During the one-day trip, Maher met separately with Israeli PrimeMinister Ariel Sharon and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom on ways tobreak the deadlock of the Palestinian-Israeli peace track, thestate-run television reported.

   The top Egyptian diplomat was assaulted by Muslim worshipper atthe mosque, Islam's third holiest site, when he visited the site.The Palestinian extremists threw shoes at him, a traditional Musliminsult.

   Some witnesses said that Maher was slightly injured and wastaken to hospital by Israeli police, while others claimed Maher wasnot injured in the attack.

   Maher arrived in Jerusalem early on Monday for a one-day visitto help restart talks on the stalled US-backed roadmap peace plan.It was the first visit paid by a top Egyptian diplomat to Israel inabout three years.

   The visit was seen as a significant thaw in ties between Israeland Egypt.

   Egypt, the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israelin 1979, has been playing a key mediating role in resolving theArab-Israeli conflicts.

   But Cairo withdrew its ambassador to Israel soon after theeruption of the Palestinian intifada in September 2000 in protestat Israel's excess use of force against the Palestinians.  Enditem  Egyptian FM returns home from Israel

   CAIRO, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maherreturned home Monday evening after a short visit to Israel where hewas assaulted by Muslim worshippers at the Al Aqsa mosque in theOld City of Jerusalem.

   During the one-day trip, Maher met separately with Israeli PrimeMinister Ariel Sharon and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom on ways tobreak the deadlock of the Palestinian-Israeli peace track, thestate-run television reported.

   The top Egyptian diplomat was assaulted by Muslim worshipper atthe mosque, Islam's third holiest site, when he visited the site.The Palestinian extremists threw shoes at him, a traditional Musliminsult.

   Some witnesses said that Maher was slightly injured and wastaken to hospital by Israeli police, while others claimed Maher wasnot injured in the attack.

   Maher arrived in Jerusalem early on Monday for a one-day visitto help restart talks on the stalled US-backed roadmap peace plan.It was the first visit paid by a top Egyptian diplomat to Israel inabout three years.

   The visit was seen as a significant thaw in ties between Israeland Egypt.

   Egypt, the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israelin 1979, has been playing a key mediating role in resolving theArab-Israeli conflicts.

   But Cairo withdrew its ambassador to Israel soon after theeruption of the Palestinian intifada in September 2000 in protestat Israel's excess use of force against the Palestinians.  Enditem