ISRAEL: Libya yesterday issued a denial of any diplomatic thaw with Israel, while aides in the office of Israeli Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon down-played reports of recent contacts between Israeli and Libyan officials, saying there was no need to "run" after Libyan President Muammar Gadafy.
But despite the Libyan denials, something appears to be afoot between the Jewish state and, until not long ago, one of its sworn enemies.
A politician from the opposition Labour Party, Mr Ephraim Sneh, confirmed yesterday that he and another legislator, Mr Ilan Shalgi of the centrist Shinui party, which is part of Mr Sharon's ruling coalition, last August met resident Col Gadafy's son, Mr Saif al-Islam, whom many believe is being groomed as his father's successor.
"My impression from this meeting is that \ Gadafy has made a strategic decision and he is not a man of small steps," Mr Sneh told Israel Radio. "He will not stop half way. He could go as far as relations with Israel, and beyond."
It emerged on Tuesday night that a high-ranking official in Israel's foreign ministry, Mr Ron Prosor, met Libyan diplomats in Europe two weeks ago to explore setting up a channel of communication. The same day, a Kuwaiti newspaper reported that an Israeli delegation was to visit Libya to discuss ties.
Reports of contacts come just weeks after Mr Gadafy announced that Libya was abandoning its non-conventional weapons programme. In recent years, the Libyan leader has also reduced his anti-Israel rhetoric.
In Libya, the official news agency JANA quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Mr Hassouna al-Shawish as denying any meetings with Israelis.
"We would like to assert that officials in Libya have investigated this issue and have not found any evidence of it," he was quoted as saying.
Libyan officials did add, however, that Jews of Libyan descent were free to visit the country.
Mr Sharon said: "We, after all, know the personality Gadafy. Where are we running to. I heard President Bush say that he will not lift the sanctions on Libya until they take action."