AFP, Jerusalem :
Egypt’s foreign minister is to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Sunday on reviving peace efforts with the Palestinians, on the first such visit to Israel in nearly a decade that is the latest sign of warming ties.
The trip comes amid talk of reviving an Arab peace initiative with the Palestinians and with Israel’s military having recently saluted “unprecedented” intelligence cooperation with Egypt to combat jihadists of the Islamic State group.
Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry was to hold “lengthy talks” with Netanyahu on reviving the peace process with the Palestinians, an Egyptian foreign ministry statement said.
Shoukry’s trip to Israel comes after he visited the West Bank city of Ramallah on June 29 for talks with Palestinian leaders.
Netanyahu confirmed the visit at the start of a cabinet meeting on Sunday and said the last such trip by an Egyptian foreign minister was in 2007.
There would be two meetings — one on Sunday afternoon and one in the evening.
“This visit is important for several reasons,” said Netanyahu.
“It reflects the change in relations between Israel and Egypt, including President Sisi’s important call to advance the peace process with the Palestinians and with Arab countries.”
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said in May that there was a “real opportunity” for an Israeli-Palestinian deal that could lead to warmer ties between his country and Israel.
Sisi urged Israelis and Palestinians to seize what he said was a “real opportunity” and hailed his own country’s peace deal with Israel.
The Egyptian statement on Sunday said the two would discuss “laying the foundation and specifics of confidence-building between Palestinians and Israelis to create a supportive environment to resume direct negotiations between them with the aim of reaching a comprehensive and just solution.”
Egypt’s foreign minister is to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Sunday on reviving peace efforts with the Palestinians, on the first such visit to Israel in nearly a decade that is the latest sign of warming ties.
The trip comes amid talk of reviving an Arab peace initiative with the Palestinians and with Israel’s military having recently saluted “unprecedented” intelligence cooperation with Egypt to combat jihadists of the Islamic State group.
Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry was to hold “lengthy talks” with Netanyahu on reviving the peace process with the Palestinians, an Egyptian foreign ministry statement said.
Shoukry’s trip to Israel comes after he visited the West Bank city of Ramallah on June 29 for talks with Palestinian leaders.
Netanyahu confirmed the visit at the start of a cabinet meeting on Sunday and said the last such trip by an Egyptian foreign minister was in 2007.
There would be two meetings — one on Sunday afternoon and one in the evening.
“This visit is important for several reasons,” said Netanyahu.
“It reflects the change in relations between Israel and Egypt, including President Sisi’s important call to advance the peace process with the Palestinians and with Arab countries.”
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said in May that there was a “real opportunity” for an Israeli-Palestinian deal that could lead to warmer ties between his country and Israel.
Sisi urged Israelis and Palestinians to seize what he said was a “real opportunity” and hailed his own country’s peace deal with Israel.
The Egyptian statement on Sunday said the two would discuss “laying the foundation and specifics of confidence-building between Palestinians and Israelis to create a supportive environment to resume direct negotiations between them with the aim of reaching a comprehensive and just solution.”
