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Israeli PM meets Mubarak on talks Netanyahu and Mubarak hold talks
(about 8 hours later)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has met Egypt's president before the expected launch of indirect Middle East peace negotiations. The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has met Egypt's president ahead of the expected resumption of indirect Middle East peace talks.
Mr Netanyahu spoke with Hosni Mubarak for 90 minutes in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh. Mr Netanyahu and Hosni Mubarak spoke for 90 minutes in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
An Israeli statement said the talks were "constructive" and "took place in a good atmosphere". An Israeli government statement said the talks had been "constructive" and had taken place "in a good atmosphere".
Arab League foreign ministers on Sunday backed the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian so-called proximity talks. Mr Netanyahu later discussed the peace efforts with US President Barack Obama in a telephone call, officials said.
Fresh talks It came as the US envoy, George Mitchell, returned to the region.
The two leaders "reviewed Egyptian and international efforts to prepare the ground for the indirect talks aimed at a two-state solution," Egypt's official news agency MENA said. The Palestinian Authority has refused to attend the indirect "proximity talks" mediated by Mr Mitchell since March, when Israel approved plans for the construction of 1,600 homes in a settlement in East Jerusalem.
Mr Netanyahu's office said they discussed "renewing the peace process and other regional and bilateral issues". 'Preparing the ground'
Plans to launch the negotiations failed last month over a row about Israeli plans to build 1,600 homes in occupied East Jerusalem. During their meeting on Monday, Mr Netanyahu and Mr Mubarak "reviewed Egyptian and international efforts to prepare the ground for the indirect talks aimed at a two-state solution," the Egyptian news agency Mena said.
The Israeli news website Ynet reported that the indirect talks, which are expected to involve the US envoy George Mitchell shuttling between the two sides, would start on Wednesday. The Israeli prime minister's office said they had discussed "renewing the peace process and other regional and bilateral issues".
But Palestinian leaders require the backing of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) to join the talks, and officials said the body would not meet until Saturday. class="" href="/2/hi/middle_east/8585239.stm">US-Israeli row: Israeli views class="" href="/2/hi/middle_east/8597201.stm">Peace talks: Palestinian views
Mr Mitchell was due to arrive in the region later on Monday. Israeli media reports say the proximity talks will resume on Wednesday.
However, Palestinian leaders are said to require the backing of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), which will not meet until Saturday.
Israeli-Palestinian peace talks have been stalled since 2008.Israeli-Palestinian peace talks have been stalled since 2008.
Israel has occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since 1967. It insists Jerusalem will remain its undivided capital.Israel has occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since 1967. It insists Jerusalem will remain its undivided capital.
Nearly half a million Jews live in more than 100 settlements in the West Bank, among a Palestinian population of about 2.5 million.Nearly half a million Jews live in more than 100 settlements in the West Bank, among a Palestinian population of about 2.5 million.
The settlements are illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this.The settlements are illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this.
The Palestinians refused to enter direct talks unless Israel completely halted building in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The Palestinian Authority has refused to enter direct talks unless Israel completely halts building in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Israel imposed 10-month limits on new residential construction in the West Bank, but vowed to continue work in East Jerusalem. In November, Israel announced a 10-month suspension of new building in the West Bank, under heavy US pressure. But it considers areas within the Jerusalem municipality as its territory and thus not subject to the restrictions.
But reports suggest an unofficial slowdown of approvals for major projects in the east of the city may be under way. But reports suggest an unofficial slowdown of approvals for major projects in East Jerusalem may have been instigated by Mr Netanyahu in an attempt to help mend relations with the US strained by March's announcement.