Report: Russia offers to host talks between Israel and Palestinians

Understanding Israel’s hesitance to involve the Europeans in trying to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict, Russia has offered to broker peace talks between the two sides instead.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi said that Moscow is ready to host direct talks between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority head (PA) Mahmoud Abbas.

In an interview to the El-Watan news, that is expected to be published on Monday, Sisi said that everyone in the region was invited to participate in the talks because they are a key to stability in the Middle East.

He also stressed that no diplomatic process could be successful without reconciliation between rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas.

Al-Sissi’s remarks came as the Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram reported on Sunday that a “high-level” Israeli delegation arrived in Cairo for a visit of just a few hours. They reportedly met with senior Egyptian officials and discussed al-Sissi’s initiative to renew negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

The Israeli and Egyptian delegations also discussed the binational relations between Jerusalem and Cairo.

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

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.

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News

Diplomatic processEgyptEl-SissiRussia