FMs of Arab League: Two-state solution only way for just and lasting peace in ME

CAIRO – 8 February 2021: Foreign Ministers of Arab League Countries have adopted a 12-point decision regarding the Palestinian cause, during an emergency meeting of the Arab League Council, requested by Egypt and Jordan, in Cairo.

The decision affirmed that Arab countries under the Arab League, have the right to defend their national security, amid various developments on the international scene, to prevent pressure and interference by some regional and international powers that aim to achieve their agendas and interests.

The Arab countries support the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, a top of which are self-determination, the right of return, and the establishment of an independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state, on the border of the 4th of June 1967 and East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Arab states adhere to the two-state solution that embodies an independent and sovereign Palestinian state, the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, and the principle of land for peace. They say this is the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. They also called upon Israel to respond to the Arab Peace Initiative.

They continue defending the right of Palestine’s sovereignty over its lands, with Jerusalem as its capital Eastern, and the protection of its sanctities under the Hashemite guardianship role. The Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs is the only body authorized to manage Jerusalem shrines and all its affairs.

Arab world rejects any unilateral Israeli projects or steps that violate the rights of the Palestinian people's rights and undermines the irreplaceable two-state solution.

They urged all international parties, including the United Nations and the International Quartet, to take practical steps for credible negotiations that address all issues of the final solution leading to the end of the occupation.

They welcomed the International Criminal Court decision of investigating war crimes committed by the Israeli occupation in Palestinian territories.

Egypt's supportive role

In his speech at the meeting, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry affirmed Egypt’s supporting role in achieving the inter-Palestine reconciliation and in reviving negotiations between the Palestinians and Israeli, saying “The Palestinian cause is still and will remain our central issue … The stability in the region will not be achieved without a permanent and comprehensive peace based on a just settlement that fulfills the aspirations and hopes of the Palestinian people.”

“Some [countries] thought that the Arab world, amid the current circumstances, had become distracted from the cause. They thought that the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, has not become on the agenda of the Arab countries’ priorities. But this belief is wrong. The Palestinian issue was and will remain in the heart of the Arab conscience, no matter how stagnant and disrupted the negotiation process is and despite the unilateral Israeli practices and settlement projects in the West Bank.”

Sparing no efforts aimed at resolving the stalemate that has dominated the peace process for years, Shoukry said that Egypt has intensified its contacts and consultations with various regional and international actors. These contracts have resulted in hosting an Egyptian-Jordanian-Palestinian coordination meeting on December 19 in Cairo, and then hosting the Munich Formula Group meeting (Egypt, Jordan, France and Germany] to open the way for the resumption of negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, under the auspices and fair international mediation, he added

 

Shoukry affirmed that Egypt has called upon all actors, a top of which are the new US administration and the international quartet, to undertake a sincere effort to achieve peace in accordance with the principles agreed upon internationally, and on the basis of the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, in order to achieve the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people.

As for the inter-Palestine dialogue, Shoukry said that Egypt has continued its relentless efforts to end the Palestinian division, believing that achieving Palestinian reconciliation will positively be reflected on the Palestinian people's ability to conduct the negotiation process. “In this context, I would like to refer to the meetings that Cairo is hosting during this period to activate dialogue between the various Palestinian factions and discuss ways to hold legislative elections, then the presidential elections, then the National Council scheduled in Mid-2021.”

Egypt calls for respecting the status quo in Al-Quds and avoiding any measures that would fuel the conflict or adopt religious dimensions that will have dangerous repercussions on regional and international security and stability.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi called for a joint move to restart serious and real negotiations and activating the role of the international quartet to reach a two-state solution, which embodies the independent and sovereign Palestinian state, with occupied Jerusalem as its capital, on the borders of June 4, 1967, to live in peace and security alongside Israel in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions, the land-for-peace equation, and the Arab Peace Initiative.

Safadi affirmed his support for efforts to achieve inter-Palestinian national reconciliation, praising Egypt’s great role to ensure its success.

Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit said that this emergency meeting carries an important message to the whole world that the Arab countries speak with one voice when it comes to Palestine.

He added that the only path for a final settlement for the Palestinian issue is the two-state solution.