Israel's new ambassador in Cairo, Yaakov Amitai, will attempt to open communication channels with Islamic officials in Egypt, including representatives of the Muslim Brotherhood and the radical Salafi movement's Al-Nour Party, according to a senior diplomatic official in Jerusalem, according to the Israeli daily Haaretz.

The official told Haaretz that, as ambassador, Amitai must make contact with all relevant entities in positions of power, and talk to "anyone who wants to and agrees to talk to him, even if those contacts are not made public."

The source said to Haaretz that Israel must engage in dialogue with Islamic representatives in the relatively friendly Arab countries, including representatives of the fundamentalist Salafi parties such as Al-Nour - if they agree to talk.

"We should make every effort to explain that we are not the enemies of the Egyptian people or enemies of the Palestinians," the official added to the Israili daily, adding, "The Palestinians cannot continue to hold the Arab world by the tail."