The Israeli newspaper Haaretz said on Sunday that Israeli officials, after consulting with Washington, had decided to put off attempts to organize a phone call between Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

 

The move was in line with reports published by the Palestinian news agency Ma’an saying that Egypt’s new president has declined to answer a congratulatory phone call from Israeli officials. 

 

However, Haaretz said that the Israeli leader had dispatched an envoy to meet with Egyptian security officials.

 

According to an AFP source, Netanyahu sent a letter to Morsi, urging him to uphold the peace treaty between the two countries.

 

The letter, first reported by Israeli daily Haaretz on Sunday morning, "stressed Israel's desire to continue cooperation and to strengthen the peace," an Israeli source said on condition of anonymity.

 

The letter was sent "in the last few days," the source added, with Haaretz reporting that it was delivered to Morsi via the Israeli embassy in Cairo.

 

Netanyahu's letter repeated much of the content of a statement he made publicly after Morsi was officially declared the winner of Egypt's first post-uprising presidential election.

 

Israel has watched warily as the Muslim Brotherhood has gained increasing power in Egypt, concerned about the future of the cold but key peace the two neighbors have maintained since signing their peace deal.