Tony Blair in Israel after 'significant' Netanyahu-Egypt FM meeting

"I hope this can open up new opportunities for the future, for peace in the region and stability in the region," Blair says of recent developments.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

JULY 11, 2016 14:24

Updated: JULY 11, 2016 14:33

PM Netanyahu meets Tony Blair 11.7.16

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former UK prime minister Tony Blair discussed the future of regional security in a meeting in Jerusalem on Monday morning.

Blair, who served as a Middle East Quartet envoy until 2015, met with the premier the day after Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Hassan Shoukry paid a rare visit to Israel.

Netanyahu lauded Blair for advancing regional security matters as the former British prime minister called Netanyahu's two meetings with Shoukry on Sunday "extremely important, significant."

In the first visit by an Egyptian foreign minister since 2007, Shoukry pushed for a Cairo-back initiative on the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

"I hope this can open up new opportunities for the future, for peace in the region and stability in the region," Blair said.

In response Netanyahu addressed the developments, saying "I think that's what we're going to talk about next."