Mubarak to Bibi: Threats against Hamas threaten region
During Sharm el-Sheikh meeting, Egyptian leader tells Netanyahu Israel must rethink its policy, initiate 'concrete steps' to jumpstart peace talks
A few weeks after Hosni Mubarak said Israel was responsible for the stalemate in the negotiations with the Palestinians, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met the Egyptian president in Sharm el-Sheikh Thursday to discuss ways to jumpstart the talks.
Mubarak told Netanyahu that Israel must reassess its policy and "initiate concrete steps to build trust with the Palestinian Authority in a way that would allow negotiations to resume."
Netanyahu, for his part, asked the Egyptian leader to convince the Palestinians to renew direct talks in which all of the core issues will be raised. Prior to the meeting, the Israeli premier said he would talk with Mubarak about advancing peace and bolstering security.
"There are elements - including Hamas and Hezbollah – which are trying to violate the calm," he said.
Ways to jumpstart peace talks. PM (L) and Mubarak in Sharm (Photo: Moshe Milner, GPO)
An Israeli official said Netanyahu was also expected to discuss captive IDF soldier Gilad Shalit during the meeting.
Egyptian media said Mubarak told Netanyahu that Cairo opposes any "new aggression" against the residents of Gaza and warned that Israel's threats against Hamas may be detrimental to the peace process and regional stability.
The Prime Minister's Office said that during the meeting Netanyahu stressed that a peace agreement is possible "if the Palestinians want to end the conflict."
Netanyahu also updated Mubarak on the progress made in the construction of a border fence between the two countries. He said the fence would reduce the number of African migrants who infiltrate into Israel.
The PM was accompanied by Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, National Security Advisor Uzi Arad and his military secretary, Yohanan Locker.
Egypt recently uncovered a "spy ring" which it said included two Israelis and an Egyptian businessman. The three were indicted last month, but the two Israelis fled the country.
A Netanyahu aide called the allegations "unfounded".
Another source of tension between Israel and Egypt is a recently revealed US diplomatic cable which quotes Mubarak as saying that Netanyahu was elegant and charming, but does not keep promises.
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