Since Egypt brokered a cease-fire between Hamas and Israel last May and Naftali Bennett became prime minister in June, Egyptian-Israeli relations have renewed vigor. This has brought Cairo much sought-after US praise and re-established Egypt’s role in the region.
On a recent visit to Cairo, Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, reiterated the US administration’s appreciation for the Egyptian efforts toward calming the Gaza Strip and containing recent escalations, the spokesman of the Egyptian Presidency said.
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi affirmed Egypt’s support for various efforts aimed at revitalizing the Israel-Palestinian peace process and the resumption of negotiations, the spokesman continued. El-Sisi confirmed Egypt’s firm position that a just and comprehensive solution guarantees the rights of the Palestinian people and the establishment of its independent state in accordance with international references, which would open up prospects for peaceful coexistence among all the peoples of the region.
It began with a visit by Chief of General Intelligence Abbas Kamel to Jerusalem on August 18. He met with Bennett for high-level talks on Gaza. During the meeting, Kamel extended an invitation from el-Sisi to the prime minister to visit Egypt, for the first such visit since 2011. A few hours later, Israel lowered the level of its travel warning regarding South Sinai.
On September 13, el-Sisi and Bennett met in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Bennett said their talks “created a foundation for deep ties in the future,” adding that “Israel is increasingly opening up to the countries of the region, and the basis of this long-standing recognition is the peace between Israel and Egypt. Therefore, on both sides, we must invest in strengthening this link, and we have done so today.”
During the meeting, el-Sisi said, “We spoke very frankly and very courageously, as the prime minister said, and we will continue to talk more for our two countries and for the region. I told His Excellency that Egypt would always strive for peace, stability, construction, development and reconstruction, far from anything that leads to the contrary.” READ MORE
Behind the recent Egyptian-Israeli rapprochement - analysis https://amos37.com/behind-the-recent-egyptian-israeli-rapprochement-analysis/
| Josh Toupos |
