinian State must be formed. We must give the Palestinian people hope before they despair completely."
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