Israeli Cabinet Minister Dan Naveh was scheduled to travel to Cairo on Thursday to meet with Egyptian officials to explain his government’s position regarding the recommendations of the Mitchell Commission on Israeli-Palestinian “violence,” reported Haaretz newspaper.
Naveh, who is to meet with President Hosni Mubarak’s personal adviser, Osama Al Baz, told Israel Radio that he would emphasize that the Mitchell report talked not only about freezing settlement activity, but also about the need to end the violence.
"The first stage is ending the violence," said Naveh. "It’s an essential step without which diplomatic negotiations are not possible."
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has categorically rejected the Mitchell report's call for a total settlement freeze as part of a plan to end the violence and resume the shattered Mideast peace process.
But Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said on Tuesday that the Mitchell report could be the base for ending the escalating situation in the Palestinian territories and resuming negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis.
For their part, the Palestinians welcomed Mitchell’s recommendations – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
