Barak the next prime minister of Israel? in talks with Mubarak

President Mubarak and the Israeli Labor party opposition leader, Ehud Barak, met to discuses the present stall in the Middle East peace process and how to put it back on track, in Cairo yesterday.

The president listened to Barak’s analysis of the present situation and briefed him on Egypt’s main policy outlines in this respect and its efforts to overcome any obstacles the peace process faces.

In Israel, Barak stated, the president’s efforts to push the peace process forward are highly appreciated; he will inform Benjamin Natanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, about important elements, Mubarak said.

Asked what he would do to save the peace process if he were the Prime Minister of Israel, Barak said he would immediately resume security co-operation with Palestinians, allow the Palestinian police to enter Al-Khalil cordon to help stop violence, and do all his best to resume the second phase negotiations on the Israeli forces deployment in the West Bank.

As regards to the Jewish settlement in the occupied lands, Barak told reporters, "We strongly believe in the right of Israelis to settle when it’s not on Arab property and we must have all the settlers and not necessarily the settlements under our sovereignty."