Peace in our time? Netanyahu and El Sisi go face-to-face,
Their first public meeting focused on galvanising the peace process
Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El Sisi has held his first public meeting with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to try to drive a revival of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
The 90-minute meeting at the Lotte Palace Hotel in Manhattan on Monday was closely watched for signs of rapport between the two men.
The Egyptian president was accompanied by his foreign minister, Sameh Shoukri, and Khaled Fawzi, the director of Egypt’s general intelligence division.
Mr El Sisi met earlier in the day with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.
The two discussed reconciliation negotiations with Hamas, and the prospect of the West Bank’s Palestinian Authority resuming its involvement in Gaza in place of the militant group’s administration committee. It followed mediation in Cairo between Mr Abbas’ Fatah party and its arch-rival, Hamas.
Egyptian officials said president El Sisi regarded the meeting with Mr Netanyahu as an opportunity to discuss the resumption of the overall peace process.
Although Monday was the first time the two men had met in public, they had been involved in secret talks together.
Mr El Sisi joined Mr Netanyahu and then US secretary of state John Kerry for talks hosted by Jordan’s King Abdullah II in Aqaba in February last year.
Mr Netanyahu also met Donald Trump on the sidelines of the General Assembly on Monday. as the first leader to have a one-one-one with the US president.
At the start of their meeting, Mr Trump was keen to stress that achieving Middle East peace was a priority for his administration.
“We are giving it an absolute go. I think there’s a good chance that it could happen,” said the president, who is due to meet with Mr Abbas today.
“Most people would say there’s no chance whatsoever. I actually think with the capability of Bibi [Mr Netanyahu] and, frankly, the other side, I really think we have a chance.
Mr Netanyahu and his team were reportedly dismayed that Mr Trump stressed the issue during the meeting.
The Israeli leader had hoped to keep the focus on his opposition to the Iran nuclear deal during his trip to New York.
“I think Israel would like to see it [Middle East peace], and I think the Palestinians would like to see it. And I can tell you that the Trump administration would like to see it,” Mr Trump said at the start of the meeting.
“So we’re working very hard on it. We’ll see what happens. Historically, people say it can’t happen. I say it can happen.”
As Mr El Sisi discussed Egypt’s efforts to revive the peace process, he also said that any international initiatives with the goal of reaching a reasonable compromise between all the interested parties were welcome.
Egypt said the meetings would advance reconciliation.
“Sisi stressed the importance that Egypt attaches to efforts to resume negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, with a view to reaching a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue in accordance with the two-state solution and the relevant international references,” Al Masry Al Youm newspaper said.
Mr El Sisi also held meeting with other American groups that have a strong interest in developments in the region.
Those attending included influential religious ministers, officials and former members of the military, and leaders of research centres and US think tanks.
Any international efforts with the goal of reaching a reasonable compromise were welcome, Mr El Sisi said