(Jerusalem Post) Herb Keinon - Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom is scheduled to visit Egypt next month, though no date for the visit has been set. Senior Israeli diplomatic officials have said recently that Egypt has begun playing a "very positive role" in the diplomatic process, pressuring PA Prime Minister Qurei to meet with Prime Minister Sharon and to stabilize the security situation in the territories. The change in Egyptian attitude, according to Israeli officials, is due in part to concern that if Israel withdraws from Gaza, Hamas may come to power, something which Cairo is afraid would have an emboldening impact on Egypt's own Islamic fundamentalists. Yet there has not been a corresponding change in the Egyptian media, which continues to sharply attack Sharon and Israel.
2004-02-17 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive