JERUSALEM, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi spoke by telephone on Wednesday about the newly-announced Israeli-Emirati normalization deal.
The two leaders "welcomed the development of relations," discussed regional challenges and agreed to strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation in a range of areas, according to a statement released by Israeli Prime Minister's Office.
Netanyahu thanked Sisi for Egypt's efforts in achieving a recent calm in the Gaza Strip after a three-week-long escalation, and asked Egypt to "continue assisting in the return of Israeli prisoners and missing."
Earlier on Wednesday, Riyadh announced it had opened its airspace to "all countries" flying to and from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a move hailed by Netanyahu as a "tremendous breakthrough" that pave the way for direct flights between Israel and the UAE.
On Monday, Israel's flag carrier El Al first used Saudi territory in an overflight. In the flight, approved by Riyadh, Israeli and U.S. delegations flew to Abu Dhabi for a two-day discussion in the wake of a U.S.-brokered normalization agreement between the UAE and Israel first announced on Aug. 13. Enditem
