Sisi: UAE-Israel deal will help regional stability

Egypt was the first Arab state to sign a peace deal with Israel

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi praised the UAE-Israel agreement as a boost for regional security. Reuters  

Egypt’s Abdel Fattah El Sisi welcomed a new accord between the UAE and Israel, saying on Twitter he appreciated it for the sake of “the region’s prosperity and stability".

Mr El Sisi said he had followed with “the utmost interest and appreciation” the statement issued by the US, the UAE and Israel on the suspension of Israel’s annexation of Palestinian land and steps to establishing peace in the Middle East.

Egypt was the first Arab nation to establish diplomatic relations with Israel when the two neighbours signed a peace treaty in 1979 that ended the their state of war after four conflicts in 1948, 1956, 1967 and 1973.

The man who signed the deal on Egypt’s behalf, president Anwar Sadat, was assassinated in October 1981 by a group of army officers at a military parade to celebrate Egypt's 1973 war against Israel.

Jordan signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994.

The most populous Arab nation, Egypt maintains close relations with the UAE and Israel. It is also one of the Trump administration’s closest Arab allies.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, received a telephone call from Mr El Sisi on Thursday, Wam reported. During the call, Mr El Sisi congratulated Sheikh Mohamed on the UAE's agreement with Israel saying that such a step will contribute to driving the peace process and opening new horizons for stability in the Middle East.

He also praised the agreement to halt the Israeli annexation of Palestinian territories, in a way that will maintain the two-state solution and revive opportunities for peace.

Sheikh Mohamed expressed appreciation to Mr El Sisi, saying that both the UAE and Egypt hold identical views on the region's issues. He also lauded Egypt's continuous support to the regional security and stability and its historic contributions to peace in the Middle East.