Israel, which has consistently tried to keep the European Union out of the diplomatic process, is now pressing Europe to use its clout to get Arab countries to develop ties.

"The EU is constantly looking to play a role," a senior Israeli diplomatic official said Monday. "We are saying 'you have contacts in the Arab world – here is a positive role you can play.'"

In addition to lobbying Arab capitals to upgrade ties with Israel, Jerusalem also wants the EU to press Maghreb states – such as Tunisia and Morocco – and the Gulf States to encourage the moderates in the Palestinian Authority.

Israel, which has been bombarded over the last two weeks by visits from European foreign ministers, is telling the EU that if Arab states do upgrade ties, this could considerably warm Israeli public opinion vis-a-vis the continent.

The official's comments come amid a sense of optimism that has emerged in Jerusalem following Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's release Sunday of Azzam Azzam. Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said Sunday that closer ties with Egypt could lead to the development of ties with some 10 other Arab countries.

Nevertheless, to date, there have been no concrete indications that any of the Gulf or Maghreb states are interested in advancing relations with Israel in the immediate future.

"So far there is no hard evidence that anything has changed," an official said. Although the atmosphere has improved, no country has given any indication that after any specific date or event they will make a dramatic announcement about opening a mission in Tel Aviv.

Egypt's decision in November 2000 to recall its ambassador from Tel Aviv because of Israel's response to the Palestinian violence led to a similar move by Jordan.

Oman, Morocco and Tunisia, which all had interest sections in Tel Aviv, followed suit and closed their offices here at the time. They also asked Israel – which had similar offices in their capitals – to do the same.

Qatar, which closed its offices in Tel Aviv, has allowed an Israeli economic mission to continue working in Doha.

The only Muslim state with an ambassador in Israel is Mauritania. Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait have all been mentioned recently as countries that could conceivably develop some sort of official ties with Israel if it goes through with the disengagement plan and the situation stabilizes on the ground. A post-election Iraq has also been mentioned in this context.

One Israeli official said, however, that there has there been no "hard evidence" of a warming of ties with the Arab world. Moreover, while Tunisia sent messages of thanks to Israel for allowing a delegation of Tunisian doctors to examine Yasser Arafat while he was sick, it pointedly was unwilling to thank Israel publicly.

"Secretly they said, 'thank you,' but publicly they would not say a word," the official said. "Excuse me for not being impressed."

Shalom's comment about the possibility of 10 states developing ties was based on a feeling that there is a general sense in the Arab world of wanting to see things calm down, the official added; if they do calm down and the PA elections go off without a hitch, then a number of Arab countries would be interested in "reengaging" with Israel.

"We are hearing voices in the Arab world talking of promoting ties," a Foreign Ministry official said. "The question is how do we shift the momentum. Arafat's demise was a key factor. And now if there are proper elections in the PA and a responsible leadership emerges, you might see things fall into place."

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