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Egyptian President Mubarak
Photo: Reuters

Bibi's office: Mubarak invites Netanyahu to meeting

Egyptian leader spoke with Netanyahu, invited him to Sharm, PM's Office says

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said late Monday that Egypt's president has invited the Israeli leader to meet, despite tensions between the two countries at the beginning of Netanyahu's term.

 

The statement late Monday said Netanyahu and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak talked by phone, and Mubarak invited Netanyahu to the Egyptian Sinai resort of Sharm el-Sheik for talks. No date was set.

 

A statement from the official Egyptian news agency on the conversation did not mention an invitation. It said Netanyahu called Mubarak and pledged to work for peace "despite premeditated impressions," a reference to the new Israeli leader's past opposition to concessions to the Palestinians.

 

A Netanyahu-Mubarak meeting could thaw a developing diplomatic freeze around the new Israeli government because of its hawkish makeup and past records of some of its main ministers.

 

Egypt is reported to be boycotting Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman for publicly cursing Mubarak last year because Mubarak has not made an official visit to Israel.

 

The Israeli statement said the two leaders agreed to strengthen relations between the nations. In 1979, Egypt became the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel.

 


פרסום ראשון: 04.06.09, 23:44
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