Netanyahu and Egyptian Ambassador to Israel
Netanyahu and Egyptian Ambassador to IsraelKobi Gideon/GPO

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Thursday hailed Israel's peace treaty with Egypt and expressed his appreciation for Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's efforts to renew the peace process between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Netanyahu made the comments during a reception in honor of Egypt's National Day at the home of the Egyptian Ambassador to Israel, Hazem Khairat.

“This is a day when Egyptians celebrate your proud unsurpassed history, your rich culture, your many accomplishments. Egypt and Israel are among the world’s oldest civilizations, and each has made contributions to the civilizations of the world. And together we made history by showing the world that peace between Arabs and Israelis is possible and sustainable,” he said.

“I am proud that our two nations have been in peace for nearly four decades. Through storms, turbulence, earthquakes, we have remained in peace and we shall remain in peace. It is the foundation of our national vision and our vision for the region and beyond,” continued Netanyahu, adding that the Israel-Egypt peace treaty “is an anchor of stability and security in our region.”

“I just returned from a trip to Africa. I learned many things there. Among them, the significant role that Egypt plays not just in the Middle East, but also on the African continent,” the Prime Minister said.

“I want to thank President a-Sisi for his leadership and for his efforts to advance peace between Israel and the Palestinians and in the broader Middle East,” he continued.

“We have so much that we can accomplish together. We can work, and are working together in agriculture, and we can work in water, in energy, in every field of human endeavor to make the lives of our peoples and the lives of peoples in the Middle East as a whole better, more secure, richer. A future of hope, a future of prosperity, and a future of peace.”

“We welcome the efforts to advance peace by President a-Sisi, and we welcome the effort to incorporate other Arab states in this larger effort of a broader peace between all the peoples of the Middle East,” he stressed.

“Again, I would like to say that President Rivlin and myself, and all who are here, representing all citizens of the State of Israel, say to you: We believe in peace. We want to expand it and we would like to congratulate you on your holiday. Congratulations,” concluded Netanyahu.

Al-Sisi has been making efforts recently to resume the frozen peace talks between Israel and the PA. In that regard, in May he issued a public call on the sides to take advantage the opportunity and resume the negotiations.

He reiterated that call earlier this month and stressed his country was serious about pushing forward peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

His remarks followed a trip by Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry to Israel, the first such visit in nine years.