President Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin on Tuesday hosted a meeting to mark the 40th anniversary of the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty. Egyptian Ambassador to Israel Khaled Azmi, Foreign Minister Israel Katz and Minister of Regional Cooperation Tzachi Hanegbi also took part in the event. The event included members of the diplomatic corps, Israeli ambassadors who previously served in Egypt and officials who served in key roles during the peace process with Egypt
President Rivlin said: “The peace treaty between Israel and Egypt was signed only six years after a terrible war between our countries in 1973. We could never have imagined that only a few years later our leaders would hug and shake hands. This should serve as an inspiration for our efforts to achieve peace with all of our neighbors, and especially our Palestinian neighbors.”
“Two generations of Israelis and Egyptians know only peace between our countries,” the president said at the beginning of his remarks.” The gift of peace is a tremendous gift which the leaders of Egypt and Israel have given to their children and grandchildren. I want to especially express our appreciation to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi whose commitment to peace, stability and cooperation has ensured that our relationship stays strong.”
Speaking to Egyptian Ambassador Khaled Azmi, the president said: “My friend, the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt is the cornerstone of stability in the Middle East. I hope that President Sisi and I have an opportunity to meet soon, and to mark many decades of mutual, strategic collaboration between our countries. I also wish to thank President Sisi for his warm letter of condolence after the passing away of my wife, Nechama.”
Egyptian Ambassador Khaled Azmi: “Middle East peace can best be served by learning from our own past experiences. Our peace treaty has set important example in how Middle East peace is negotiated, and by what means should Arab and Israeli interests be accounted for in a peace process. Egypt was the pioneer in initiating peace in the Middle East. Our vision was, and still is, based on full nation-statehood and security for everyone in the region. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has wasted the resources and disrupted the lives of the people of the Middle East for many decades. It is saddening to claim the status-quo as the most that we can achieve of the hopes and aspirations of Israelis and Palestinians. The goal we aim to achieve through negotiations between the two parties is one that is based on justice, legitimate rights and mutual willingness to coexist in two neighboring independent states living in peace and security. This will provide a tangible new reality for the Israelis and Palestinians, enabling them to enjoy the well-deserved, peace security, and prosperity.”
