Abul-Gheit to visit Israel Wednesday

Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit said on Saturday he will pay a whirlwind visit to Israel on Wednesday accompanied by Minister Omar Soliman.

Speaking to reporters following talks with UN Middle East envoy Terje Roed larsen, Abul Gheit said that his visit will tackle the planned Israeli withdrawal from Gaza Strip and the Egyptian vision to bring in peace to the region.

The top diplomat said that Israel has moved towards the Egyptian vision, which underlines that any Gaza pullout should come in coordination with the international community and the Palestinians.

Abul-Gheit further called as positive Syria's willingness to resume peace talks with Israel.

He said Syria has a long-standing land-for-peace position based on relevant UN Security Council resolutions, particularly 242.

Abul-Gheit said Israel's response to the Syrian offer is not clear yet, noting that Larsen would take the pulse of Tel Aviv during his visit slated for Sunday.

Abul-Gheit said that Syrian President Bashar Al -Assad and Foreign Minister Farouk Al-Sharaa asserted to Larsen their willingness to resume the stalled peace talks with Israel.

On the visit of a top-level Palestinian delegation to Egypt, which includes PLO Chief Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) and Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, Abul Gheit said that the Palestinian leaders are keen on listening to President Hosni Mubarak's advice to meet the daunting challenges ahead.