Egypt encouraged by Israeli PM’s proposals, says ‘everything is on the table’

Egypt encouraged during Israeli PM’s visit

CAIRO — Egypt’s foreign minister says he was encouraged by Tuesday’s visit to Cairo by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit says the Israeli leader is serious about restarting peace talks with the Palestinians. He refused to share details of what Netanyahu proposed. But he said Netanyahu presented proposals that “surpassed” Israel’s previous positions.

The Palestinians say they will not resume talks until Israel freezes all settlement construction. They also want Netanyahu to resume talks from the point they broke off under his more dovish predecessor, Ehud Olmert.

Aboul Gheit says Netanyahu gave his Egyptian hosts the impression that he wants to get diplomacy moving again, and that “everything is on the table.”

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is heading to Egypt to discuss U.S.-backed efforts to relaunch peace talks with the Palestinians.

He is also expected to discuss Tuesday negotiations to swap hundreds of Palestinian prisoners for an Israeli soldier who has been held in the Gaza Strip for 3 1/2 years.

Egypt and Germany have been mediating those talks.

Israel has relayed its response to the latest swap proposal to Gaza’s militant Hamas leaders.

Hamas has not yet delivered its response.

Netanyahu’s entourage will include his envoy to the U.S. on the peace talks and his national security adviser.