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Netanyahu: Israel, Egypt fighting against 'terror of radical Islam' together

November 20, 2017 at 5:32 am

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu (L), President of Egypt Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi (R) and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in New York, US [The New Khalij]

Israel, Egypt and other countries are fighting together against terrorism that is being practiced by factions of “radical Islam,” Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said yesterday.

“Today, Egypt and Israel, as well as other countries, are on one side of the barricade in a stubborn struggle against the terror of radical Islam in its various fronts,” Netanyahu underlined during his cabinet weekly meeting.

“This contributes significantly to the security of Israel,” he told his ministers, hoping that “in future, it will also contribute to the expansion of the circle of peace.”

At the start of the meeting, the Israeli leader noted to the 40th anniversary of the former Egyptian President Anwar Al-Sadat’s visit to Israel. “Today we mark 40 years to the historic visit of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in Jerusalem and Israel,” Netanyahu pointed out.

“Since then, the peace treaty with Egypt has survived despite its ups and down,” he stressed.

Read More: Israel raises alert levels on Egypt border

Commenting on the US President Donald Trump’s Israeli-Palestinian peace plan, Netanyahu said “we heard plenty of speculations over the weekend; I am not planning to address them. I would like to say however, that my attitude towards this plan will be determined according to security and national interests of the State of Israel, and these were made clear to our American friends.”

On Saturday, an Israeli source reported that the Trump administration’s Israeli-Palestinian peace plan would be based on an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. The source added that Netanyahu intends to propose the Palestinians declare independence, after which the US will recognise the Palestinian state.

Analysts believe that the Egyptian government, led by the President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, and Netanyahu’s right-wing government, are both seeking the same objectives in the region, most importantly is “fighting terrorism”.

Since 1979 peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, the two countries have been experiencing strong relations across different areas. The recent years have witnessed unprecedented prosperous relations between the two countries, making Hebrew newspapers describe Al-Sisi as a “strategic treasure” for Israel.