CAIRO, Jul 10 (Aswat Masriya) - Egypt's foreign minister said during his visit to Israel on Sunday that a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict "is not far-fetched".

Sameh Shoukry visit to Israel, the first by an Egyptian foreign minister in nearly a decade, was aimed at reviving the Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts.

"It is no longer acceptable to claim that the status quo is the most that we can achieve of the hopes and aspirations of the Palestinian and Israeli peoples," Shoukry said during a press conference on Sunday.

"Achieving this vision requires serious steps to build confidence, as well as a genuine will that does not waver away under any circumstance."

Shoukry confirmed Egypt’s commitment to supporting Israeli-Palestinian peace and called for the renewal of peace negotiations that collapsed in April 2014, causing deterioration in the humanitarian and economic situation.

The current state of affairs "is neither stable nor sustainable" and “doesn't’ commensurate with the aspirations” of both Israelis and Palestinians, according to the Egyptian diplomat. 

Shoukry said that his visit comes in the context of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's vision for establishing peace between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.

In May, Sisi urged both sides to seize the opportunity to make a historic peace, offering Israel the prospect of warmer ties if this were achieved.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu welcomed Egypt's efforts to advance peace with the Palestinians and achieve "a broader peace in our region".

"I call again on the Palestinians to follow the courageous example of Egypt and Jordan and join us for direct negotiations. This is the only way we can address all the outstanding issues between us and turn the vision of peace based on two states for two peoples into a reality," Netanyahu said.