Yediot Ahronot: Shalom: contacts includes Arab states including Libya

The Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot quoted the Israeli foreign minister Silvan Shalom as saying on Thursday, during his visit to Ethiopia, that Israel is making secret contacts with more Arab states in North Africa and the Gulf, and not only with Libya.

The Israeli foreign minister refused to mention these names, but high ranking political sources said that talks are being made about direct on indirect contacts, through foreign channels with Oman, Dubai, Algeria and Yemen. However, high ranking Israeli political sources stressed that these contacts are still far from any serious change from current status.

Shalom stressed that the current contacts are being held in top secrecy and made in coordination with the prime minister Ariel Sharon.