Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, shows the way to Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry during a news conference in Jerusalemon Sunday.
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Israeli-PalestinianThis is the first visit by an Egyptian foreign minister in Israel since 2007.
According to the foreign minister, a two-state solution remains possible but it requires serious intent to implement it.
One indication of Israel’s increased acceptance, Netanyahu said, was a phone call he had on the trip with the leader of an unnamed Muslim country, during which they agreed to meet.
Israeli diplomats say it was a big deal because the meetings took place in broad daylight as part of an official visit with official statements. On Sunday, he said he was in Israel to continue the dialogue.
Shoukry would hold “lengthy talks” with Netanyahu focusing on reviving the peace process with the Palestinians, the Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement. It also aims at achieving peace, security and stability for the Israeli people, he added.
Shoukry will also focus on ways to activate the global resolutions and previous agreements to build trust between the Israelis and the Palestinians as a step towards reviving the peace talks. Complete information about both officials’ talks and Shoukry’s speech in Israel has yet to be released, he said.
During clashes with Palestinians with Sair, a blockaded Hebron-area village, Israeli forces shot and injured at least five people with rubber-coated steel bullets, the local Ma’an News Agency reported.
Shoukry’s visit comes a week after he met with Palestinian leadership in the West Bank city of Ramallah, and almost two months after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi made a public appeal to Israelis on the peace process.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has said he welcomes Egypt’s efforts.
Earlier this month, the so-called Middle East Quartet said ongoing violence, Israeli settlement-building and Palestinian splits were undermining peace hopes.
Mandelblit was famously recommended by Netanyahu for the attorney general position directly following his position as cabinet secretary, a move that caused a great deal of criticism over his appointment from those fearing he would act on the prime minister’s behalf.
According to Netanyahu ” s statement, Yitzhak Molcho played a role in organising this visit.
Mr Morsi was ousted in July 2013 by then army chief Mr Sisi, who was elected Egypt’s president in 2014. Ramallah is also in contact with France and the European Union headquarters in regard to the French initiative.
Sisi offered the 2002 Arab peace initiative as a potential way ahead.
France tried to bring both sides to negotiations table, but the Israeli leaders refused to engage with any global parties in the process.
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Based on Channel 10’s report, reports over the last week and non-denials from officials, it appears that the crux of the issue is whether lieutenants and former lieutenants of Netanyahu who are also under investigation can be turned into state’s witnesses against him like Shula Zaken turned against her former boss and prime minister Ehud Olmert.
