Peres in Egypt on Thursday for talks on reviving Arab Initiative

Wednesday October 22, 2008 18:28 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

In an official visit described as the first for an Israeli president since 1996, Shimon Peres will be heading to Cairo on Thursday for talks with the Egyptian President Hosny Mobarak on reviving that Arab Peace Initiative.

Israeli President - Shimon Peres

Israeli sources reported that Peres would most likely present his suggestion on changing the way political talks are held between Israel and the Arab world.

The sources added that the Peres' proposal was formulated in coordination with Israel's Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livni, and Israel's Defense Minister, Ehud Barak. It proposes that Israel hold talks with a negotiations team that represents all Arab countries.

During a speech at the United Nations last month, Peres demanded the Saudi King to push the Arab peace initiative forward and to form a committee that would be in charge of holding talks with Israel.

Peres believed that if Israel holds talks with this committee it will pay “a lesser price” for achieving a peace deal.

Peres will be received in Egypt in an official ceremony and will be holding a meeting with the Egyptian president.

He held several meetings with Israeli security officials, including Ofer Dekel and Amos Gilad, and discussed with them the issue of the captured Israeli soldier, corporal Gilad Shalit.

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