This photo combo shows file photos of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and new Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi. Netanyahu has sent a letter of congratulations to Morsi on his election victory and is calling for continued peace between the neighboring countries, Israeli officials said Sunday, July 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Gali Tibbon, Nasser Nasser)
This photo combo shows file photos of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and new Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi. Netanyahu has sent a letter of congratulations to Morsi on his election victory and is calling for continued peace between the neighboring countries, Israeli officials said Sunday, July 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Gali Tibbon, Nasser Nasser)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting in his Jerusalem office, Sunday, July 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Abir Sultan, Pool)
In this image released by the Egyptian Presidency, Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, center, stands with judges Farouk Sultan, left, and Maher el-Beheiri, right, as he is sworn in at the Supreme Constitutional Court in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, June 30, 2012. Islamist Mohammed Morsi promised a "new Egypt" and unwavering support to the powerful military as he took the oath of office Saturday to become the country's first freely elected president, succeeding Hosni Mubarak who was ousted 16 months ago. (AP Photo/Ahmed Fouad, Egyptian Presidency)
JERUSALEM (AP) ? Israel's president and prime minister have sent separate letters to Egypt's new Islamist president, congratulating him on his election victory and calling for continued peace between the neighboring countries, Israeli officials said Sunday.
Israeli officials have grown jittery over the future of relations with Egypt since last year's ouster of longtime President Hosni Mubarak. The election of Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood has deepened those concerns. Morsi took office Saturday.
Israel's high-profile outreach reflected the importance Israel places on its peace treaty with Egypt. The 1979 agreement, Israel's first with an Arab country, has been a cornerstone of Israeli security policy for three decades, allowing the military to focus on more volatile fronts with Lebanon, Syria and the Palestinian territories.
The letters from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres were Israel's first official communications with Morsi since his election.
An official in Netanyahu's office confirmed the letter emphasized the importance of maintaining the peace treaty. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was discussing a sensitive diplomatic matter. The text was not released.
Peres, a 1994 Nobel Peace laureate, wrote in his letter, "Peace has saved the lives of countless young people in Egypt and in Israel." His office released the text Sunday and said the letter was sent Thursday.
Morsi has pledged to respect all of Egypt's international accords, but the Brotherhood has said adjustments to the Israel-Egypt accord may be needed.
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