Israeli-Egyptian talks on the level of senior diplomats will resume in Cairo Thursday, following a visit to Israel this week by the Egyptian Minister of Energy, Abdel Hadi Kandil.
Israeli sources attached importance to the visit, the first by a Cabinet-level Egyptian since relations soured three years ago. The guest visited the Hadera power station today, escorted by Israeli Energy Minister Moshe Shahal.
Yesterday, Kandil discussed with Premier Shimon Peres and Deputy Premier Yitzhak Shamir the issue of Taba along with other bilateral problems that are the subjects of the Cairo talks. He reiterated Cairo’s demand for international arbitration over the disputed beach site near Eilat, while Shamir made another bid to persuade Egypt that conciliation is a shorter, cheaper and above all less tension-ridden process for conflict-resolution.
Kandil met alone with Peres yesterday for some 15 minutes, before both men were joined by aides. The understanding among reporters was that he conveyed to the Premier a personal message from President Hosni Mubarak.
Observers here expect the issue of Taba to come before the Cabinet shortly, with the team of diplomats reporting that Cairo is adamant in its insistence on arbitration.
Labor Party ministers under Peres are understood to be inclined to go along with that, under certain conditions, on the understanding that Israel’s agreement to arbitration would facilitate an across-the-board improvement in relations between the two countries. The Likud, however, is reluctant to forego its long-standing position in favor of conciliation, at least as a first stage to be attempted prior to arbitration.
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