|
JERUSALEM, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's attempt to restart peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian in an event in the Egyptian embassy in Israel on Thursday.
"We welcome the efforts by Sisi to advance peace and we welcome efforts to incorporate other Arab states in this effort, as part of a broader peace between all peoples of the Middle East," Netanyahu said, according to a statement by the prime minister's office.
The Israeli prime minister made the remarks when attending a reception in honor of Egypt's National Day in the Egyptian embassy. The event was also attended by Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.
Netanyahu praised the close ties between the two countries, saying the 1979 peace treaty between them shows that peace between Israelis and Arabs is "possible."
Israel is facing increasing international pressure to resume peace talks with the Palestinians, as a 10-month long wave of violence claimed the lives of 34 Israelis and 219 Palestinians. The last round of talks ended abruptly without results in April 2014.
Israeli leaders have voiced their support for Sisi's statements in May, in which he stressed the importance of the involvement of Arab countries in the peace process. They favored this initiative over a French one, calling to convene an international forum later this year in Paris.
Relations between Israel and Egypt have warmed up in recent years under Sisi's leadership, after several years of strain under the leadership of former President Mohammad Morsi from the Muslim Brotherhood.
In 2012, Egypt recalled its ambassador during Israel's Gaza operation. A new envoy was sent by Sisi in February.
Furthermore, Egypt's Foreign Minsiter Sameh Shoukry visited Israel earlier this month, the first such visit since 2007. Enditem
