Netanyahu prefers Egyptian peace initiative

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prefers the peace initiative proposed by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi over the French one, the Anadolu Agency reported yesterday.

According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Netanyahu said that Al-Sisi “desires to push forward the peace process and this is positive for us.”

“I suppose the Egyptian proposal is not weak or tactical. You know our position towards the French initiative. I do not think it is useful for distant countries to interfere.”

“I need countries from the region to push forward normalisation with Israel and to progress the negotiations with the Palestinians.”

Meanwhile, Netanyahu reiterated that he is still interested in expanding his government’s coalition and including the Zionist Camp, the Israeli opposition, in order to benefit from current “political opportunities”.

“The challenges are very big. After we pass a budget, there will be political stability, and we will need to work in a great many fields in which it’s possible that important decisions will be required to spur the economy.”

“We are in a situation of a changing world – diplomatic threats and opportunities responding to which will be easier if the government is broader. As a result of this, I am retaining the foreign minister’s portfolio,” Netanyahu said.