Backgrounder: Israeli, Egyptian positions on Mideast peace since March 31

Source: Xinhua | 05-11-2009 16:38

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuin Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday to discuss the long-stalled Mideast peace process.

The following is a timeline of Israeli and Egyptian positions on the Middle East peace process since March 31, when Netanyahu was sworn in.

On April 1, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that making concessions with Arabs will bring about not peace but more wars.

Israel is not bound by the Annapolis peace conference, he said, stressing that the "only one document that binds us" is the "Road Map" peace plan, a blueprint initiated in 2003 that calls for a two-state solution to the Mideast conflict.

On April 2, Egyptian Foreign Ministry's spokesman Hossam Zaki said Lieberman's remarks are "regrettable," and that they are "the first blow" of Israel's new government to the peace efforts.

On April 6, Netanyahu said in a telephone call to Mubarak that he is looking for consultation with the latter on the Mideast peace process.

Netanyahu said his government will "press ahead with peacemaking despite pre-impressions," adding that he is "looking for consultation with President Mubarak for Egypt to pursue painstaking efforts to bring about peace and stability to the Mideast."