UPDATE - Egypt’s al-Sisi meets Israeli foreign minister in Cairo

UPDATES WITH DETAILS OF MEETING; CHANGES TITLE, DECK, LEDE; EDITS THROUGH

By Ibrahim al-Khazen and Youssef Ibrahim

ISTANBUL (AA) - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Thursday said that his country is continuing its efforts to ease tension between the Palestinians and Israelis.

The remarks came in a statement by the Egyptian Presidency following al-Sisi’s meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, who arrived in Cairo earlier on Thursday on a working visit.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and head of Egyptian intelligence Abbas Kamel among others attended the meeting.

“The meeting discussed bilateral cooperation between the two countries in various fields and issues of common interest on the regional and international levels,” the statement said.

Al-Sisi said that his country will continue its "efforts to achieve a comprehensive and just peace in the Middle East on the basis of the two-state solution and the references of international legitimacy."

He also highlighted “Egypt's reconstruction efforts in Gaza,” according to the statement.

For his part, Lapid said on Twitter that he discussed with the Egyptian president his project called "economy for peace" in the Gaza Strip, and the steps taken by the government of Israel with regard to the Palestinian cause.

Last September, the Israeli foreign minister had announced a plan to improve the living conditions of the Palestinians in Gaza, on condition that Hamas stops its attacks against Israel, adding that his plan did not amount to an official policy of the government.

Lapid also said he talked with al-Sisi about security issues, including “Iran's attempts to transform into a country with nuclear military capabilities, confronting terrorist elements and instability in the region."

"Strengthening and deepening Israeli-Egyptian relations in the political, security and economic fields is a vital interest of the State of Israel," Lapid said. "We will continue to work together to advance common interests in regional stability."

Earlier on Thursday, Lapid arrived in Cairo on Thursday for talks with top Egyptian officials.

On Twitter, Lapid said the visit comes to "strengthen and deepen" ties between Israel and Egypt.

In September, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett visited Egypt for the first official trip in 10 years and met with al-Sisi.

In 1979, Egypt and Israel signed a peace treaty in Washington, ending a military conflict between the two countries.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat and Ahmed Asmar in Ankara