CAIRO: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed efforts to revive the stalled Middle East peace process Tuesday with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, but Cairo said talks can only start when Jewish settlement activity stops.
“The talks were very positive, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit told reporters after the meeting.
“We have seen that the Israeli prime minister wants to move ahead [with negotiations], and he insists on moving ahead, but we insist on an agreed platform, Aboul Gheit said.
“There are conditions… we will not negotiate while settlement continues, he said.
Egypt also wants to see a defined time frame for the talks.
“Any negotiation, for which a basis and a goal are agreed, must have a time-frame, Aboul Gheit said.
The two leaders also discussed a prisoner swap between Israel and the Palestinians that would see the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier captured by Gaza militants three and half years ago.
Aboul Gheit said the deal was still “suspended and that a Hamas delegation currently in Syria, was to head back to Cairo for talks with officials on the issue. -AFP
