Egypt calls for halting unilateral acts that undermine two-state solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict

CAIRO – 19 January 2023: Egypt has called for halting all unilateral measures that undermine the two-state solution to the Israeli Palestinian conflict in a statement delivered during a quarterly open debate held by the UN Security Council on the Palestinian cause.

Egypt has called for stopping unilateral actions undertaken by Israel, warning against such unilateral actions, including Israel's continued settlement activities, violence acts against Palestinian civilians and demolition of Palestinian homes.

Egypt also underlined the need of avoiding measures that would change the legal status quo of the West Bank, including Jerusalem, which is considered an occupied Palestinian territory.

Egypt voiced Egypt's total rejection of storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque by the Israeli officials.

Egypt also has warned of the negative repercussions of such measures on the security and stability in the occupied lands and the region and on the future of the peace process.

Egypt called on all parties to exercise self-restraint, act responsibly and refrain from any measures that could inflame the situation.

Egypt further referred to the deteriorating situation in the occupied Palestinian territories during 2022, saying that the UN described 2022 as the "deadliest year since 2006" in the West Bank due to the continuous increase in violence.

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry made a phone call on Thursday with the Israeli counterpart, Eli Cohen, calling for the necessity to preserve the legal and historical status quo of Jerusalem.

Shoukry highlighted Egypt’s continuous efforts to consolidate peace and support all efforts that aim to end the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

Also, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi conferred with King Abdullah II of Jordan and Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas over the developments of the Palestinian cause as well as relevant regional and international updates. 

The three leaders stipulated the importance of preserving the rights of the Palestinian people, and reaching a fair, comprehensive and permanent solution to the cause.

The Egyptian and Jordanian leaders affirmed their backing to the Palestinian president during the current precarious situation engulfed with regional and international challenges.