Read-outs of the call from Lapid’s and Sisi’s offices deviated in their descriptions of the conversation around potentially moving forward with peace negotiations.
By: Lauren Marcus
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi discussed the Israeli-Palestinian peace process during a phone call on Sunday evening, along with efforts to strengthen ties between the two countries.
Lapid began the call by extending his best wishes for the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha, and Sisi congratulated the Israeli premier on taking office.
Notably, read-outs of the call from Lapid’s and Sisi’s offices deviated in their descriptions of the conversation around potentially moving forward with peace negotiations.
Lapid’s statement on the call made a laconic reference to the peace process, saying the two men “noted the Palestinian issue and the need for calm.”
But Sisi’s statement devoted nearly a full paragraph to the topic, describing an agreement between Israel and Egypt to “work on arranging bilateral and multilateral meetings including Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian President during the coming period in order to revitalize peace negotiations.”
The statement added that “Egypt will continue its efforts to achieve a just and comprehensive peace, based on the two-state solution and references of international legitimacy, opening up prospects for cooperation and development for all the peoples of the region.”
Sisi also “confirmed the need to sustain calm in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, stressing the importance of providing assistance to the Palestinian Authority in all areas, particularly in the economic field,” according to the Egyptian statement.
The call between Lapid and Sisi comes on the heels of the discovery of a mass grave in central Israel, where Egyptian soldiers killed during the 1967 Six-Day War are said to be buried.
Lapid promised to “examine the issue in depth and to update Egyptian officials” on the matter, his office said.
On Saturday evening, Lapid phoned Jordanian King Abudullah II. Jordan recently participated in a clandestine security conference organized by the U.S. in Egypt, which aimed to unite Arab countries and Israel in an alliance against Iran.
In a related development, World Israel News reported on Monday that the left-wing Peace Now organization put a up a massive sign in Tel Aviv featuring a Palestinian flag.
The sign features Israeli and Palestinian flags and says in Hebrew, “President Biden, welcome to the two states we love most.”
“We welcome President Biden, a true friend of Israel, and thank him for his efforts to advance Israel’s interests and to strengthen Israel,” Peace Now explained in a statement.
“The sign which we hung up is a reminder to the president, a strong supporter of two states, that a Palestinian state is first and foremost in our interest, as Israelis, and the region can never have a good future without peace between us and our Palestinian neighbors.”
“Every time is a good time to do the right thing for the State of Israel, and after Lapid spoke with Mahmoud Abbas and with leaders of the region, the next necessary step is to open negotiations. Dear Mr. President, welcome to the two states we love the most. This is your time to act together with the two leaders to turn the vision into reality.”
In June, Israeli peace activists sparked controversy by hanging a giant Palestinian flag in the Tel Aviv suburb of Ramat Gan.
President Biden arrives in Israel on Wednesday.
