By IANS,
Jerusalem : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed hope that the stalled peace process between Israel and Palestine would resume next week.
“I was told that the Palestinian President intends on renewing talks, and I will be very glad if the venture comes to fruition next week,” Netanyahu
said adding that Israel wants peace in its own interests.
Netanyahu will meet Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak next Monday to discuss ways to resume talks with the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Xinhua reported.
“Monday I will travel to Egypt to meet with President Mubarak, who is doing a lot to renew peace. We are committed to a real peace process,”
said Netanyahu at a meeting of his Likud party Tuesday.
In an interview with an Israeli TV channel Monday night, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he is optimistic that the Arab League will
approve Palestinian-Israeli indirect talks when it meets May 1.
US Middle East special envoy George Mitchell announced in March that both Israel and the Palestinian Authority agreed to enter US-brokered proximity talks, which could end the hiatus in the Mideast peace process since Israel launched a massive military campaign against the Gaza Strip in December 2009.
The indirect peace negotiations have been on hold after Israeli government approved a housing program in East Jerusalem following Mitchell’s announcement.