Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak has told Israeli Prime minister that Israel must revise its position and policy to reach a final settlement of Palestinianissue. A statement issued by Mubarak’s spokesperson after the meeting of both leaders in Sharm al Sheikh in Egypt, says that this must include the ending of the occupation and establishment of an independent Palestinian state. The Israeli Prime minister’s office said that Benjamin Netanyahu asked Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak to pressure the Palestinians to enter intensive and serious direct negotiations with Israel, focusing on all the core issues, as soon as possible. Egypt’s official MENA news agency reported that at the meeting, the Egyptian leader warned of the danger of the latest Israeli threats and their repercussions on the stability and security of the region and the cause of Middle East peace.

U.S.-sponsored talks in September last year fizzled after three weeks when Israel refused to extend a partial 10-month freeze on West Bank settlements