Israel FM proposes ‘economy in exchange for calm’ in Gaza

Middle East Monitor  /  December 10, 2021

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has proposed improving living conditions in the besieged Gaza Strip in return for calm.

This came during a trip to neighbouring Egypt yesterday where Lapid met with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry to discuss a host of issues, Israel Kan TV channel reported.

For his part, Al-Sisi affirmed his country’s continued efforts “to achieve a comprehensive and just peace in the Middle East, based on the two-state solution and the international agreements.

Israeli i24 channel quoted Al-Arabiya TV as saying that the Egyptian president has sent a message to Israel asking it to show goodwill and break the deadlock over the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

Al-Sisi has also asked Tel Aviv to show more flexibility regarding the prisoner exchange deal with Hamas.