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Netanyahu meets Mubarak in Cairo | Netanyahu meets Mubarak in Cairo |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak have held talks in Cairo to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. | Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak have held talks in Cairo to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. |
Mr Netanyahu said he was "very encouraged" by the meeting, while Cairo said it had been "very positive". | |
The Palestinians refuse to restart talks unless Israel halts settlements. | |
On Monday, Israel announced plans to build 700 Jewish homes in occupied East Jerusalem, where the Palestinians want their future capital. | |
Before Tuesday's talks, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said Israel's settlement activity cast doubt on its willingness to reach a final deal with the Palestinians. | |
Prisoner swap? | |
But after the bilateral, he said Mr Netanyahu "was discussing positions that surpass in our estimate what we've heard from them in a long time". | |
"I can't say that he has come with changed positions, but he is moving forward," he added. | |
Gilad Shalit was seized by militants from Gaza in 2006 | Gilad Shalit was seized by militants from Gaza in 2006 |
After returning home, Mr Netanyahu told a gathering of his Likud Party he was "very encouraged by the commitment of President Mubarak to promote the peace process between us and the Palestinians". | |
Israel has refused Palestinian demands for a complete halt to settlement building in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which it occupied during the 1967 Israeli-Arab war. | |
But it has limited building work for 10 months in the West Bank, excluding East Jerusalem. | |
Mr Netanyahu and Mr Mubarak also discussed the case of captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who has been held by Palestinian militant group Hamas since his capture in June 2006. | |
A recent flurry of activity has prompted speculation of progress on Egyptian-brokered attempts to reach a prisoner swap deal. | |
Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, wants Israel to release hundreds of its prisoners in exchange for the freedom of Sgt Shalit. | |
The group said a German mediator visited Gaza last week with Israel's latest offer. | |
But a top Hamas official in Damascus, Syria, told the Associated Press news agency that the group had refused that proposal. | |
The Egyptian foreign minister said he understood Hamas' opposition to Israel's refusal to free "certain" prisoners, and to Israel's demand to deport others from the Palestinian territories. | |
About half a million Israelis live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which Israel has occupied since 1967. | About half a million Israelis live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which Israel has occupied since 1967. |
The settlements are illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this. | The settlements are illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this. |