Atef Salem, Egypt’s new ambassador in Israel, arrived in his country’s Tel Aviv embassy Sunday. Salem, who served as Egypt’s consul in Eilat, will replace the outgoing ambassador, Yasser Rida, who completed a four-year term last month. Salem is to present President Shimon Peres with his accreditation papers in a few weeks’ time, and begin his official term in office.

IDF Radio reported that diplomats in Jerusalem were pleased to see that despite the turmoil in Egypt, the leadership has sent a new ambassador to Israel as planned.

Rida said at his farewell ceremony that “the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt is strong, stable, and has proven itself, and it will withstand all of the turmoil in the region.” He added that a solution to the Palestinian problem would improve Israeli-Egyptian relations.

Salem will be Egypt’s fifth ambassador to Israel and the first to be appointed after the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohamed Morsi ascended to the presidency.