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Report: Netanyahu agrees to Egypt summit with Abbas

After meeting with Egypt’s foreign minister and following years of expressing willingness to negotiate anytime, anywhere with Abbas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly said he is open to a meeting in Egypt.

The Saudi Al-Arabiya news network reported Monday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed willingness to meet with Palestinian Authority (PA) head Mahmoud Abbas at a summit in Cairo.

Netanyahu reportedly agreed to such an event during his meeting on Sunday in Jerusalem with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.

Abbas reportedly agreed to the summit prior to the meeting with Netanyahu.

Reports say the meeting would be attended by Jordanian and Egyptian officials.

“Whether this is being discussed or not, Israel always says it is ready to directly negotiate, bilaterally, and without preconditions,” Netanyahu’s office stated in response to the report.

Simultaneously, Israeli media reported that there are efforts underway by Cairo and Jerusalem to set a meeting between Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and Netanyahu in Egypt to coordinate a regional peace effort.

Sunday’s visit by Shoukry was the first official trip by an Egyptian foreign minister to Israel since 2007.

“I welcome President [Abdel Fattah] El-Sisi’s recent offer of Egyptian leadership in efforts to advance peace with the Palestinians and a broader peace in our region,” Netanyahu said in a joint press conference with Shoukry.