Egypt's newly elected president has sent an implicit message of reassurance to Israel in his first major address after taking office, but he also pledged support for the "legitimate rights" of the Palestinians, the Associated Press reports.

Islamist Mohammed Morsi said Saturday, June 30, that his administration will continue to honor its international treaties - a thinly veiled reference to the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty.

Relations between the two neighbors have become particularly tense since last year's overthrow of Morsi's predecessor, Hosni Mubarak, who had forged close ties with the Jewish state during his 29-year rule.

Morsi was sworn in Saturday as Egypt's first freely elected president and the Arab world's first Islamist head of state.

The rise to power of Egyptian Islamists has been a source of alarm among many Israelis.