Bennett and Sisi meet in first high-level talks in a decade

Israel and Egypt’s leaders held their first open talks in a decade on Monday as Naftali Bennett flew to the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik to meet Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

The prime minister and president discussed rising tensions in the Gaza Strip, where both Israel and Egypt have placed border restrictions in recent months.

An uptick in cross-border violence since late August has tested the fragile truce in Gaza. Over the past week, Palestinian militants have fired rockets into Israel for three nights in a row, drawing Israeli air strikes.

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In a statement released by the president’s office Sisi said he “affirmed Egypt’s support for all efforts to achieve comprehensive peace in the Middle East, according to the two-state solution.”

He also said the two leaders discussed a dam being built on part of the River Nile by Ethiopia.

Egypt sees the project as a threat to its water supply.

Speaking after their meeting, Bennett said: “Israel is increasingly opening up to the countries of the region, and the basis of this longstanding recognition is the peace between Israel and Egypt.

“Therefore, on both sides we must invest in strengthening this link, and we have done so today.”

Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979 but relations have remained cool, restricted to security cooperation and limited economic links.