JERUSALEM: Israel on Thursday congratulated Egypt on the inauguration of its first post-revolutionary parliament earlier this week, saying it hoped Cairo would "uphold the importance of peace and stability."
The congratulations came in a statement released by the Israeli foreign ministry, three days after Egypt’s Islamist-dominated parliament opened its first session.
"Israel extends its congratulations to the people of Egypt for its efforts to achieve freedom, democracy and economic development," the statement said.
"We send the new parliament our wishes of constructive and fruitful work for the well-being of the Egyptian public," it added.
"We trust Egypt will continue to uphold the importance of peace and stability in our region."
Israel has responded cautiously to the Arab Spring and the rise of Islamist parties in post-revolutionary Egypt.
It has repeatedly stressed the importance of preserving the 1979 peace treaty between the two countries, and has called on Egypt’s new leadership to publicly state their commitment to the landmark accord.
