Peres, Mubarak discuss direct talks

President Shimon Peres landed in Cairo on Sunday afternoon for a meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak as part of a brief visit. He was greeted at the airport by Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit.

According to Egyptian reports, the two discussed efforts to renew the peace process in an extension of Mubarak's meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the matter two weeks ago. The meeting follows US President Barack Obama's letter to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warning the latter of a deterioration of relations should he refuse direct talks.

Mubarak and Peres also discussed the "green light" given by the Arab League to Abbas for resuming peace talks. Nevertheless, the League sent a letter to Obama outlining the Arab stance and principles expected to be provided as part of the peace process.

Peres and Mubarak (Photo: Amos Ben-Gershom)

The Egyptian leader has been holding intense consultations regarding peace efforts in the last weeks and has met Saudi King Abdullah and the Jordanian foreign minister. He has also met US special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell, Abbas and Netanyahu.

The London-based al-Hayat newspaper reported on Saturday that Mubarak is expected to demand of Peres to halt all construction in West Bank and east Jerusalem settlements, as well as a clear vision as to the permanent borders of the future Palestinians state.

Diplomatic sources told the paper that the meeting's goal was to set the tone towards more serious talks.

• Follow Ynetnews on Facebook