Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has invited Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime MinisterAriel Sharon to hold their summit in Egypt next week, Al Jazeera TV channel reported Wednesday.

Sharon has accepted to attend the meeting slated for next Tuesday, the premier's office confirmed.

Mubarak's invitation was delivered to Sharon by Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman who arrived in Jerusalem on Wednesday.

Suleiman said the proposal was initiated by Mubarak following progress in security discussions between Israel and the Palestinians.

During Suleiman's meeting with Sharon, the two talked about the security situation on the border and what needs to be done to stop weapons smuggling.

"This is all part of the heating up of security contacts and coordination," one senior Israeli diplomatic official was quoted by Jerusalem Post as saying.

The official said Suleiman's trip is related to the upcoming visit by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Sunday, notingthat the Egyptians want to impress upon Rice that they are taking constructive actions.

If held as scheduled, the summit would be the first between Israel and the Palestinians in nearly four years of conflict. On the Palestinian side, Abbas also agreed to attend the summit hosted by Egypt.

An official source in Abbas' office revealed on Wednesday that Rice and Jordanian King Abdullah II may also attend the meeting. The source said the problem is not with the place.

"Abbas accepts to meet with Sharon anywhere, but the most important thing is to come up with tangible and fruitful results after the meeting," he stressed.

However, former Palestinian internal security minister Mohammed Dahlan sounded a doubtful note as to the possibility of holding such a summit on time.

"I don't think the summit will be held on Feb. 8," Dahlan told reporters in Gaza City.

Dahlan, a confidant of Abbas, met Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz Monday night for talks over the Israeli pullout from four West bank cities, and was expected to meet Sharon's aide DovWeisglass Thursday, which would be the last meeting between the two sides prior to the summit.

Source: Xinhua