JERUSALEM (JTA) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Hosni Mubarak met in Cairo and reportedly discussed Egypt’s stance on the the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
The Israeli and Egyptian leaders met for two hours Sunday. Mubarak also met in separate meetings with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and U.S. special Middle East envoy George Mitchell.
Netanyahu and Mubarak talked about the Egyptian stance on the current indirect and future direct peace negotiations, which is that "the conditions necessary for the actualization of the two-state vision must be prepared," according to the country’s state-owned news agency, Ynet reported.
The meetings had been rescheduled from last week. The reported poor health of Mubarak was cited for their postponements, although other reports claimed the meetings were put off because Israel razed Palestinian buildings in eastern Jerusalem.
"Under President Mubarak’s leadership," Netanyahu told his Cabinet Sunday, "Egypt is a main factor in advancing peace and stability in the region. I intend to speak with President Mubarak about ways to accelerate the entry into direct negotiations between us and the Palestinians."
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