Egyptian Foreign Minister's Visit to Israel

For the first time in nearly a decade, an Egyptian Foreign Minister visited Israel and met with the country's Prime Minister. According to Israeli media, shortly after Benjamin Netanyahu announced the arrival of the Egyptian Foreign Minister during a government meeting, Sameh Shoukry arrived in Israel on Sunday evening, July 20, and engaged in discussions with Netanyahu. During his few hours in West Jerusalem, where the Israeli Prime Minister's Office is located, Shoukry met with Netanyahu twice. Following these meetings, in an unprecedented move, the Egyptian Foreign Minister went to Netanyahu's home to watch the Euro 2016 final football match between Portugal and France until late at night. Netanyahu stated in a press conference after his first meeting with Shoukry that the Egyptian Foreign Minister's visit marks a new turning point in relations between Israel and Egypt and the beginning of enhancing Israel's relations with the Arab world. Shoukry also mentioned in the press conference that the suffering of Israelis and Palestinians will continue due to the current deadlock in the peace process, and thus both sides must return to the negotiating table. He added that 'terrorism hinders the advancement of peace.' Israeli media reported that Benjamin Netanyahu is also expected to make an official visit to Egypt soon, and arrangements for his trip to Cairo were discussed during Shoukry's visit to Jerusalem. Israel and Egypt have had full diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level for nearly forty years, but this peace was 'cold' even during the 29-year rule of Hosni Mubarak. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi sent his Foreign Minister to Israel at a time when no official Egyptian has visited Israel in the last five years of Mubarak's presidency. Mohamed Morsi, representing the Muslim Brotherhood government that came to power after Mubarak's regime was toppled, did not sever ties with Israel, but relations between the two countries became strained, and following an attack by opponents on the Israeli embassy in Cairo, Israeli diplomats temporarily left Egypt. Recently, el-Sisi proposed a peace plan to revive the stalled Israeli-Palestinian talks. The Israeli Prime Minister supported this Egyptian initiative but rejected a recent French plan and did not attend a conference held by France in Paris to revive peace talks. Netanyahu stated on Sunday evening that they invite the Palestinians to engage in direct negotiations with Israel, just as direct negotiations with Jordan and Egypt led to peace treaties that have lasted for decades. Shoukry's visit to Jerusalem coincided with the second anniversary of the extensive military operation by the Israeli army against Hamas in Gaza, which resulted in many casualties and destruction. Egypt is also 'fighting' alongside Israel against Hamas's actions in digging tunnels along the border lines. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority has close relations with Egypt, and Hamas has also shown eagerness to strengthen its ties with the Cairo government. However, just days before the unexpected visit of the Egyptian Foreign Minister to Israel, Egyptian media reported that the country had canceled a visit by a delegation of senior Hamas officials to Cairo.