Incoming Egyptian ambassador to Israel Atef Salem presented President Shimon Peres with his official credentials at the President\’s Residence in Jerusalem on Wednesday.
Salem, the first ambassador sent by new Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, said at the ceremony that Cairo is committed to all agreements with Israel, including the peace agreement.
"Egypt is currently going through the first steps of the democratic Egyptian society, and sometimes these steps are met with difficulties. However, I remain optimistic and certain that the Egyptian people can overcome anything," Salem said.
Walid Obeidat, the new Jordanian ambassador to Israel, also presented President Peres with his official credentials on Wednesday.
Obeidat asked Peres to guarantee "the protection of equal freedom of religious rites in the holy places in Jerusalem."
Obeidat is the first ambassador to Israel to be appointed in over two years after the previous envoy returned to Amman from Tel Aviv.
Amman’s decision to send a new ambassador came after Cairo decided to name a new envoy to replace Yasser Rada, who finished his term in July.
In late 2010, it was reported that Jordan was delaying appointing a new ambassador to Israel due to its dismay over the state of peace talks with the Palestinians at the time.
447