Mubarak says time is right for Arab-Israeli peace

By Sue Pleming

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's "reassertion" of U.S. leadership in the Middle East offers a rare opportunity to get peace between Israel and the Palestinians, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said.

In a commentary in The Wall Street Journal on Friday, Mubarak said Obama was willing to take a lead in achieving peace and the Arab world would reciprocate.

"A historic settlement is within reach, one that would give the Palestinians their state and freedom from occupation while granting Israel recognition and security to live in peace," wrote Mubarak.

"Egypt stands ready to seize that moment, and I am confident that the Arab world will do the same," he added.

The U.S. State Department welcomed Mubarak's opinion piece and said the Obama administration was fully committed to working with Egypt and others to get a comprehensive peace deal in the Middle East.

"In order for this vision to become a reality all parties in the region must do their part, including Arab states," said State Department spokesman Ian Kelly.

The Bush administration waited until its final years in office to make a concerted effort on Israeli-Palestinian peace and was criticized by many Arabs for doing too little, too late.

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