CAIRO: President Hosni Mubarak urged Palestinians and Israelis to exercise restraint after the latest wave of violence and called for a rapid return to peace talks, in an interview published Saturday. We call on both sides, the Palestinians and the Israelis, to exercise restraint, after the latest suicide attack by Palestinian militants in the West Bank, Mubarak told state-owned newspaper Akhbar Al-Youm. Mubarak described a resumption of peace talks as the only way to secure peace and stability and promised Egypt would intensify its mediation efforts. The president renewed his congratulations to Israel s acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for the success of his Kadima party in Tuesday s elections, which he described as a historic opportunity . I have congratulated the prime minister, whose victory reflects the Israeli people s desire for peace, a desire we hope will materialize on the ground, he said. Four Israelis were killed Thursday in a suicide attack in the West Bank, the first since the Israeli elections and the swearing in Wednesday of the Palestinian cabinet led by the Islamist movement Hamas. Mubarak warned against slashing Western aid to the Palestinians as a result of Hamas rise to power, arguing it was tantamount to a punishment of the Palestinian people who chose their government in a democratic election. The quartet of top Middle East diplomatic players being the United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia, are is due to convene Sunday in Amman to discuss international aid to the Palestinians. Washington, which lists Hamas as a terrorist organization, has suspended direct aid to the Palestinian Authority following Hamas shock victory in January s legislative elections. Mubarak also announced that the next Arab summit is due to take place in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh. Saudi Arabia, which was due to host the 2007 event, asked Egypt to do so. Egypt hosted the annual meeting in 2003 at Bahrain s request. AFP
Egypt urges restraint after Mideast flare-up
