Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that the people who took part in the
Egyptian siege on Israel’s embassy in Cairo over the weekend rejected peace and the state.
"Those
that tore down the flag will go to any lengths, aren't interested in
specific issues and oppose peace and the state," Netanyahu said at the
beginning of the weekly cabinet meeting.
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"I am happy that there are also different opinions within Egypt of people that want to preserve the peace," Netanyahu said.
He
also said that the government was holding discussions with Egypt about
returning the Israeli ambassador and his diplomatic team back to Cairo.
On Saturday night, Netanyahu
said that Israel would continue to adhere to the
peace treaty with Egypt, which
serves the interest of both countries.
Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor said Sunday that Israel needs to work quickly to allow Ambassador Yitzhak Levanon to return to the city as soon as his safety is can be guaranteed.
During an interview with Israel Radio, Meridor said that the attack on the embassy in Cairo hit a blow to the peace treaty with Egypt, and that both countries have an interest in making sure that the diplomatic ties return to their previous state.
All
of Israel’s emissaries to Cairo – including six security guards who
were holed up behind a metal door in the embassy and extracted by
Egyptian commandos – returned to Israel on Saturday, with the exception
of one diplomat who will remain to represent Israel in the Egyptian
capital.
In a televised announcement on Saturday
night, Netanyahu offered a special thank you to US President Barack Obama who
“said he would do everything he could” to extricate the six security
guards, “and did.”
“He used all the means and influence of the
US, which are significant, and I think we owe him a special thank you.
This testifies to the strong alliance between Israel and the US. This
alliance is critical, especially during these days of great storms
buffeting the Middle East,” the prime minister said.
He also gave
credit to the Egyptian commandos, who entered the building and rescued
the six security guards – who were disguised wearing keffiyehs – from
the building.
“Their intervention,” Netanyahu said of the
Egyptian commandos, “prevented a tragedy. We were in contact with the
Egyptian government throughout the night, and I think it was clear to
all that protection of embassies in general – and the Israeli Embassy in
particular – is an integral part of a sovereign government’s job.”