CAIRO, Oct 3 (Aswat Masriya) - In a meeting with members of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) Friday, Egypt's foreign minister asserted the importance of US consultations with Egypt on regional issues, especially given the "risks that threaten the interests of all parties."

Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri received the delegation at the headquarters of Egypt's permanent mission to the UN in New York, Egypt's state news agency MENA reported.

The AJC is a self-described global Jewish advocacy organization. It "works to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and to advance human rights and democratic values for all."

According to MENA, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said the two sides discussed at length regional matters and their effect on security and stability in the Middle East, addressing Libya, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, the Iran nuclear deal and counter-terrorism efforts. 

They also extensively discussed how important it is for the U.S. to benefit from Egypt's role in the region.

There were no reports of talks regarding the Palestinian-Israeli issue, despite recent clashes between Palestinian youths and Israeli Defense Forces at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

Yousry Al-Azabawy, a political expert at Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies said the talks are "completely normal," adding that congress committees and lobby groups have visited Egypt before. They come as American groups, "not Israeli," he said.

Shukri told the AJC members that it was important for the U.S. to invest in reinforcing ties with Egypt on all levels, including the economic, political and military levels. 

Azabawy said these groups are "very important," and are "influential" in decision-making in America.

In an AP interview last week in New York while attending the 70the UN General Assembly session, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was quoted as saying that "efforts should be renewed to solve the Palestinian issue and expand Egypt's nearly 40-year-peace with Israel to include more Arab countries."