Israel, Egypt, US planning Mideast summit
July 22, 2004
Israel, Egypt and the United States are discussing plans to host an international summit in preparation for Israel's disengagement from the Gaza Strip.
Moshe Debi, an adviser to Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, said the sides were planning to hold the conference in New York at the level of foreign ministers.
But an Egyptian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said his country preferred to hold the conference in Cairo at the presidential level.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak suggested that the summit be held in Egypt with the attendance of PM Ariel Sharon, US president George Bush, and Palestinian PM Ahem Qurei (Abu Ala).
Palestinian Authority officials welcomed the move, saying they would like to take part in the talks, Israel Radio reported. The conference would focus on planning between Israel, Egypt, the United States and the Palestinians for "the day after" an Israeli pullout from Gaza, the US official said.
Palestinian Cabinet minister Saeb Erekat confirmed the Palestinians had been approached about the idea.
"We welcomed it and we said that we would participate," he told The Associated Press.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry, however, said no talks would be held with the Palestinians, and that the Gaza pullout was a unilateral step. The Palestinians need to fulfill their obligations against terrorist infrastructures, a spokesperson for Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom told Israel Radio on Thursday.
A top US official stated that the summit plans are still in initial stages, but added that such a summit would certainly be beneficial to George W. Bush's popularity as the US presidential elections approach.
Israeli officials also said it could be difficult for US President George W. Bush to become deeply involved in the Middle East just a month before the elections. However, the officials said, if Bush believes it could serve his electoral interests, he might agree to attend a conference on the presidential level.
SOURCE: Jerusalem Post