The Palestine News Agency, WAFA, reported Saturday that Egypt will be hosting a meeting between Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, and Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, at the Egyptian resort of Sharm Al Sheikh this coming Tuesday. U.S. Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, will be participating in the talks as part of direct American involvement in the efforts to revive the peace process.
An Egyptian diplomatic source stated that Cairo is trying to ensure that the talks continue without obstacles and is trying to convince Israel to renew its temporary freeze of settlement activities in the occupied West Bank.
Israel’s nine-month freeze of settlement activities ends on September 26 while several Israeli leaders and coalition partners of the Netanyahu’s government are urging him not to extend the freeze.
The Egyptian source said that Clinton asked Netanyahu to make a fast decision extending the freeze for additional four months.
