Egyptian, Jordanian FMs highlight need for resumption of Palestinian-Israeli negotiations

CAIRO – 31 May 2021: Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Jordanian counterpart, Ayman Safadi, on Monday highlighted the need for a political horizon that allows the resumption of negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides.

They agreed in a phone call that the revival of the negotiation path should run in accordance with the relevant international legitimacy resolutions, a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry read.

The negotiations should also be resume on the base of the two-state solution through establishing an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, the statement added.

The ministers affirmed the importance of continuing their two countries’ efforts that aim to support the national Palestinian authority and improve the living conditions of Palestinian citizens in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in cooperation with international partners.

Shoukry and Safadi discussed the intensified diplomatic movements Egypt has carried out to maintain the Egypt-brokered ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

On Friday, Israel and the Gaza factions started a ceasefire proposed by Egypt after Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire killed 254 people including women and children.

The Gaza factions also fired rockets at Israeli lands in retaliation for the Israeli assaults against Palestinians in Jerusalem.

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said recent developments mandate urgent activation of direct negotiations between both sides backed by an effective involvement of the United States.

Sisi also announced allocating $500 million for the reconstruction of Gaza following the Israeli assaults.

Sisi also sent head of Egypt’s General Intelligence Service (GIS) Abbas Kamel to the Israeli and Palestinian lands to consolidate the ceasefire agreement.

Starting his visit on Sunday, Kamel met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz.

On Monday, he inspected the proposed sites to begin the reconstruction initiative of Gaza strip and met with a number of leaders from Hamas.