Sisi meets Israel PM at UN for first public talks

CAIRO - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York to discuss the Middle East peace process in their first public talks, his office said yesterday.

Sisi emphasised the importance of "resuming negotiations between the Israeli and Palestinian sides to reach a comprehensive solution," the statement said. The two leaders discussed "ways to resume the peace process and establish a Palestinian state," the statement said.

Peace efforts between Israel and the Palestinians have been at a standstill since US-backed talks collapsed in the spring of 2014.

US President Donald Trump, who visited Israel and the occupied West Bank in May, has said he believes he can mediate a fina peace agree ent that has eluded his predecessors.

Trump too met Netanyahu in New York on Monday ahead of the UN General Assembly and again expressed his hopes for a peaceful settlement.

etan ahu was the first eader to have a one-on-one with Trump as the US president prepared to deliver his maiden speech to the annual get-together yesterday.

Sisi is reported to have been involved in secret talks with the Israeli premier in the past.

The Egyptian president joined Netanyahu for talks with then US secretary of state John Kerry hosted by King Abdullah II in the Jordanian city of Aqaba in February 2016, a former US officia confir ed to A ear ier this year.