Israel urges new Egyptian president to maintain peace

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres have sent personal messages to Egyptian leader Mohamed Morsi, urging him to keep the 30-year old peace treaty in force, RIA Novosti reports.

The Camp David agreements were reached in 1979, turning Egypt from the main anti-Israeli state into partner of the Jewish state. Egypt had four wars with Israel. Israel managed to cut military expenses fourfold and concentrate on socio-economic issues.

Resignation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and arrival of Morsi, an Islamist, caused concerns in Israel.

The letters of Netanyahu and Peres were the first official contacts with the Egyptian leader. Morsi said during the inauguration on Saturday that he would follow international obligations.

Peres sent the letter on Thursday, but official information on sending the letter was published only on Sunday.