At Paris summit, PM shook hands with Egypt, Jordan leaders

Israeli official says Netanyahu met el-Sissi face-to-face for first time at climate conference

By ToI Staff 4 December 2015, 4:20 am

Edit

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi (left) talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at COP21, the UN Climate Change Conference, in Le Bourget, outside Paris, France, on November 30, 2015. (AFP/Martin Bureau/Pool)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi shook hands at the Paris climate conference earlier this week, for the first time since the latter entered political office, Haaretz reported Thursday, citing a senior official in the Prime Minister’s Office.

The Israeli prime minister and Egyptian president had never met face-to-face before this week’s encounter, and have only spoken on the phone a number of times, the report said.

The PMO official added that Netanyahu also shared a handshake with King Abdullah II, the Jordanian monarch, at the gathering of world leaders.

On Monday, Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas made headlines for shaking hands at the summit for the first time in five years.

Netanyahu was quick to downplay the gesture, telling reporters on the sidelines of the conference that it was “purely protocol, not a working meeting.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (R) behind Comoros' President Ikililou Dhoinine during the family photo during the COP21, United Nations Climate Change Conference, in Le Bourget, outside Paris, on November 30, 2015 (AFP PHOTO / POOL / MARTIN BUREAU) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (R) behind Comoros’ President Ikililou Dhoinine during the family photo during the COP21, United Nations Climate Change Conference, in Le Bourget, outside Paris, on November 30, 2015 (AFP PHOTO / POOL / MARTIN BUREAU)

As world leaders attending the convention readied to pose for a group photo, Netanyahu was standing next to New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, when Abbas arrived and was placed next to Key, Netanyahu recalled.

“So we shook hands, that’s crystal clear. But we didn’t talk,” he said. There are no plans for a meeting, he added.

“It’s important for the world to see that we’re always willing to talk. But, on the other hand, I have no illusions about Abu Mazen,” Netanyahu said, referring to the Palestinian leader by his moniker.

Abbas continues inciting against Israelis and Jews and is thus partly responsible for the ongoing wave of terror striking Israel currently, Netanyahu lamented. “Incitement plays a central role in [fostering] terrorism and Abu Mazen must stop his incitement and stop spreading lies about [Israel’s alleged intention to change the status quo at] the Temple Mount.”

Raphael Ahren contributed to this report.