Egypt scales down Israel contacts

Egypt is suspending contacts with Israel apart from diplomatic channels which could help the Palestinians, the government has announced.

Egyptian Information Minister Safwat el-Sherif said Egypt would restrict ties with Israel to those that "served the Palestinian cause."

Egypt is one of only three Arab states which has diplomatic relations with Israel.

Correspondents say Wednesday's announcement falls short of cutting ties and may have more symbolic than practical meaning.

An Israeli official dismissed Egypt's decision as a symbolic gesture.

He said relations between the two countries were not extensive and that the Egyptian move would no deflect Israel from, what he called, its war on terror.