International Summit on Ghaza to be held Sunday in Sharm el-Sheikh

- Egypt has invited world leaders, particularly Europe, but no Israelis or Palestinians, to a summit on Ghaza on Sunday in Sharm el-Sheikh, according to diplomatic sources.

•     Invitations have already been sent and this summit will be held around the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in the afternoon in the seaside town of the Red Sea, indicated to AFP European diplomatic sources.
  
      This meeting aims to support « the efforts of Egypt » to find a negotiated end to the agression of Ghaza, while Israel could announce Saturday a cease-fire unilaterally, said one diplomat who requested anonymity.
  
      The isreli operation has killed 1203 Palestinians since the beginning of the agression on 27 December.
  
      Egypt has not announced the summit, but a source close to the presidency confirmed to the AFP that preparations were « in progress » for an international summit in Sharm el-Sheikh.
  
      The only agency ‘Mena’ reported that French President Nicolas Sarkozy was invited for a « consultative meeting » on Sunday by President Mubarak to discuss the cease-fire in the Ghaza Strip.
  
      In addition to Mr. Sarkozy, the invitations were sent including several heads of States or Governments, including the leader of the Spanish government Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and the British Gordon Brown and Italian Silvio Berlusconi, according to European diplomats.
  
      The Czech presidency of the European Union has also been invited, according to the same sources. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whom the invitation was sent, would have declined it.
  
      Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is also among the guests, as Turkey has played a constant mediation role for three weeks, diplomats said.
  
      The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, has also received an invitation to the summit. No confirmation is coming in the surrounding of Mr. Ban who is currently in Beirut, as part of his tour in the Middle East.
  
      However, the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, arrived in Cairo Saturday evening, but did not attend earlier talks with President Mubarak, said a diplomat.
  
      Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was not invited, according to Israeli diplomatic source.
  
      Israel is preparing to announce Saturday evening, a cease-fire unilaterally, rather than a concerted manner within the framework of the Egyptian initiative, but Mr. Mubarak assured Saturday in a tv speech that Egypt would continue its efforts to reach a truce in the Ghaza Strip after a possible cease-fire.
  
      « Egypt will continue its efforts as soon as a cease-fire is reached in order to return to the truce and lift the blockade imposed on Ghaza », he said.
  
      Egypt had announced ten days ago a scenario to end the crisis, playing the main role of mediator between Israel and the Hamas to first reach a cease-fire.
  
      Finally, Egypt considers essential for reconciliation talks between Palestinian rival factions, especially Fatah of Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas, and Hamas.
  
      The Security Council of the United Nations adopted on 8 January, a resolution so far remained a dead letter calling for the establishment « of a cease-fire, lasting and fully respected, leading to total withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Ghaza Strip ».
  
      
  Ennaharonline/ M. O.