Does Cairo already know what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will say at his anticipated policy speech at Bar Ilan next week? Egyptian President Mubarak hinted as much in comments made after a telephone conversation with Netanyahu.
"Israel will agree to the two-state solution," Mubarak said in an interview with Egyptian media on Wednesday, "I spoke with Netanyahu and told him there was no other option. Ultimately the solution will
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be one of two states – the State of Israel alongside an Arab state."
Mubarak said that Netanyahu did not counter his assertion.
Palestinian Authority officials in Ramllah also sounded optimistic on Wednesday following the meeting between US special envoy, George Mitchell, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The PA is saying that the negotiations with Israel may be renewed as early as within the coming weeks, and will be based on the understandings achieved thus far – the US-backed Road Map and the two-state principle.
The Palestinians said Mitchell understands that the talks could not start from square one, and that the agreements made with the Olmert government would be taken into account. The PA stressed that Mitchell made clear that the US administration is intent on seeing action beyond endless discussions over principles, namely changes on the ground that have nothing to do with a final arrangement.
"Mitchell understands that the Israelis have become experts on stalling for time, and that the element of time is harmful not only to the political process but also to the image of Americans as the mediators and chief sponsors of the conflict," a senior PA official said.
According to the official, a timetable for the talks will be set following Netanyahu's speech next week. The Palestinians say that all the pressing issues will be on the agenda, including the settlements and the boundaries of Jerusalem.
"The (Israeli) coalition problems don't interest us, and that's what we got from Mitchell too, so we can be
encouraged that (US President) Obama's speech will become a fundamental tenant of the negotiations."
Speaking in Ramallah earlier on Wednesday, Mitchell said that the US administration would "not turn... (its) back on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity and a state of their own."
Mitchell said that the US sees the two-state plan as "the only viable resolution to this conflict."
Ali Waked contributed to this report
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