Egypt's Sisi sees real opportunity for Israel-Palestinian deal

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said today there is now a “real opportunity” for an Israeli-Palestinian peace settlement that would also lead to warmer ties between Egypt and the Jewish state.

In a live televised speech also addressed to the Palestinians and Israelis, Sisi urged them to draw hope from the “real and stable peace” between Israel and Egypt.

“There is an Arab initiative, there is currently a French initiative, and there are American efforts” to broker an Israeli-Palestinian settlement, he said. In 1979, Egypt became the first Arab country to sign a peace deal with Israel.

“Maybe some people can say this peace is not warm,” Sisi said. “I tell them a warmer peace will be achieved if we were able to resolve the issues of our Palestinian brothers.”

The Egyptian leader urged Israeli parties and leaders to “please, reach an agreement so a solution can be found” and called for “a real reconciliation, and quickly” between Palestinian factions, offering Cairo’s full support.

“If we are able to  -- all of us together—with effort and a real will and devotion, find a solution for this issue, and find hope for the Palestinians and security for the Israelis, I am telling you a new page will be written,” said Sisi.