Talks between Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert were held Sunday in Sharm El-Sheikh. The leaders talked about peace efforts and possible resumption of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, an Egyptian source told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).
Olmert said he will meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to urge the resumption of negotiations on an internationally backed peace plan. At a news conference with Mubarak, the Israeli leader said he would insist that the Palestinians carry out their commitments under the U.S.-supported plan, known as the "road map." Those include dismantling armed groups.
"I really hope that our Palestinian partners will take advantage of this opportunity and will implement all their commitments so that it will be possible to proceed according to the 'road map,'" Olmert said.
According to press reports, discussions also included the issue of international aid to Palestinians, as well as taxes withheld by Israel at a time when Palestinians were living under severely difficult circumstance.
Olmert's visit to Egypt comes as part of the Egyptian attempts to revive the Middle Eastern peace process, sources added.
