Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi met with Israel’s prime minister and the leader of the United Arab Emirates on Monday in Sharm el-Sheikh, two Egyptian security sources say. The trilateral meeting comes as talks to restart a nuclear deal with Iran are still in limbo.
Sisi and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, had more in-depth talks in a separate meeting that discussed bilateral matters, including those related to economic investment.
He said that Egypt was “rejecting any practices that try to destabilize” the Gulf region, and that Egypt was “committed to security in the Gulf region.”
The goal of the visit, according to Emirati sources, was to “enhance cooperation on all fronts” for the benefit of both countries and their people.
A media statement said that Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and Egypt’s President talked about “issues of common interest, as well as the latest developments on the regional and international scene.” They also stressed “the need to strengthen Arab solidarity in the face of common challenges.”
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was in Egypt to meet with President el-Sisi, but there was no official comment on the talks. Egyptian and Israeli officials confirmed that Bennett was also in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Many Israeli media outlets said that the three leaders talked about reports that Iran and Western powers, including the United States, were close to a deal to restart the 2015 nuclear deal.
