Israel commemorated over the weekend the 39th anniversary of late-Egyptian President Anwar Sadat’s historic visit to Jerusalem, which was the first step in a process that brought-about a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, during his weekly cabinet meeting, that through direct negotiations peace has been established and still holds to-date, under the leadership of today’s Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al Sisi. Netanyahu set a parallel to the successful negotiations with the Egyptians as opposed to the Palestinians, whom refuse direct negotiations without pre-conditions, a refusal which continues to distance the prospects of a viable solution to the decades old conflict.
“Yesterday was the 39th anniversary to president Anwar Sadat’s historic visit to Jerusalem. Through direct negotiations a peace treaty was reached between Egypt and Israel, an agreement which still holds after four decades, these days under the brave leadership of al-Sisi. I point this out because this shows the contradiction between what doesn’t happen with the Palestinians and us, Abu-Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas) refuses to direct negotiations without pre-conditions, he keeps inciting against the right of return and to erase Israel’s existence, and regretfully he isn’t doing the right things to calm down and prepare the public opinion for the reconciliation with Israel, something that we do see in part of the Arab countries. I hope these things will change,” said Netayahu. The Palestinian leadership was not immediately available to respond to Netanyahu’s allegations.