Algeria denies establishing diplomatic relations with Israel

Mustafa El-Shareil, the Algerian ambassador to Cairo and its permanent delegate to the Arab League, rejected accusations against his country of seeking to establish relations with Israel. He denied reports about meetings between Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and Israeli officials.

Bouteflika had shaken hands with the Israeli premier when he was paying tribute after the death of the late Moroccan monarch, King Hassan II in July, as Israeli media referred to meetings between Bouteflika and Israeli officials in Spain.

El-Shareil stated that Algeria is committed by its Arab choice, the unanimous resolutions, and the resolutions of Cairo summit which was held in June 1996 under the chairmanship of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.