Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres last week both sent
letters to newly elected Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi, emphasizing the
importance of maintaining the two countries’ 1979 peace
agreement.
Netanyahu sent a letter Thursday through diplomatic channels –
an event so private that his office refused to confirm it had been
dispatched.
Diplomatic sources, however, told The Jerusalem Post about
the document, which expressed Netanyahu’s desire to see the continuation of
cooperation and peace between the nations.
Peres sent a letter the same
day as the prime minister – which his office made public only on Sunday, once it
confirmed the letter’s arrival in Cairo.
“As someone who took part in the
process that led to the peace agreement that was signed between my country and
yours, I know that both Egypt and Israel attribute supreme importance to
regional peace and stability – which serve the interests of all peoples in the
region,” Peres wrote.
“All of us in Israel greatly respect Egypt and the
Egyptian people, who have served as pioneers and have outlined the way of peace
and reconciliation in the region, and we know that the work is not yet
finished,” he said.
Peres congratulated Mursi not only on his victory but
also on Egypt’s democratic elections. He expressed the hope that under Mursi’s
leadership, the nation would face its complex challenges and continue to
cooperate with Israel for the welfare of both peoples.
“Peace has saved
the lives of countless young people in Egypt and in Israel,” wrote Peres. “The
obligation toward the younger generation remains forever valid. As opposed to
war, peace is a victory for both sides.”
After he was sworn in as
president on Saturday, Mursi stated in an address at Cairo University that Egypt
would stand by the Palestinian people until they regained their
rights.
He added, however, that the country would also stand by its
international treaties.
Still, speculation has mounted since Mursi’s
runoff victory as to whether he would honor the treaty. Last week, upon hearing
of his election, Netanyahu and Peres made public statements about the peace
agreement’s importance.
Joanna Parasczcuk contributed to this report.