Mohammed Morsi. Photo: Jonathan Rashad.

A surprising invitation was extended to Cairo Aug. 28, when Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman suggested that Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi visit Israel, reported Israel Hayom. Lieberman, while speaking at a legal conference in Tel Aviv, expressed his pleasure at hearing Morsi’s statements in a recent interview in which he reassured Egypt’s neighbors that they need not worry about Egyptian forces in Sinai.

“I was happy to hear President Morsi speak about his commitment to peace with Israel, the Camp David Accords and fighting terrorism,” said Lieberman. “This is very important news; but those who talk about peace and stability must also understand that it is not just a hypothetical idea. Peace has tangible aspects to it, too. It is not a telepathic connection. This is why we hope to see President Morsi receiving Israeli delegates. We want to see him give interviews in the Israeli media and we want to see him in Jerusalem as President Peres’ guest.”

However, Gamal Heshmat—a member of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice party—said there is “no possibility for Morsi to visit the Zionist entity,”Yedioth Ahronoth reported, citing Egyptian media.