Commissioner of Foreign Relations of the European Union Catherine Ashton offered to Israel to upgrade economic ties with the EU in return for renewed talks with the Palestinians.

The European Union's foreign minister will arrive tomorrow for a tour of Egypt and the Middle East. From Cairo she heads off to Damascus, Beirut and Amman. She is set to come to Israel on Wednesday. She intends to visit the Gaza Strip. A week ago the Israeli government decided to allow her to enter Gaza at the Erez crossing.