World Bulletin / News Desk

Israel voiced respect on Sunday for the victory of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt's presidential election, calling on the new administration in Cairo to maintain the peace accord.

Egypt's deal faces criticism from Muslim world because Israeli maintains decades of occupation into Palestinian territories.

"Israel appreciates the democratic process in Egypt and respects its outcome," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement after the Brotherhood's candidate, Mohamed Morsy, was declared successor to the U.S.-aligned Hosni Mubarak, who was toppled last year.

"Israel expects continued cooperation with the Egyptian administration on the basis of the peace accord between the two countries," the statement said.

Eli Shaked, a former Israeli ambassador to Cairo, told Israel's Army Radio that Morsy's authority would likely be diluted by the powerful Egyptian army, which relies on Washington's defence grants.

Israel Hasson, a lawmaker with the centrist Kadima party who has served as a Netanyahu government envoy to Cairo, said the possibility of already chilly bilateral relations going into a deeper freeze meant Israel had to revive its peace partnership with the Palestinians after months of diplomatic stalemate.