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In a bold initiative, Egypt summoned the leaders of Israel, the Palestinians and Jordan on Wednesday to a long-awaited summit next week, and they agreed to attend.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak offered to host Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Jordan’s King Abdullah II at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik.
Abdullah, whose country is a peace partner with Israel, is a fervent supporter of a negotiated Palestinian-Israeli settlement. He accepted the invitation Wednesday, a senior Jordanian official said Wednesday on condition of anonymity.
The Egyptian and Jordanian presence would signal Arab support for any agreements Abbas might reach with Sharon.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia said the Palestinians hope the summit will produce a mutual cease-fire, a halt to Israel’s targeted killings of militants and the release of Palestinian prisoners.
In recent days, there had been increasing bickering over what issues to raise in an Abbas-Sharon meeting, and disagreements remain over the scope of a Palestinian prisoner release, the fate of Palestinian fugitives and a West Bank troop redeployment.
The arrival of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in the region over the weekend also intensifies pressure on the two sides to settle some of their differences over what should be announced after such a meeting. It was not clear whether Rice also would fly to Sharm el-Sheik.
The trip to Egypt would mark a major achievement for Sharon, whom Mubarak has steadfastly refused to meet since the hardline Israeli politician became prime minister in 2001. Israeli radios described the invitation to Egypt as “historic.”
newsmax.com/archives/articles/2005/2/2/85117.shtml
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak offered to host Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Jordan’s King Abdullah II at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik.
Abdullah, whose country is a peace partner with Israel, is a fervent supporter of a negotiated Palestinian-Israeli settlement. He accepted the invitation Wednesday, a senior Jordanian official said Wednesday on condition of anonymity.
The Egyptian and Jordanian presence would signal Arab support for any agreements Abbas might reach with Sharon.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia said the Palestinians hope the summit will produce a mutual cease-fire, a halt to Israel’s targeted killings of militants and the release of Palestinian prisoners.
In recent days, there had been increasing bickering over what issues to raise in an Abbas-Sharon meeting, and disagreements remain over the scope of a Palestinian prisoner release, the fate of Palestinian fugitives and a West Bank troop redeployment.
The arrival of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in the region over the weekend also intensifies pressure on the two sides to settle some of their differences over what should be announced after such a meeting. It was not clear whether Rice also would fly to Sharm el-Sheik.
The trip to Egypt would mark a major achievement for Sharon, whom Mubarak has steadfastly refused to meet since the hardline Israeli politician became prime minister in 2001. Israeli radios described the invitation to Egypt as “historic.”
newsmax.com/archives/articles/2005/2/2/85117.shtml