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Egypt Salafi party to honor Israel treaty

CAIRO, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- The ultraconservative Salafi Islamist party in Egypt said it would honor the country's peace treaty with Israel and supports negotiations with Jerusalem.

At the same time, the new Israeli envoy to Egypt said Jerusalem would try to open communication channels with Islamic groups in Egypt, including the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salifi movement's Nour party, Haaretz reported Tuesday.

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The Salafi Nour party captured 25 percent to 30 percent of the votes in the first round parliamentary elections in Egypt.

Yaakov Amitai, who became Israel's new ambassador to Egypt six days ago, told journalists who asked if he was concerned about the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood that he needed to learn more about the situation. Amitai also said he wanted to stay clear of involvement in Egypt's internal politics.

But a senior Israeli diplomatic official said Amitai will try to open communication channels between Israel and Islamic groups. Israel must participate in talks with Islamic representatives in more friendly Arab countries if they agree to do so, the source said.

"We should make every effort to explain that we are not the enemies of the Egyptian people or enemies of the Palestinians," the official said. "The Palestinians cannot continue to hold the Arab world by the tail."

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Before now, Haaretz noted, the Israeli government has not tried to open official contacts with the Muslim Brotherhood, which does not recognize Israel.

But the Muslim Brotherhood has told U.S. diplomats it is not seeking to revoke Egypt's peace treaty with Israel.

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