Report: Israeli delegation meets with Egyptian officials in Cairo
The London-based newspaper Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported that the Israeli delegation arrived in a special plane that left Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion.
By YASSER OKBI/ MAARIV HASHAVUAEgyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, in a May 17 speech, said new opportunities now exist to promote peace between Israel and the Palestinians, and warmer relations with Arab states(photo credit: REUTERS)A high-ranking Israeli delegation met with Egyptian officials on Sunday in Cairo, according Egyptian media reports.The two sides reportedly discussed restarting the frozen Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and other matters of mutual interest. The London-based newspaper Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported that the Israeli delegation arrived in a special plane that left Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion Airport and was expected stay in Cairo for only a few hours.In June, Egyptian President Abdel Fatah el-Sisi called for Israel and the Palestinians to return to the negotiating table saying “in Egypt we took this step 40 years ago (the 1979 Israel-Egypt peace treaty) and the results were astounding. We can take another step in this direction with enough diplomacy and persuasion.”In an Egyptian TV interview marking two year of his presidency, Sisi added that Egypt seeks to take a leading role in the peace process. “International efforts are invested in the issue and the French initiative is on the agenda," he said in reference to a Paris-proposed plan to relaunch the stalled peace talks. "The Palestinian cause has been neglected in the years because of other important events in the region, but it is important to get back to the issue. If we resolve it, we will all live in better conditions.”