Sisi meets American-Jewish organisation to discuss 'terrorism'

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi received a delegation on Monday representing the American-Jewish Committee (AJC) at his presidential headquarters in Cairo, state media reported.

The delegation, headed by the president of the organisation's executive council, Stanley Bergman, discussed ways to "defeat terrorism" and militancy in the region, reported Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram on Tuesday.

According to its website, AJC is a leading global American-Jewish advocacy organisation, which works to “enhance the well-being of the Jewish people…by tackling a breadth of issues in a deliberate and diplomatic manner".

Although little information regarding the discussions was disclosed, Sisi reportedly warned during the meeting that while Egypt faces big threats in North Sinai, the consequences of these attacks will be felt across the whole region and in Africa.

Scores of Egyptian soldiers were killed in violent clashes with Islamic State militants in North Sinai on Wednesday. 

The delegation reportedly conveyed its condolences to the Egyptian presidency for the death of the Egyptian soldiers in Sinai, while affirming that the AJC is keen to support Egypt’s efforts in fighting regional terrorism.

In a press statement, the presidency’s spokesman Alaa Yousef said that during the meeting, Sisi explained that violence and extremism were no longer confined to the Middle East, but were spreading across Africa, in part, as a result of militants' misintrepretation of religious texts.  

Sisi reportedly urged the international community to boost its efforts in fighting the threat of terrorism in the Middle East as a means to ensuring the prevalence of security, economic growth and social justice around the world.

The Egyptian president also referred to the importance of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a means to realising peace in the region, reported news agency Maan News.

In a separate meeting, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shokri discussed ways to resume Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, reported Maan.

Shokri reportedly also addressed Egyptian-US relations and means to strengthen collaboration between the countries on political, economic and security levels.