Netanyahu, Mubarak discuss Shalit, diplomatic issues

Israeli, Egyptian leaders talk on phone ahead of Mubarak's upcoming trip to Washington. Prime minister thanks Egyptian president for security activity which led to arrest of terror cell planning to assassinate Israeli ambassador to Cairo

Roni Sofer |Published: 08.10.09 , 20:01

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on the phone with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Monday. The two leaders discussed a series of diplomatic issues, most likely including the efforts to release kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit.

The conversation was held ahead of Mubarak's trip to Washington in about two weeks, and on the backdrop of senior Hamas member Mahmoud al-Zahar's statement that no progress had been made in the talks for a prisoner exchange deal.

Conflicting Reports

'No progress on Shalit deal'

Roee Nahmias

Hamas delegation arriving in Cairo Saturday discusses prisoner exchange deal, but sources tell al-Sharq al-Awsat there has been no real progress. Sunday Islamic Jihad-affiliated website said deal about to be finalized

Report: No progress on Shalit deal

Netanyahu thanked Mubarak for the Egyptian security activity which led to the arrest of a terror cell threatening to assassinate Israel's Ambassador to Cairo Shalom Cohen.

The three suspects arrested said they had also planned to blow up the Israeli Embassy in Egypt. They added that they had managed to follow Cohen's movements several times and had planned to carry out the assassination using an explosive device or in a direct clash. The plot failed due to the heavy security around Cohen's house and the Israeli Embassy building.

Sources close to the prime minister said the conversation was aimed at coordinating the Israeli and Egyptian stands in regards to the peace process in the Middle East, in light of the differences in the talks with the Palestinians, which have yet to be solved. Israel's National Security Advisor Uzi Arad arrived in Cairo on Monday for this purpose.

State officials in Jerusalem expressed their reservations over the limited options on the Palestinian channel, in light of the aggressive statements made at the Fatah conference in Bethlehem.

Meanwhile, a breakthrough has yet to be made in Israel's tense relations with the United States, which insists on its demands for a stop to settlement construction for at least one year. A stalemate has also been recorded in the talks between the defense establishment and settler leaders over a possible evacuation of illegal West Bank outposts.

There are also no significant developments on the Syrian channel, as well as in the demand from moderate Arab countries to make gestures to Israel.

Prime Minister Netanyahu is expected to leave for London on August 24 for a meeting with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and US special Mideast envoy George Mitchell. He will then travel to Berlin for a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.