Bin Aliazer contacts Mubarak

The Israeli defense minister Benjamin Bin Aliazer on Monday asked the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in a telephone call to pressure chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat to "halt terrorism and violence."

A statement issue by the Israeli defense ministry said that Bin Aliazer agreed together with the Egyptian president to unite their efforts in preparation for the arrival of the US envoy Anthony Zinni to the region.

The statement explained that there is now an opportunity to reach a ceasefire and resume political dialog and this opportunity should not be missed.