International News

CAIRO, July 10, (APP/AFP) – Egypt’s Foreign
Minister Sameh Shoukry was heading to Israel on Sunday for a rare
visit in which he is to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,
his office said.
Shoukry would hold “lengthy talks” with Netanyahu
focusing on reviving the peace process with the Palestinians,
the Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement.
Among other issues, 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,” it said.
Shoukry’s trip to Israel comes after he visited the West Bank
city of Ramallah on June 29.
It also follows Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s
comments 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.
In 1979, Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace
treaty with Israel after years of conflict, and it remains
an influential player in the region.
In June, representatives from 28 Arab and Western countries,
the Arab League, European Union and the United Nations met in
Paris to discuss ways in which the international community
could help advance the Palestinian-Israel peace process.