CAIRO: Struggles in the region are not between Jews and Arabs but instead come from the threat of extremism, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said. Livni made the statement during a reception at the Egyptian embassy in Israel on July 23 to commemorate Egypt's celebration of the 1952 ascension of the Free Officers and the overthrow of the Egyptian King Farouk. "The perception that the struggle in the region is between the Jews and the Arabs is a passing idea, Livni said. "Israel and Egypt both share the understanding that the threat is the threat that extremists pose to moderates [in the region]. And it is this understanding that forms the basis of increased cooperation between the two countries. "We as leaders should encourage and cement this understanding between the two peoples. For peace also is built on the desire of people to coexist peacefully and mutual respect, Livni added. Egypt is only one of two Arab countries (Jordan being the other) to have a peace treaty with Israel, reached through the Camp David Accords in 1979. Despite the interminable years of peace since, Egypt has not yet agreed to "normalization of relations, much to the chagrin of Israel. Due to the treaty as well as geographical proximity, Egypt plays an integral role in the current peace negotiations between Israel and Palestinians, and is also the intermediary between Israel and Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip along the Egyptian border. Egypt recently negotiated a period of calm between Hamas and Israel and is also currently arbitrating a prisoner exchange for captured Israeli solder Gilad Shalit. Livni is currently the frontrunner to replace beleaguered Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as head of the Kadima party, after leaders of the Labor party, who form the ruling coalition with Kadima, insisted that Olmert be replaced following a spate of corruption scandals.
