Israel welcomes appointment of new Egyptian ambassador

Israel welcomed on Sunday the appointment of a new Egyptian ambassador to Tel Aviv, three years after Egypt withdrew its previous ambassador in protest of an armed conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the appointment of the new ambassador, after no ambassador was stationed in Israel for the past three years, saying that the move "strengthens the ties between our countries" and "solidifies the peace" between them, according to a statement from his office.

Egypt did not have an ambassador to Israel since November 2012, when then President Mohammad Morsi withdrew ambassador Atef Salem from Tel Aviv amid Israel's Operation Pillar of Defense in the Gaza Strip, protesting the harm caused to Palestinian civilians there.

On Sunday, Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi announced Hazem Khairat would serve as a new ambassador to Israel, not mentioning exactly when he will start serving in his new post.

Kahirat had previously served as the assistant to the Egyptian deputy foreign minister on diplomatic and consular matters and as Egypt's envoy to the Arab League and Chile.

The Israeli Foreign Minister stated that it "welcomes the appointment" in a statement released on Sunday.

Israeli and Arab media reported that the Israeli Prime Minister and the Egyptian President maintained a close relationship following Egypt's mediation of truce talks between Israel and Hamas at the height of the 50-day Operation Protective Edge last summer.

Israel and Egypt signed a peace agreement in 1979. Ties between the countries were strong throughout the past decades but deteriorated during Morsi's years in power. Endit