JERUSALEM, July 11 (UPI) -- Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Sunday said he'll enlist Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to help restart direct peace talks with the Palestinians.
Netanyahu told his Cabinet in Jerusalem he planned to meet Mubarak in Egypt Tuesday to exchange ideas on restarting the direct talks, The Jerusalem Post reported. The two countries now negotiate only indirectly through U.S. Mideast Envoy George Mitchell.
The Palestinian Authority has refused to agree to direct talks with Israel over differences relating to security and borders, but now faces U.S. pressure to do so, the Post said.
Responding to a request from Netanyahu, U.S. President Barack Obama called PA President Mahmoud Abbas Friday and urged him to agree to direct talks with Israeli, a Palestinian source told the Post.
The Israeli prime minister also briefed the Cabinet on his recent visit to the White House to meet with Obama and said the relationship between the two countries is stable and solid after recent tensions, Haaretz reported.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Netanyahu's visit with Obama reaffirmed strong U.S. support for Israel.
"As members of the Cabinet, it is important that we understand that only by progressing with momentum toward a diplomatic plan and direct peace talks, while maintaining Israel's security interests, can we avoid the diplomatic siege that threatens to isolate Israel," Barak said.
