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Media Summary

PM seeks Egyptian help in renewing peace talks

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In the international and UK papers today, Reuters notes that during his meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Sharm el-Sheikh yesterday, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said that Israel needs to revise its position and policy over peace talks and resume direct negotiations with the Palestinians. Sky News reports that the EU rejected Israel’s offer to lift the blockade of Gaza if the EU send an anti-arms smuggling force to the Strip. The Telegraph refers to Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s op-ed in the Jerusalem Post yesterday regarding Israeli relations and diplomatic ties with Turkey. The paper also carries a piece on a group of Jewish women defying orthodox religious praying customs at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. The New Statesman carries two pieces on the situation and blockade of Gaza. The Economist runs an article on the state of the Israeli ruling coalition. The Times, meanwhile, notes that the Knesset on Wednesday passed a controversial motion to probe NGO funding.

In the Israeli press today, all papers note that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Sharm el-Sheikh yesterday. Netanyahu asked Mubarak to pressure the Palestinians to return to direct peace talks with Israel that would include negotiations over the core issues in the conflict. Haaretz and Ynetnews note that EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton yesterday noted that the Middle East Quartet will hold a high-level meeting at the beginning of next month to discuss progress with Middle East peace talks. Meanwhile, all papers note that outgoing Mossad Chief Meir Dagan said yesterday that due to malfunctions in Iran’s nuclear programme he does not expect Tehran to have nuclear capabilities before approximately 2015.