Mubarak contacted Israeli defense minister

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak held a telephone call late Friday with Israeli Defense Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, Israel Radio reported Saturday.

The radio said Mubarak welcomed the Israeli decision to resume Palestinian-Israeli security committee meetings. He also welcomed the facilities offered by Israel to Palestinians on the occasion of the Greater Bairam.

The radio said Ben-Eliezer asked Mubarak to continue his efforts with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat to calm down tension in the Palestinian territories.

Mubarak's call with the Israeli defense minister is the second within days, according to the radio.

Meantime, the radio said Ben-Eliezer called on Israeli troops to practise self-restraint in the Palestinian territories to allow the Palestinian Authority implement the agreement reached during the security meeting of Thursday.