Barak to Egyptian Intel chief: Hope your visit advances peace process
Defense minister, Suleiman meet in Jerusalem after seven senior cabinet ministers hold emergency meeting. Hamas says number of Arab, Muslim, and European countries agree to 'host' prisoners who will be released by Israel as part of swap deal
Defense Minister Ehud Barak welcomed Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman at the Jerusalem Crowne Plaza Hotel on Sunday.
Barak told reporters at the onset of the one-hour meeting that "Egypt is an important player in the region and is deeply involved in all aspects of the regional dialogue".
He expressed hope that Suleiman's meetings in Israel would help push forward the Palestinian peace process.
Barak's office said the meeting was also attended by Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai, head of the political-security branch of the Defense Ministry Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Gilad and Maj.-Gen. Amir Eshel, head of the IDF's Planning and Policy Directorate.
Barak and Suleiman spoke privately for half an hour, his office said, adding that the meeting centered on regional threats and the challenges both Israel and Egypt are facing.
The Egyptian Intelligence chief is expected to meet President Shimon Peres later in the day, but a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not been scheduled.
Earlier it was reported that the forum of seven senior cabinet ministers convened for an emergency meeting on Sunday morning to discuss security-related issues. The forum was summoned late Saturday night. Over the weekend it was reported that during the course of the day Israel is expected to announce its decision on a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas that would secure the release of captive soldier Gilad Shalit.
According to sources close to Hamas, the Islamist group received the consent of a number of Arab, Muslim, and European countries "to host" prisoners who will be released as part of the prisoner swap deal with Israel.
Dubai-based newspaper al-Bayan reported that Hamas is in talks with additional countries in order to secure similar agreements. According to the sources, the German mediator is currently in Cairo awaiting the final response of the two sides to the final draft of the swap deal.
Palestinian sources told Ynet that Suleiman is expected to express his disdain for the fact that Israel does not regularly update Egypt as to the progress of negotiations for Shalit's release.
According to the Palestinian sources, Israel provides Egypt with updates, but not with current ones. The sources said that according to Egyptian reports the Shalit deal is still far from being completed.
Roee Nahmias and Ali Waked contributed to the report
