Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, today (Sunday, 10 July 2016), at the Prime Minister\’s Office in Jerusalem, issued the following statements:
Prime Minister Netanyahu:
"Our two nations have been at peace since we concluded our historic peace treaty 37 years ago and the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt and between Israel and Jordan are the cornerstone of stability in the region, and are critical assets for our countries. They are also the cornerstones of a broader regional peace and a broader stability that we hope to achieve. To this end I welcome President el-Sisi’s recent offer of Egyptian leadership in efforts to advance peace with the Palestinians and a broader peace in our region.
Today I call again on the Palestinians to follow the greatest example of Egypt and Jorden and join us for direct negotiations. This is the only way we can address all the outstanding problems between us, and turn the vision of peace based on two states for two peoples into a reality.
Foreign Minister, I want to welcome you warmly to Jerusalem, and I look forward to our discussions. Welcome."
Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry:
"My visit to Israel today comes at a crucial and challenging juncture for the Middle East. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has raged on for more than half a century, claiming thousands of victims and crushing the hopes and aspirations of millions of Palestinians to establish their independent state based on 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, as well as the aspirations of millions of Israelis to live in peace, security and stability.
The situation of the Middle East is becoming ever more volatile and dangerous, particularly as the phenomena of terrorism continues to grow and proliferate, representing an existential threat to the peoples of the region and the world at large. No person, group or people are exempt; none are immune from this threat. Armed conflicts and disputes have also spread throughout the region, resulting in alarming humanitarian suffering and threatens the stability of the Middle East.
My visit to Israel today is a continuation of Egypt’s longstanding sense of responsibility towards peace for itself and all the peoples of the region, particularly the Palestinian-Israeli peoples who have suffered for many decades due to the perpetuation of the conflict between them.
This visit comes in the context of President el-Sisi’s vision, which he elaborated on the 17th of May, for the establishment of a just and comprehensive peace between the Israeli and Palestinian people, bringing this long conflict to an end. Such a monumental achievement will have a far reaching and dramatic and positive impact on the overall conditions in the Middle East region.
Egypt remains ready to contribute towards achieving this goal. We greatly value the trust of both sides and the international community in our commitment to peace, stability and justice.