Egypt heralds Mideast peace 'breakthrough', eyes return of ambassador
2 hours, 38 minutes ago
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CAIRO (AFP) - Egypt raised the prospect of a framework for a Middle East peace deal and said it could soon return an ambassador to Israel, a move that would revive full diplomatic ties after a four-year break.
Quoting "high-level" Egyptian sources, state news agency MENA said key players in the search for peace have reached understanding on a plan that could lead to a comprehensive settlement.
"An important understanding that could constitute an agreement in principle has been reached by Egypt, Israel, the Palestinians and the significant international parties -- the United States and the European Union (news - web sites) -- on a comprehensive solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," MENA said.
International efforts to advance towards a final Middle East deal after years of bloody conflict have been revitalized following the death last month of veteran Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat (news - web sites).
MENA said officials expect that "preparations (for a plan of action) would take place until July, after which political action will begin."
That, in turn, could lead to a conference in Washington attended by the parties concerned with the peace process, notably the Israelis and the Palestinians, as well as Egypt, the United States, Russia and several European countries, MENA said.
The "framework for the plan has effectively been established ... and discussions are underway to agree clearly on the points to be included."
Expected to be included is a "bilateral ceasefire," under which the Palestinian Authority (news - web sites) would "put a stop to anti-Israeli attacks and consolidate its control over the situation in the Gaza Strip (news - web sites) and the West Bank."
In that context, MENA said, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites) is committed to a "halt to Israeli military operations against the Palestinians insofar as they continue to respect their commitment (to a ceasefire) and control their territory."
MENA added that Sharon had declined to put this in writing, saying it was "not necessary, at the outset, to sign a ceasefire accord until the Palestinian Authority's security and administrative capabilities could be rebuilt."
A peace roadmap drawn up by the United States, United Nations (news - web sites), the EU and Russia which calls for the creation of a Palestinian state next year has been left in tatters by the ongoing violence.
In another sign of warming relations between Egypt and Israel, MENA quoted "high-level sources" as saying Cairo could soon return an ambassador to the Jewish state.
"The new spirit in Israeli-Egyptian relations opens the way to a return of the Egyptian ambassador to Tel Aviv," the agency said.
Cairo recalled its envoy in November 2000 after accusing Israel of using excessive force against the Palestinian intifada, or uprising, which erupted two months earlier.
This is the first time since that Egypt -- which in 1979 became the first Arab nation to sign a peace treaty with Israel -- has openly raised the possibility of sending back an ambassador without conditions.
Egypt's presidential spokesman Maged Abdel Fattah on Sunday linked any return to progress in the peace process.
Ties between Israel and its largest neighbour took a dramatic upswing on Sunday when Egypt released the Israeli Druze Azzam Azzam who had served seven years of a 15-year sentence for spying, removing a major point of tensions.
Israel in exchange freed six Egyptian students who had been accused of plotting to kidnap and assassinate Israeli soldiers.
The new atmosphere was further underlined Monday when officials announced that Israel, Egypt and the United States were to set up free-trade zones under an agreement to be signed next week.
Jordan is the only other Arab country to have a peace treaty with the Jewish state. Israel has diplomatic ties with Morocco, Tunisia and Qatar but none of them has sent an ambassador to Tel Aviv.
Israel and Egypt have been liaising closely over next year's planned pullout of Israeli troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip, with both sides keen to ensure Islamic radicals do not step into any subsequent vacuum in the Palestinian territory.
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