Egypt's presidential hopeful Abdel Fattal Al Sisi said Tuesday that he will not receive an Israeli prime minister in Cairo if he becomes president without Tel Aviv giving concessions to Palestinians in peace talks, according to Agence France Presse.
“Let them just make us happy by giving something for the Palestinians,” he said in a television interview, when asked if he would visit Tel Aviv or receive an Israeli prime minister if elected.
Sisi also added that Israel should "agree first to a Palestinian state, with east Jerusalem as its capital."
Egypt, who was the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Tel Aviv in 1979, still has a record of stiff relations with Israeli leadership over the Palestinian issue.
In recent months, however, Egypt has banned the Palestinian Hamas faction, accusing militants related to Hamas for coordinating attacks and prison breaks within Egypt during the 2011 uprising against former president Hosni Mubarak.
“I want to tell Egyptians: don’t let the situation and feelings against Hamas affect your historic position on the Palestinian cause,” he said.
Sisi is largely expected to win the country's presidential vote which is set to take place May 26-27 this month.
