Israeli sources say Israeli Foreign Minister Sylvan Shalom is seeking to establish or renew diplomatic relations with at least ten Arab states by the end of 2005.
Israel already maintains full diplomatic relations with three members of the Arab League – Egypt, Jordan and Mauritania.
Reports said Shalom wishes to renew diplomatic relations with Tunisia, Morocco and Qatar, since relations with these countries were severed when violence between Israelis and Palestinians erupted in September 2000.
Other countries with which he wishes to establish diplomatic relations include Oman, Bahrain, Libya, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Yemen.
According to news reports, Shalom asked Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to help Israel normalize its relations with Arab countries, during his Tuesday visit to Cairo.
Egypt and Jordan recalled their ambassadors to Israel shortly after the violence erupted, protesting Israel’s conduct towards Palestinians.
However, since a new Palestinian leader was elected and the peace process was mobilized, both countries restored their senior envoys in Israel, paving the way for other Arab countries to establish or improve ties with Israel.
Reporting from Cairo, The Media Line’s David Harris adds that Israeli officials are not prepared to name individual countries at this stage but say they are optimistic that ongoing talks will bear fruit in the near future.