Egypt's newly-elected government is turning a cold shoulder to repeated Israeli attempts to enhance bilateral ties, according to a diplomatic source quoted Monday.

Israel has been seeking to warm relations with Egypt following the victory of Mohamed Morsi in June's presidential election, but the Muslim Brotherhood candidate is clinging to his predecessor's foreign policy, which largely limited cooperation with the Jewish country to security issues.

However, a foreign diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity with the Israeli Ma'ariv daily, assessed that no improvement is in the offing.

"Relations are currently frozen," he told the newspaper. "The political situation in Egypt is very sensitive, and they won't agree to any change or upgrading beyond the level of relations acceptable during (former Egyptian President Hosni) Mabarak's era. "

Attesting to Cairo's refusal to budge, Egyptian Minister of Defense Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, appointed to his post in August, has not returned several phone calls from his Israeli counterpart Ehud Barak, who sought to elevate military relations to the ministerial level, according to the report.

In parallel developments, a request filed last month by Israeli Foreign Ministry Director-General Rafi Barak to visit Cairo and meet with his counterpart has also gone unanswered, while a high- level Egyptian delegation has cancelled a planned visit to Israel, the report said.

Officials here have noted, however, that security cooperation remains tight, following a spate of cross-border attacks perpetrated by militant groups operating in the Egyptian- controlled Sinai Peninsula.

As well, top Israeli officials and the heads of the security services, continue to periodically meet with their Egyptian counterparts for consultations, the report said.