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Egyptian Minister of Intelligence: Work day and night to reach a deal in Gaza that will include a solution to the issue of prisoners
In a rare conversation with Israeli journalists, General Abbas Kamel spoke about the differences between Netanyahu and Bennett and the desire in Cairo for the government in Jerusalem to stabilize.
He stressed that a comprehensive deal should be reached in Gaza, which would include a long-term ceasefire and humanitarian aid to the population, and said that he would visit Israel at the end of November.
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Egypt
Gaza
Abd al-Fatah al-Sisi
Abbas Kamel
Lightning Ravid
Thursday, 04 November 2021, 05:00
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In the video: Prime Minister Bennett meets with Egyptian President al-Sisi (Photo: GPO)
Egyptian Intelligence Minister General Abbas Kamel, President Abd al-Fatah al-Sisi's closest adviser, told me in a rare conversation with Israeli journalists that Egypt was "working day and night" to bring about the return of Israeli soldiers' bodies and the release of Israeli civilians held by Hamas in Gaza.
The conversation with the head of Egyptian intelligence took place by chance on the sidelines of the climate conference in Glasgow.
My fellow journalist Nadav Eyal and I were standing in one of the corridors when we suddenly saw Kamel sitting and talking to some of his men.
When he went out to smoke in the plaza outside the building we followed him.
"Mr. Minister, can you please fire?", We turned to him.
He smiled and lit a cigarette for us.
We introduced ourselves as journalists from Israel.
In the past, such a meeting would end with a polite greeting of peace and the Egyptian senior's departure from the place.
But Kamel, who did very little in media interviews, smiled and showed a desire to continue to take advantage of his cigarette break for conversation.
"Relations with Israel are excellent," he said immediately.
"The meeting between al-Sisi and Prime Minister Bennett was excellent."
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A cigarette with al-Sisi's right hand.
Kamel in a meeting with Bennett in Jerusalem in August (Photo: Government Press Office)
Kamel noted that Bennett is very different from his predecessor in the role of Benjamin Netanyahu, with whom Sisi also had a close relationship. He demonstrated good control over political developments in Israel, saying that although the new government in Jerusalem is made up of several parties with different views, Egypt thinks it will be possible to work with it well. Most of all, he expressed a desire for the government to continue to serve and for political stability in Israel to continue.
The Egyptian intelligence minister said his men were talking daily with Israel, Hamas and the Palestinian Authority about the situation in Gaza. He stressed that the crisis in the Gaza Strip should be resolved by one large and comprehensive deal. One that will include a long-term ceasefire, additional humanitarian relief for the population, rehabilitation of the Strip and a solution to the issue of prisoners and missing persons.
"We are working day and night to resolve the issue of the prisoners," he said.
According to him, any deal in which Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin 'bodies are returned and civilians Avra Mengistu and Hisham a-Sayed should be released should initially include the release of elderly Palestinian prisoners as well as Palestinian women and teenagers held in Israeli prisons.
"Relations with Israel are excellent."
Kamel and Lapid at their meeting in August (Photo: official website, without)
As part of the deal that the Egyptians would like to achieve in Gaza, Kamel says, there should also be some return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza.
He is aware that Hamas will not allow this to happen immediately, but believes that even a symbolic move in the first phase of the Palestinian Authority's presence in Gaza is essential.
Kamel told us that he was familiar with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's political positions, but stressed that Israel and the Palestinian Authority must return to one political dialogue or another.
"You can start low-level conversations. In third-level and then second-level and move slowly. But you have to start," he said.
Kamel said he would visit Israel before the end of November.
This will be his second visit since the new government took office in Israel.
He will probably visit Ramallah as well.
"Maybe we'll meet in Tel Aviv," he said before finishing another cigarette and continuing on his way.
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