Israel has welcomed a pledge by Egypt's now-ruling military's continued support to the 1979 peace treaty with it, saying the agreement is the 'cornerstone' of stability in West Asia.
Israel has welcomed a pledge by Egypt's now-ruling military's continued support to the 1979 peace treaty with it, saying the agreement is the "cornerstone" of stability in West Asia.
"The longstanding peace treaty between Israel and Egypt has greatly contributed to both countries and is the cornerstone for peace and stability in the entire Middle East," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday reacting to the reassuring announcement by the Egyptian military.
Earlier on Friday, the Egyptian army said that there would be no break in its peace deal with Israel following the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak.
A spokesperson for the Egyptian military said the country's Armed Forces Supreme Council was "committed to all its international treaties."
Israel's ultra-nationalist foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman said that Israel was not interested "in Egypt's internal affairs," adding that the only thing Israel wanted was that "regional stability be preserved and the peace treaty respected."
Israel's finance minister, Yuval Steinitz, echoed his premier's sentiments saying it was "a good announcement" to Channel 2.
"Peace is not only in the interest of Israel but also of Egypt. I am very happy with this announcement," Steinitz said.
Local media reported that Israel's defence minister Ehud Barak had a telephonic conversation with the head of Egypt's ruling military council defence minister Mohammed Hussein Tantawi yesterday.
Israel had expressed concerns that Egypt's political turmoil could threaten the 31-year old peace accord signed between the two sides.
Israel has been deeply concerned that Egypt's turmoil could threaten the 1979 peace accord signed between the two countries.
The United States, Egypt's top ally, is also eager to ensure the accord remains in place. The military strongly supports the accord, not in small part because it guarantees US aid for the armed forces, currently running at $1.3 billion a year.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}