Israel, Palestine Praise President Sisi’s Renewed Calls for Peace

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s renewed calls for a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“I appreciate President Sisi’s actions and am encouraged by the leadership that he is displaying, including on this important issue,” said the Israeli Prime Minister on Wednesday. “Israel is prepared to cooperate with Egypt and with other Arab states to advance the diplomatic process and the stability in the region.”

Meanwhile, the Palestinian President welcomed President Sisi’s comments and expressed his appreciation for Egypt’s ‘historic role’ in supporting the Palestinian people. The Palestinian President said that a just and peaceful solution is necessary.

On Tuesday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi said that Palestinians and Israelis have a “real opportunity” to achieve peace, stressing the importance of the international community to aid in that effort.

Sisi asserted that various parties, including the United States, France and Arab countries, should combine their efforts to reach an agreement that will be beneficial to both the Palestinians and the Israelis.

“I am saying to the Israelis that there is a real opportunity to achieve peace,” the President said, while stressing that Egypt is prepared to exert all efforts necessary to resolve the long-standing conflict.

The comments, which also saw President Sisi stressing his country’s commitment to a Palestinian state based on the internationally recognized 1967 borders, came days after a visit by the Palestinian President to Cairo.

Egypt’s President Sisi has enjoyed a positive relationship with both the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. In Gaza, Hamas has been attempting to thaw its relationship with Egypt after resistance following the ouster of former President Mohammed Morsi in July 2013, who was strongly backed by Hamas.