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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Israel seeks Arab peace support | Israel seeks Arab peace support |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| The Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, is holding talks in Egypt with President Hosni Mubarak ahead of a Middle East peace conference in the US. | |
| Mr Olmert is seeking broad Arab support for the US conference next week. | Mr Olmert is seeking broad Arab support for the US conference next week. |
| Arab League foreign ministers will meet in Cairo on Friday to decide their position on the meeting. | Arab League foreign ministers will meet in Cairo on Friday to decide their position on the meeting. |
| Israel and the US are pressing for high level Arab representation at the talks, but some Arab states doubt Israel is ready to make serious concessions. | Israel and the US are pressing for high level Arab representation at the talks, but some Arab states doubt Israel is ready to make serious concessions. |
| Mr Olmert is keen to ensure that Arab foreign ministers from key states such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia will be at the Annapolis meeting. | Mr Olmert is keen to ensure that Arab foreign ministers from key states such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia will be at the Annapolis meeting. |
| Israeli officials argue that that would strengthen the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and would also send a positive message to an Israeli public wary of making concessions to the Palestinians. | Israeli officials argue that that would strengthen the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and would also send a positive message to an Israeli public wary of making concessions to the Palestinians. |
| US 'committed' | US 'committed' |
| Although Arab foreign ministers will meet in Cairo on Friday to co-ordinate their positions on the Annapolis meeting, the decision of whether to go or not will be decided by each government separately. | Although Arab foreign ministers will meet in Cairo on Friday to co-ordinate their positions on the Annapolis meeting, the decision of whether to go or not will be decided by each government separately. |
| Egyptian officials have indicated that it is highly likely their foreign minister will go. | Egyptian officials have indicated that it is highly likely their foreign minister will go. |
| They say they are convinced the United States is now committed to launching a serious peace process. | They say they are convinced the United States is now committed to launching a serious peace process. |
| But it may prove a difficult decision for countries - like Saudi Arabia - which do not have relations with Israel. | But it may prove a difficult decision for countries - like Saudi Arabia - which do not have relations with Israel. |
| The Arab view so far is that the Israelis have not offered enough assurances to suggest that they are serious about reaching peace and making the necessary sacrifices. | The Arab view so far is that the Israelis have not offered enough assurances to suggest that they are serious about reaching peace and making the necessary sacrifices. |