Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid arrives in Cairo in an official visit. Israeli FM s twitter account
“Strengthening and deepening Israeli-Egyptian relations in the political, security, and economic fields is a vital interest for the Israeli state,” Lapid said.
“We will continue to work together to advance our common interests in regional stability,” he added.
Thursday’s visit comes three months after Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who took office in June, met with El-Sisi in Sharm El-Sheikh, where they discussed the latest developments concerning the peace process in the Middle East.
It was the first time an Israeli prime minister had visited Egypt since 2011.
El-Sisi asserted to Bennett that Egypt’s support for all efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East are based on a two-state solution and international resolutions that contribute to ensuring security and prosperity in the region.
The two leaders also discussed Egyptian-Israeli bilateral relations in all fields in addition to the latest developments regionally and internationally.
Egypt, a key regional linchpin, has been in talks with several regional and international players to revive the long-frozen Palestinian-Israeli peace talks.
Egypt has repeatedly called for a two-state solution that involves the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
In May, Egypt mediated a ceasefire between the Israeli and Palestinian sides in the Gaza Strip after Israeli bombing claimed over 250 Palestinian lives, including many women and children, in 11 days.
Egypt also allocated $500 million for the reconstruction of the strip.
Head of Egypt’s General Intelligence Service Abbas Kamel visited Israeli and Palestinian territories in May and August and met with officials from both sides to consolidate the ceasefire.
During his visit in August, Kamel met with Bennett for the first time.
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