JERUSALEM Israel gives hope progress in talks is possible

Egypt has been pressuring Palestinian militants to halt attacks.
JERUSALEM (AP) -- Prime Minister Ariel Sharon indicated to Egypt's foreign minister today that Israel would respond favorably to a cease-fire offer from Palestinian militants, an Israeli official said.
Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher met with Sharon and other senior Israeli officials during his first trip to Israel in more than two years. He was in Israel in an effort to restart talks on the stalled U.S.-backed "road map" plan for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
Egypt, which has often played a mediator's role between Israel and the Palestinians, has been pressuring Palestinian militants to halt attacks on Israel.
The militants have so far rebuffed the Egyptian efforts. Israel has also largely dismissed talk of a cease-fire, saying that the militant groups must be dismantled, as required by the road map.
Potential shift
But in a potential shift that could breathe new life into the efforts, Sharon indicated to Maher today that Israel would halt activity against the militants if there is a cease-fire.
"We will respond to quiet with quiet," said a senior source in the prime minister's office, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The source said the meeting had gone very well, and that Maher indicated that the talks could lead to a summit between Sharon and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak -- something Mubarak has avoided since Sharon, a career hardliner, came to power in 2001.
"Maher spared no effort to show that they want to warm up relations," the source said.
After meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, Maher told a news conference that he was very optimistic that the cease-fire talks with the Palestinian factions would be successful, and that he emerged from his meetings with the Israelis with a feeling that the road map can be revived.
"Let's start this road which will lead us to a solution and to peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis, which will be beneficial to the whole region," Maher said. "So, I come out from here encouraged, but the encouragement needs to be followed up by actions, we hope to see actions from both sides as soon as possible."
Road to Palestinian state
President Bush launched the road map in June, setting in motion a process that is supposed to lead to a Palestinian state in 2005. However, talks bogged down amid violence and foot-dragging on both sides.
Under the road map, Palestinians must dismantle violent groups, and Israel has to halt construction in settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and take down unauthorized outposts. Neither side has carried out these obligations.
In 1979, Egypt became the first Arab nation to sign a peace treaty with Israel. But relations have often been cool, and Israel has perceived Cairo as favoring the Palestinians.