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Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, right, meeting with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni at the Presidential Palace in Cairo, Egypt in 2006. (AP)
Last update - 23:59 22/12/2008
Mubarak extends rare invite to Livni for talks on Gaza violence
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Egypt, Israel News 

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has invited Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni to discuss escalating violence between Israel and Gaza militants in a rare visit to Cairo on Thursday.

The invitation was personally extended to Livni on Sunday by her Egyptian counterpart, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, in a telephone conversation. Livni is also set discuss with Mubarak ongoing Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.

The visit will be an exception one, since Mubarak usually meets with Israeli officials at the Sinai resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh, and not in the Egyptian capital.
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As such, the move is likely to be seen as an endorsement by Mubarak of Livni, who is seeking to lead her Kadima party to electoral victory in February's general election.

It is worth noting that Mubarak did not invite for talks Defense Minister and Labor Chairman Ehud Barak, who is also a prime ministerial hopeful.

In the phone conversation with Gheit, Livni denounced the cross-border attacks by Gaza militants on Israel.

"Israel will not be able to remain apathetic toward the [rocket] fire and will respond in order to protect its citizens," she said.

News of the invitation emerged on Sunday, shortly after Palestinian armed factions in Gaza said they were observing a 24-hour halt to rocket fire against Israel at the request of Egyptian mediators.

On Monday evening, Livni convened Kadima's security forum for a discussion in which she described her policy toward Hamas and the Gaza Strip.

The forum set the toppling of Hamas from its rule in the coastal territory as a central goal for the long term. Until that target is reached, it decided, Israel will work to regain its power of deterrence and to defend its citizens.

Livni said at the close of the meeting that, "Hamas is the target. Hamas is the address for everything that happens in Gaza, politically and economically. Israel has no interest in hurting innocent civilians but it has to respond."



Related articles:
  • Livni: Gaza cannot remain under Hamas control
  • Livni: As prime minister, I will topple Hamas regime in Gaza
  • Egypt FM: Cairo can forge truce between Israel and Gaza militants
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      1.   All these discussions 20:55  |  Arie 22/12/08
      2.   Is she collecting Frequent Flyer points to emigrate 21:13  |  Sid Emess 22/12/08
      3.   Meddling? 21:41  |  Paul 22/12/08
      4.   Poor delusional Arie... 21:47  |  BBSNews 22/12/08
      5.   Hello Paul & Arie. An obivious ruse by Egypt 22:09  |  Sarah 22/12/08
      6.   WHAT AN HONOR TO BE INVITED BY THE ENEMY 22:32  |  Jim a Gentile 22/12/08
      7.   Pulling The Strings 22:34  |  Andrew 22/12/08
      8.   A positive development. 22:53  |  Stephen. 22/12/08
      9.   Explanation needed 23:16  |  Baz Mann 22/12/08
      10.   Mubarak endorses Livni 23:18  |  David K 22/12/08
      11.   Olmert and Barak in conflict of interests? 23:35  |  Motke 22/12/08
      12.   Meddling in internal affairs, besides, let him come to us! 23:44  |  Tom Lobo Meyer 22/12/08
      13.   Full agreement 23:52  |  Fred 22/12/08
      14.   What a nice guy! 23:53  |  gloomboom.com 22/12/08
      15.   pre-condition: open rafah crossing or no truce 00:03  |  Hamas spokes person 23/12/08
      16.   NO to Mubarak 00:30  |  Brod 23/12/08
      17.   I believe its you that are delusional bbs 02:01  |  Arie 23/12/08
      18.   BBSnews - There is not the single international 02:20  |  17 23/12/08
      19.   Hamas Spokes Person 03:22  |  Jasper 23/12/08
      20.   Talks only lead nowhere 03:25  |  Shimon Cleopas 23/12/08
      21.   #15, now the terrorists have pre-conditions 06:31  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 23/12/08
      22.   "17" - Quick! Tell the UN your important news! 06:34  |  BBSNews 23/12/08
      23.   Israel`s Enemies Solidly Behind Livni 08:34  |  Tod Zuckerman 23/12/08
      24.   The first line of defense. 08:48  |  Jean Van Daem 23/12/08
      25.   What Escalation? These Rockets Have been Fired for Years! 09:53  |  Baruch Gold 23/12/08
      26.   #15 You want an open door into Egypt as a condition for Israel 13:00  |  x-ray 23/12/08
      27.   ms kohn re amos oz and icons 14:26  |  amir drori 23/12/08
      28.   amir drori 27 16:40  |  harzion 23/12/08
      29.   #21 CJK. Ever read a history book? 17:53  |  Roo 23/12/08
      30.   hamas spokes person #15 ok,,,,no truce then,enjoy the misery you 18:12  |  human spokes person 23/12/08
      31.   Talks Just a Ruse ! 18:30  |  Gary 23/12/08
      32.   post 27 "harzion" to amir drori not mine but i dont mind 20:13  |  harzion 23/12/08
      33.   roo "one marvels just how much history you know" 20:51  |  yirmi 23/12/08
      34.   roo and history 20:54  |  yirmi 23/12/08
      35.   roo "entrenched reactionaries" 20:57  |  haim erez 23/12/08
      36.   editor would you please ask roo why his post is so 20:59  |  tuvia raviv 23/12/08
      37.   Jim, how is life trapped in a time warp? 21:19  |  Mark Lincoln 23/12/08
      38.   Actually BBS News 21:27  |  Mark Lincoln 23/12/08
      39.   BBSNews - don`t bother talking money 21:31  |  Mark Lincoln 23/12/08
      40.   BBSNews - 17 is one of those trapped in a time warp 21:46  |  Mark Lincoln 23/12/08
      41.   yirmi harzion #33 and fantasy 22:18  |  Roo 23/12/08
      42.   #35 harzion/haim 22:26  |  Roo 23/12/08
      43.   editor would you please ask tuvia harzion why his post is so 22:31  |  Roo 23/12/08
      44.   Not exactly Mark Lincoln... 22:55  |  BBSNews 23/12/08
      45.   #29, Roo the Hamas lover 23:43  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 23/12/08
      46.   #27, amir drori 23:52  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 23/12/08
      47.   Include Shalit Release in return for a Temporary Truce ? 23:57  |  Joseph.E 23/12/08
      48.   #43, How is Gaza occupied By Israel ? 00:47  |  Gary 24/12/08
      49.   First release Shalit and then talk about truce 00:57  |  Realist 24/12/08
      50.   roo and "duh" 01:13  |  erez gerstein 24/12/08
      51.   MuBarak an invitation 01:16  |  The Teacher/Instruct 24/12/08
      52.   post 32"harzion" is not mine and i do mind 01:51  |  harzion 24/12/08
      53.   Joseph E. - The fate of Shalit 02:59  |  Mark Lincoln 24/12/08
      54.   harzion - we have had a problem with 03:11  |  Mark Lincoln 24/12/08
      55.   10-4 on the "17" timewarp Mark Lincoln... 07:07  |  BBSNews 24/12/08
      56.   israel and hamas 15:17  |  roc 29/12/08
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