Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres have sent letters to Egypt’s new President Mohamed Mursi, which emphasized the importance of maintaining the 1979 peace agreement that was signed between Egypt and Israel.
Netanyahu sent a letter Thursday through diplomatic channels that was so private his office refused to confirm that it had been dispatched.
Diplomatic sources, however, told The Jerusalem Post about the document, which expressed Netanyahu’s desire to see the continuation of cooperation and peace between both nations.
On the same day Peres sent a letter, which his office made public only on Sunday once it confirmed that it had arrived in Cairo.
“As someone who took part in the process that led to the peace agreement that was signed between my country and yours, I know that both Egypt and Israel attribute supreme importance to regional peace and stability, which serve the interests of all peoples in the region,” Peres wrote.
"All of us in Israel greatly respect Egypt and the Egyptian people, who have served as pioneers and have outlined the way of peace and reconciliation in the region, and we know that the work is not yet finished."
Peres congratulated Mursi not only on his victory but also on Egypt\’s democratic elections, and expressed the hope that under Mursi\’s leadership and courage to face the complex challenges confronting the Egyptian nation, Egypt would continue to cooperate with Israel for the welfare of the people in both countries.
"Peace has saved the lives of countless young people in Egypt and in Israel," wrote Peres.
"The obligation toward the younger generation remains forever valid. As opposed to war, peace is a victory for both sides."
On Saturday after he was sworn in as President, Mursi stated in an address at Cairo University, Egypt would stand by the Palestinian people until they regained their rights.
However, he added that the country would also stand by its international treaties.
Still speculation has mounted since Mursi’s runoff victory, as to whether he would honor the treaty. Last week, upon hearing of his election to office, Netanyahu and Peres made public statements about the importance of the peace treaty to both nations.
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