יפגשו? נתניהו ואבו מאזן
יפגשו? נתניהו ואבו מאזןפלאש 90

Will Binyamin Netanyahu's meeting with the Egyptian Foreign Minister lead to a summit meeting with Mahmoud Abbas?

Al Arabiya reported today (Monday) that the Prime Minister has agreed to meet with Palestinian Authority Chairman Abbas and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in an effort to restart peace negotiations.

Abbas was briefed by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry about the meeting with Netanyahu today, and it appears likely that it was made clear to Abbas that Netanyau has already agreed to the summit, thus putting pressure on the PA head to comply as well.

The Egyptians reportedly want the summit in Egypt to lead to another meeting, this time with Netanyahu hosting Abbas in Jerusalem, but the Palestinian side has yet to agree to the first Egyptian-mediated meeting.

The Prime Minister's office commented on the reports in response to Arutz Sheva, saying that "whether it's true or not, Israel has always said that it is willing to conduct direct bilateral negotiations, without preconditions, at any time."

Netanyahu hosted Minister Shoukry for two meetings yesterday, nine years after the previous meeting between the Prime Minister of Israel and a senior Egyptian official.

Speaking at the start of the meeting, Netanyau called the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt an island of stability in the region. "I welcome el-Sisi's concern and initiative for peace with the Palestinians and all of our neighbors. I wish to make the two-state vision a reality," the Prime Minister added.

Shoukry, for his part, said that he visited Israel, "as part of Egypt's commitment to stability in the region and to the well-being of the Israeli and Palestinian citizens." The Foreign Minister said that the Egyptians hope to act as a "bridge of trust" between Israel and the Palestinians. "The spread of terror in the region threatens the peace process," he added.