Monday, August 17, 2009

U.S. Jewish leaders: Mubarak 'surprisingly positive' on Netanyahu

(Haaretz).- Leading figures from the U.S. Jewish community said Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was "surprisingly positive" in speaking with them yesterday in Washington about the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Mubarak, who had not visited the United States in around five years, met at the beginning of his visit with representatives from the Anti-Defamation League, J Street, B'nai B'rith International, the American Jewish Congress, the Israel Policy Forum, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs and AIPAC.

The meeting - which was closed to media - was held at the initiative of the Egyptian organizers.

"Mubarak spoke in a surprisingly positive manner about Israel's leadership, including Netanyahu" as well as Defense Minister Ehud Barak and President Shimon Peres, according to one of the people present. The Egyptian leader reportedly said the current Israeli leadership was committed to moving the peace process forward with the Palestinians.