Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday for an official visit to Egypt. According to Haaretz, Mubarak extended the invitation during a phone call to Netanyahu, in which he congratulated the Israeli leader on the formation of his new government. The pair stressed the "amicable" relations between their countries and said they would continue, and even strengthen in the future.
Netanyahu's bureau said the premier told the Egyptian leader that, "There is supreme importance to peace between the two countries." He added that both states had an interest in strengthening that peace in order to counter threats to it.
The invitation came amid reports of after heightened diplomatic tensions between the two sides following the appointment of Avigdor Lieberman as the new Israeli foreign minister. Egypt demands the right wing leader to issue an official apology for past remarks, including telling Mubarak to "go to hell."
© 2009 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
