Israeli Prime Minister Receives Invitation to Visit Egypt

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett received an invitation from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi for an official visit to Egypt, according to a statement from his office. The invitation was conveyed by Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel, who met Bennett in Jerusalem on Wednesday. The two men discussed security and economic relations, as well as "Egyptian mediation regarding the security situation in the Gaza Strip," the statement reported. The ceasefire established on May 21 between Israel and Hamas followed an 11-day war, mediated by Egypt. Cairo maintains relations with both the Israeli state and the Palestinian Hamas movement. Since 1979, Egypt has had a peace treaty with Israel and often mediates between the Palestinians and Israelis. It has also worked to bring together Palestinian factions by hosting dialogue rounds between Hamas and Fatah. Following the violent clashes in May between Israel and Hamas, Egypt pledged to allocate $500 million for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, which is under Israeli blockade and home to about two million people.