MK, Muslim brotherhood meeting cancelled

Leaked reports of planned Washington meeting between Israeli MKs and Egyptian parliament members lead to cancellation; embarrassment for US State Department

Moran Azulay|Published: 06.12.12 , 14:40

A meeting which was set to take place between Israeli Knesset Members and their Egyptian counterparts has been cancelled, the MKs who were set to be part of the delegation were told of the cancellation on Tuesday.

The decision to cancel the meeting came after news of the expected gathering came to light and the disappointment expressed by some Knesset officials over the selected delegation members, claiming they are low-ranking MKs

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On Monday Ynet reported that a delegation of MKs would travel to Washington and meet with Egyptian parliament members, including members of the Muslim Brotherhood, Ynet reported Monday.

Sources in the Knesset said the trip was initiated and partly funded by the Foreign Ministry, with the aim of opening a new channel of communication that could lead to talks between higher ranks in the future. The event which was supposed to remain secret was cancelled following the news reports.

Knesset Member Carmel Shama-Hacohen (Likud) who was supposed to take part in the trip said that "in light of the sensitivity towards Egypt, especially in the case of parliament members in the Muslim Brotherhood, the directives were to maintain complete media silence.

"It is a shame that needless chatter left Egypt with no option other than to cancel the meeting while also causing embarrassment to the US State Department which organized (the meeting."

Since the 2011 revolution in Egypt, and the ousting of President Hosni Mubarak, relations between Jerusalem and Cairo have deteriorated, and many Israeli officials have expressed concern over the future of the peace treaty between the two countries.