Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon indicated today that he would respond favourably to a ceasefire offer from Palestinian militants.
The move came during talks in Jerusalem with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher, who was making his first trip to Israel in more than two years.
Mr Maher was attempting to restart talks on the stalled 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 ceasefire, saying that the militant groups must be dismantled, as required by the road map.
But in a potential shift that could breathe new life into the efforts, Mr Sharon indicated to Mr Maher today that Israel would halt activity against the militants if there is a ceasefire. "We will respond to quiet with quiet," said a senior source in the prime minister's office.
The source said the meeting had gone very well, and that Mr Maher indicated that the talks could lead to a summit between Mr Sharon and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak - something Mr Mubarak has avoided since Mr Sharon came to power in 2001. "Maher spared no effort to show that they want to warm up relations," the source said.