Israel, July 07: Israeli president arrives in Cairo for peace talksCairo – Israeli President Shimon Peres arrived in Cairo on Tuesday for talks with his Egyptian counterpart Hosny Mubarak on among other matters, the Middle East peace process, the official MENA news agency reported.
The two would discuss “ways to promote a regional peace agreement between Israel and Arab states,” Peres’ office said in a statement. They would also discuss “at length” the issue of the Israeli soldier held captive in Gaza, Gilad Shalit.
The Nobel laureate’s visit was expected to last only a few hours.
Egypt has been mediating between Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, to reach a prisoners exchange deal.
Shalit was captured by Hamas in June 2006, and has been used as a bargaining chip in its negotiations with the Israel. Rumours of his possible imminent release have surfaced at various times.
—Agencies