BICOM

Following a surprise visit by Egypt’s Foreign Minister to Jerusalem on Sunday, media reports suggest that Israel’s Prime Minister is now prepared to travel to Egypt’s capital Cairo to meet his Palestinian Authority (PA) counterpart.

FM Sameh Shoukry described his visit to Jerusalem as “a continuation of Egypt’s longstanding sense of responsibility towards peace for itself and all the people of the region, particularly the Palestinians and the Israeli people”. Shoukry’s visit followed a surprising public plea in May by Egypt’s President al-Sisi for Israel and the Palestinians to renew peace talks in the context of brokering a wider regional peace. Netanyahu immediately endorsed al-Sisi’s initiative.

Al-Arabiya reported yesterday that PM Benjamin Netanyahu is now interested in a three-way summit in Cairo with PA Mahmoud Abbas and al-Sisi. Netanyahu’s office responded to the report: “Whether this matter was discussed or not, Israel always says that it’s ready for unconditional, direct and bilateral negotiations.”

Channel Two also reported that plans are being made for Netanyahu to travel to Cairo before the end of the year for further discussion of the regional initiative suggested by al-Sisi. Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders favour al-Sisi’s approach over French attempts to spearhead a multi-lateral peace initiative. They maintain that direct talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders is the only route to progress.

Meanwhile, former-British Prime Minister Tony Blair met with Netanyahu in Jerusalem yesterday in the wake of Shoukry’s visit, which Blair described as “extremely important, significant”. Blair, who served as the Middle East envoy for the Quartet (US, EU, UN and Russia) until last year, said: “I hope this can open up new opportunities for the future, for peace in the region and stability in the region.”

Netanyahu added:“I think that’s what we’re going to talk about next.”

In a related development, Bloomberg quotes an anonymous former senior Israeli official saying that Israel has carried out numerous drone attacks in the Sinai Peninsula against Islamist terrorists, with Egypt’s blessing.