Israeli Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon said in an interview published today he was sending Foreign Minister Mr Shimon Peres to Egypt to discuss an Egyptian-Jordanian plan on ending Israeli-Palestinian violence.
As Israel marked its annual memorial day on the eve of its 53rd anniversary, the army tightened its blockade of the West Bank and Gaza, fearing attacks by Palestinian militants.
Gun battles between Israeli troops and Palestinians blazed overnight near the town of Ramallah and other areas of the West Bank despite renewed contacts between the sides this week on ending nearly seven months of hostilities.
"Initiatives are important," Mr Sharon told the Jerusalem Post, referring to the Egyptian-Jordanian plan that calls for an end to the bloodshed, a rebuilding of confidence and the resumption of an Israeli-Palestinian peace dialogue.
"We received a proposal. We think it needs some changes and improvements. We're working on it now, and I thought it would be a good idea if [Peres] went to Egypt and explained our position."
Mr Sharon gave no date for the visit, but the Ha'aretznewspaper said Mr Peres would travel to Cairo on Thursday ahead of a trip to Washington next week for talks with US Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell.
Palestinan international cooperation minister Mr Nabil Shaath said today the Palestinians rejected any fundamental changes to a peace plan put forward by Jordan and Egypt.
"We have heard that the Israelis want to make modifications to this plan, but we will accept no fundamental change to this initiative," Mr Shaath told Voice of Palestineradio.
Reuters, AFP