Israeli news website Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), quoting senior Arab diplomatic sources, said on Thursday that intensive talks are taking place between the United States, Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia to hold a summit in Cairo, perhaps before the March 2 Israeli elections, which will serve as a stage for a meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman.
The sources told "Israel Today" that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his team have been mediating between Tel Aviv and Riyadh during the past few months.
"The last days there have been intense discussions between Washington, Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia to arrange for a summit meeting in Cairo in the coming weeks, even before the elections in Israel. Regardless of the fact that Egypt is the host country, the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, as well as the leaders of the UAE, Sudan, Bahrain, and Oman will attend," one of the sources said.
According to other Arab sources, Jordan has also received an invitation, but King Abdullah wants the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to receive an invitation as well. According to the report, Washington has informed Amman that these talks are ongoing and that Tel Aviv has agreed to Palestinian participation.
The website stated that a senior Palestinian Authority official confirmed this information to the newspaper "Israel Today" and said, "Abbas and the leadership in Ramallah will commit to boycotting Washington and freezing diplomatic ties with Israel" at the present time.
According to this official, Washington told the Palestinians that "this will likely be the last opportunity for Abbas and the Palestinians to come out of their perch and participate in the diplomatic developments unfolding in the region."