By Xinhua
Jerusalem : Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak are expected to meet on Tuesday for a surprise summit in the southern Sinai Red Searesort of Sharm al-Sheikh, local daily Ha’aretz reported Monday on its website.
The meeting is aimed to “coordinate expectations” ahead of a U.S.-sponsored international conference on Middle East peace due in Annapolis, the United States at the end of November, said the report.
A senior government source was quoted as saying that Olmert would ask Mubarak to exert his influence to persuade as many Arab states as possible to take part in the Annapolis summit and at the highest possible levels.
The talks were agreed upon during a meeting between Olmert’s aides and Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman in Cairo on Sunday, which were seen as “highly likely” to take place on Tuesday, said the source.
However, scheduling conflicts may delay the meeting until Wednesday, the source added.
Olmert and Palestinian National Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas will meet late Monday in an effort to achieve a breakthrough in drafting a joint document to take to the Annapolis meeting. On Thursday, Arab League foreign ministers are to meet in Cairoto discuss participation at the Annapolis gathering.