Military spokesperson Ahmed Ali confirmed that an Egyptian delegation visited Israel for security coordination denying at the same time that Israel is pressing the US to conclude an Apache deal with Egypt.
The two sides discussed during the meeting securing the border, in accordance with the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, according to Ali. Similar meetings have been held periodically (three times a year) since 1982, he said, pointing out the first meeting is held in Tel Aviv, the second in Cairo, and the third in Rome.
The meeting did not address at all to any matters relating to military cooperation, Ali said, but was limited only to the mechanisms of coordination between the two sides and means of communication between them.
Additionally, the image that was attached to the news was taken from the multinational forces' website and published by the Haaretz newspaper, he said, and was from an old meeting.
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that a delegation of senior Egyptian army and Foreign Ministry leaders visited Israel last week, in light of improvement of relations and cooperation between the new Egyptian government and Israel.
Haartez quoted a senior Israeli leader Wednesday as saying the delegation stayed for one week in Israel to discuss the security situation.
The newspaper also quoted a high-level Israeli official in Jerusalem as saying that Israel is currently seeking to convince the US administration and prominent US Congress lawmakers to back down on their decision to freeze aid to Egypt, including 10 Apache helicopters.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
