The disputes over Mohamed Morsy’s letter to Israeli President

Mohamed Morsy, Egypt's Presdient

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy sent an official letter to Israeli President Shimon Peres which provoked the disputes among the both sides, as Israeli officials claim they received the missive from Egypt’s embassy, while the fact of sending such a letter is denied by the Egyptian side.

The President of Egypt Mohamed Morsy sent an official short letter addressed to Israeli President Shimon Peres in which he declares that he wishes stability and security for the entire region, including Israel.

“I am looking forward to exerting our best efforts to get the Middle East peace process back on its right track in order to achieve security and stability for all peoples of the region, including Israeli people”, stated Mohamed Morsy’s letter.

Shimon Peres, Israeli President

The short official letter is written in English and dated 15 July and was delivered on Tuesday to Shimon Peres’ military adviser by a diplomat from the Egyptian embassy in Tel Aviv. This missive came as a response to Israeli President’s letter sent to Morsy one month ago. In that letter Shimon Peres congratulated the Muslim Brotherhood’s candidate Mohamed Morsy with his victory at the presidential election and offered also his blessing ahead of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also sent an official letter to Egypt’s President last month congratulating him with presidency and offering the cooperation between the governments of the both countries in order to achieve the progress in the countries’ relationships. He stated that he has a hope that the both sides, Egyptian and Israeli, will work together and observe the peace treaty signed by the countries (1979 Camp David Peace Treaty).

It is worth mentioning that Netanyahu’s letter was the first official letter from Israeli officials addressed to the representatives to Muslim Brotherhood which ideology and politics were traditionally hostile towards Jewish state and the peace agreements between Egypt and Israel.

After his victory in presidential election Mohamed Morsy and the representatives of his political force stressed that they intend to keep all the international agreements and peace treaties, including the one signed with Israel.

Here is the text of Mohamed Morsy's letter to israeli President on the official  blank of Egyptian Embassy.
Click to enlarge

Morsy was talking about the cooperation and achieving peace, stability and security in the Middles East region, he also pledged to help to revise the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. This letter is a very important sign for the relationships between the two neighboring countries, although there were some disputes regarding this letter.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister

Mohamed Morsy’s official spokesperson Yasser Ali denied the fact of sending such a letter by Egyptian President. He stated that everything what was reported in media about this letter does not correspond to reality. “President of Egypt Mohamed Morsy did not send any letters to the Israeli President”, Yasser Ali said to the Egyptian media.

The denial of Morsy’s spokesperson of the fact of sending such a letter looks really strange, because Israeli officials claim that the diplomats at the Egyptian embassy in Tel Aviv passed on the missive, and senior Egyptian officials in Cairo also notified Israeli side about the coming letter from President. The missive is also printed on the official letterhead of Egyptian Ambassador, with all the contacts of Egyptian embassy in Tel Aviv and with embassy’s stamps. The copy of this letter was also provided, and Israeli officials report they received the confirmation that this letter can be officially published.

Yasser Ali, Mohamed Morsy's spokesperson

This situation looks more than strange and still needs to be cleared. One of the officials at the Egyptian embassy in Tel Aviv, who did not give his name, couldn’t provide any explanations and reported that press-attaché was on holiday and could not be reached for comments at the moment.