CAIRO – 23 September 2022: Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has affirmed the necessity of ending the current stalemate in the Palestinian-Israeli peace process to achieve the Palestinian people’s aspirations in establishing their independent state.
Shoukry’s remarks were made in a meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh on Thursday on the sidelines of the 77th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to discuss the developments of the Palestinian situation, a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry read.
During the meeting, Shtayyeh expressed his country’s appreciation for the Egyptian efforts to support the Palestinian cause, including efforts to achieve the Palestinian reconciliation and contribute to completing the reconstruction process in the Gaza Strip to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people.
The Palestinian premier also hailed Egypt’s efforts to help resume the peace process through various international frameworks, including the Munich Group (Munich Format) that held a ministerial meeting on Wednesday in New York city to discuss the issue.
Munich Group meeting
Munich Group, formed of the foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, France, and Germany, affirmed during the ministerial meeting that resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state solution is essential to achieve regional peace.
The ministers affirmed that the two-state solution on the borders of 4 June 1967 is the only way to fulfill the legitimate aspirations of the Israeli and Palestinian sides, a joint statement read.
“We remain firmly committed to enabling and supporting all efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace in the Middle East based on international law, relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and agreed parameters, including the Arab Peace Initiative,” the ministers said in a joint statement.
The ministers highlighted the necessity to urgently resume direct and serious negotiations between both the Palestinian and Israeli sides as soon as possible.
The statement also called for urgently creating political and economic horizons with the aim of protecting the prospects of the two-state solution. This includes exploring the possibility of a comprehensive regional approach to peace, the statement added.
“We encourage further mutual confidence-building measures based on reciprocal commitments, with a view to improving living conditions for the Palestinian people, bearing in mind the positive impact of better economic conditions on security,” the statement said.
The ministers called for an end to all unilateral acts and the use of violence against civilians, condemning the death of civilians in recent weeks and months, including children and women.
“We stress the need to refrain from all unilateral measures that undermine the viability of the two-state solution and the prospects of a just and lasting peace, and underline the importance of respecting and preserving the territorial unity, contiguity and integrity of all the occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem,” the statement added.
In this regard, the ministers called for stopping the Israeli settlement activities, the confiscation of Palestinian lands, an eviction of Palestinians from their homes, affirming that this represents a violation of the international law.
“We reiterate our particular concern regarding the eviction of the inhabitants of the “Masafer Yatta” region, and stress that the rights of the residents of the Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighborhoods with regard to their homes must be respected,” the statement said.
The group also reiterated concern regarding the eviction of the inhabitants of the “Masafer Yatta” region, stressing the need to respect the rights of the residents of the Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighborhoods with regard to their homes.
Be Social
Comments
Leave a Comment