Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday welcomed the Egyptian military's announcement that it would respect the 1979 peace treaty between the two countries, dpa reported.
"The longstanding peace treaty between Israel and Egypt has greatly contributed to both countries and is the cornerstone of peace and stability in the entire Middle East," Netanyahu said in a statement.
Israel has expressed concern over the past few weeks about the consequences that a change in the Egyptian government could have in the region, fearing an end to the first peace agreement signed between Israel and an Arab country.
After Egyptian president Hosny Mubarak stepped down on Friday following 18 days of nationwide protests, the military had announced that the Armed Forces Supreme Council was "committed to all Egypt's international treaties" signed so far.
"It is a good announcement," Israeli Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said, while ultra-conservative Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman praised the military for its "maintenance of regional stability and respect of the peace treaty."
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