CAIRO, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah held talks on Monday with focus on the mounting tension between the Palestinians and Israel, reported the official MENA news agency.

    Mubarak made a lightening visit to Saudi Arabia earlier in the day and held talks with Abdullah in the Saudi Red Sea port of Jeddah.

    MENA quoted Egyptian Information Minister Ahmad Nabih el-Fekkias saying that Mubarak and Abdullah agreed to pursue efforts to reach a solution to the current crisis on the Palestinian territories.

    The two leaders voiced concern over the latest developments in the Palestinian lands and over denying access of aid to the Palestinians, said el-Fekki.

    According to the Egyptian minister, during the talks, Mubarak briefed the Saudi King on Egypt's contacts with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

    Mubarak and Abdullah stressed support to Abbas' efforts to establish stability on the Palestinian territories, said MENA, adding that the two leaders also discussed Iraq's developments as well as the Syrian-Lebanese relations.

    Egypt and Saudi Arabia are two most important Arab countries in the region, and both nations have been conducting frequent consultations on major regional issues including the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

    Tension between the Palestinians and Israel has grown to a dangerous point after an Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, was abducted by three Palestinian military groups on June 25 during a deadly attack on an Israeli army post.

    The Israeli armed forces have launched a broad ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, the first major operation there since Israel pulled out forces and settlers from it last summer after 38 years of occupation.

    Egypt has long since playing a mediating role between the Palestinians and Israel. Enditem