Barak, Mubarak Discuss Situation in Mideast on PhoneOutgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak Wednesday discussed with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak ways to reduce tension in the occupied Palestinian territories in a phone call initiated by Barak, the state-run Middle East News Agency reported.Egyptian officials was quoted as saying that Barak and Mubarak discussed possible dangers if Israeli-Palestinian peace talks will not be resumed as soon as possible and also explored ways to put the peace process back on track. Their talks dealt with "the dangerous consequences of the worsening situation in the occupied Arab lands" if new peace initiatives will not be raised, the agency said. Five months of clashes between Palestinian protestors and Israeli soldiers have so far killed more than 420 people, mostly Palestinians, and injured thousands of others. Barak was trounced by Israeli right-wing Likud Party leader Ariel Sharon in the February 6 prime ministerial election. His decision to step away from politics had paved the way for Prime Minister-elect Sharon to form a national unity government. Israel's Labor party has decided to join the proposed national unity government to be led by Sharon. Both Sharon and Barak have indicated that the new cabinet would not restart the stalled peace talks with the Palestinians on the basis of understandings and accords reached previously, casting a shadow over the future of the peace process. |
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