PARIS, May 18: Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, in Paris on what is described as a “private” visit reportedly met his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem Bin Jabar Al- Thani, on Wednesday.

The Qatari foreign minister was in Paris for the official visit to France of his ruler, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani.

Although the French foreign ministry refused to comment on the reported meeting, sources said that the two men ironed out details for the eventual signing of a peace treaty between Qatar and Israel, and the establishment of diplomatic relations. Qatar and Israel have commercial relations following a pact signed in 1991 at the Madrid conference. The idea of such a meeting was proposed by President Jacques Chirac.