Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Israeli President Shimon Peres met on Sunday amid growing anger in the Arab world over Israel’s plans to expand settlements in the West Bank. Hosni Mubarak criticized Israel for continuing to build homes in occupied East Jerusalem.

Hosni Mubarak: “Jerusalem is not only a Palestinian problem, but it’s a problem that concerns all of the Muslims in the world. If we do not reach a solution on Jerusalem and stop its Judaization, it will be as if Israel has made an enemy of all Muslims in the world. And I have emphasized this topic because we want Jerusalem to be one of the topics on the negotiating table.”

Israeli President Shimon Peres dismissed the criticism of the Israeli settlements, saying it was a marginal issue.