Speaking at a meeting of parliamentary leaders from Europe and the Mediterranean in Cairo on Monday, Israeli Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin called for normalization of ties between Israel and its neighbors.
Despite pressure by delegates from Algeria, Syria and Libya, the Egyptian parliament speaker, Dr. Fathi Srur, allowed Rivlin to deliver the first speech of the conference, Haaretz reported.
The Knesset speaker, who is known for his radical right wing stances, expressed hope that cooperation between the parliaments of Israel and Egypt, as well as other Arab countries, could pave the way to change. He emphasized that "We, the Israelis, stretch out a warm hand of peace to all our neighbors, to Egypt, Jordan, the Palestinians and of course Syria."
