News
Israeli MPs meet with counterparts from Arab states
Israeli parliamentarians have met with MPs from a number of Arab countries, including a Palestinian delegation, to discuss regional water issues.
The three-day event held in Geneva was organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). MPs from Egypt, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, the Palestinian parliament and Israeli MKs from the Knesset, took part. Israel was represented by Zionist Union lawmakers Ksenia Svetlova and Erel Margalit.
While this meeting was focused on water issues, the IPU has lined up two more gatherings. The next one will look at agriculture and food, and a third will be on technology and renewable energy.
Svetlova said that participants also discussed wider political issues on this occasion, and that the Egyptian representatives were particularly positive about the possibility of a regional peace process.
Svetlova said: “To my surprise and joy, the atmosphere was very positive. Especially from the Egyptian parliament members, most of whom are new parliament members.” She added that the Egyptians were “all were unified in the notion that we need to get out of the regional deadlock.”
In addition to water issues, Svetlova said: “The message the Egyptians wanted to convey, in my impression, is that the [peace] initiative of [Egypt’s President] Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi is still on the table.”
Last month, President al-Sisi made a surprising public plea for Israel and the Palestinians to renew peace talks in the context of brokering a wider regional peace. Momentum in support of al-Sisi’s initiative appeared to have waned following the collapse of coalition talks between Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Isaac Herzog. However, both Netanyahu and new Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman have both since praised al-Sisi’s efforts, and indicated that the Arab peace initiative could be the basis for talks.
Svetlova said that she is “very cautious in my optimism,” but that following the Geneva talks, she believes that “with all the good and positive statements coming out of Cairo and the new atmosphere that was created, we should utilise it quickly”.