Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak started talks on Tuesday with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on the Middle East peace, particularly the fragile Gaza truce.
The two leaders are expected to discuss regional issues including negotiations with the Palestinians, the ceasefire in Gaza and a prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups.
Olmert's visit to Egypt, an active mediator between Israel and Palestinian militant groups, came six days after the truce in Gaza took effect last week.
On Thursday morning, Israel and Gaza militant groups implemented a six-month truce brokered by Egypt in Gaza on gradual reopening of closed Gaza crossings and easing a one-year blockade Israel imposed on the coastal enclave.
According to earlier reports of the Egyptian MENA news agency, Israel will also contact with Egyptian mediators on Tuesday to secure the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was captured by Palestinian militants two year ago.
However, a fresh mortar attack from Gaza and the killing of two Palestinian militants by Israeli troops in the West Bank on Tuesday cast shadow on the talks between Olmert and Mubarak.
A mortar shell fired by Palestinian militants in Gaza hit Israel's western Negev region early Tuesday morning, the first reported breach of the Gaza truce. No injuries or damage were reported.
Also in the early hours of Tuesday morning, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) killed two Palestinian militants in the West Bank city of Nablus.
(Xinhua News Agency June 24, 2008)
