Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit said he has been told by his Israeli counterpart Tzipi Livni that Israel was resolved to probe reports of the killing of Egyptian prisoners of war (POWs) by Israeli soldiers in the 1967 War.

Speaking to the BBC on Thursday shortly before returning back home, Abul-Gheit said he has asked for a copy on the documentary on the killing of the Egyptian POWs and launching an investigation into the issue.

Anger over the issue would linger on among the Egyptians, he said.

The Egyptian top diplomat urged Israel to reveal the truth about what happened.

On the aim of broadcasting the documentary at this time, Abul-Gheit said that there were many explanations for the move.

But all what matters is to reveal the truth, he stressed.

Abul-Gheit said that severing ties with Israel would not be the right move.

Many parties appreciate Egypt's wise policies, he said.

Had Egypt not had ties with Israel, we would not have been able to express our vision so clearly and to ask for seeing the documentary and setting up a probe into the issue, he added.

On the possibility of amending the Beirut Arab Peace Initiative, Abul-Gheit said that there was no intention to amend the initiative.

The initiative still exists and its principle is land for peace, he said.

If Israel accepts withdrawal from the occupied Arab lands and returning the Palestinian rights, it will be acceptable to normalize relations with it, he added.

On the Egyptian position on the Quartet stance on the Palestinian national unity government, Abul-Gheit called for giving a chance for the Palestinians to achieve their interests.

Abul-Gheit said that regaining the Palestinian rights and enabling the Palestinian people to establish their state would help reach a compromise.

Hence, it would be normal to recognize Israel, he added.

Egyptian efforts are under way to bring Libya and Saudi Arabia closer ahead of the Riyadh Arab summit, Abul-Gheit said.

The Arab summit, due late March, will tackle a number of issues including the nuclear issue and Arab cooperation for peaceful nuclear energy, he added.

The issue of dialogue among civilizations will also be discussed during the summit, he added.

Abul-Gheit dismissed claims about marginalizing the role of the Arab Maghreb countries.

Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Mauritania are playing a strong role in the issues of the Arab Mashreq countries, he added.