Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office denied reports that he had asked the Obama administration to consider a plan in which Israel would annex parts of the West Bank, and the Palestinians would in return receive land from Egypt in the northern part of Sinai, Haaretz reports. The plan, uncovered by former US officials, was reportedly proposed in 2014. “The Obama administration heard directly from Egypt, however, that it wouldn’t accept such an idea, and came to a conclusion that neither would the Palestinians.”

Meanwhile, Israeli pundits are suggesting looking to Egypt when it comes to policies in Gaza.Israel must find ways to reduce the humanitarian and economic pressures on the Gaza Strip in order to avoid escalation, Udi Dekel suggests in The JPost. The piece also recommended that Israel enlist Egypt and give it a toolbox that includes significant infrastructure-related and economic rewards, designed to tempt Hamas to make a genuine effort to keep the area calm.” He also presents four potential courses of action, including enlisting Egypt to mediate with Hamas.

Egypt will be running a candidate for the Secretary General post of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Trade and Industry Minister Tarek Kabil said, according to Al Masry Al Youm.” Each country aiming to run for the seat is required to field five candidates by 6 February, according to COMESA’s regulations,” Ahram Online notes. The winning candidate will replace Zimbabwe’s Sindiso Ndema Ngwenya.

Egypt’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Nasser Zaghloul has been appointed as non-resident ambassador to Yemen. Zaghloul has served as Egypt’s envoy to Saudi Arabia since 2015, Ahram Online notes.