International references key for fair Palestinian settlement: Sisi

CAIRO – 6 December 2017: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi stressed on December 6 the importance of committing to international references and UN resolutions to reach a final, fair and comprehensive settlement in the Palestinian cause.

Sisi held a meeting on Wednesday with the minister of housing, utilities and urban development, governor of the Central Bank, ministers of defense, foreign affairs, electricity, justice, finance, water resources and irrigation as well as the chairmen of Administrative Control Authority and chief of the general intelligence.

During the meeting, the recent developments of several regional files were discussed, topped by the Palestinian issue, according to the spokesman for the Presidency Bassam Radi.

Talks focused on the consequences of the U.S. Administration’s decision regarding the relocation of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem on resuming the negotiations between Palestine and Israel and on reaching peace in the Middle East.

On this regard, Sisi confirmed that Jerusalem’s file should be dealt with cautiously in light of the legal, religious and historic status of the city that has a prestigious place among Arab and Islam.

On the other hand, the meeting tackled the violations and escalation in Yemen. Sisi noted that a political solution is important for resolving the Yemeni crisis and preserve its unity. Continued deterioration in Yemen serves the interests of terrorism and extremism that seek to destabilize the region.

The meeting discussed the recent developments of the Africa 2017 conference that is scheduled to be held in Sharm El-Sheikh from December 7 to December 9.

Sisi pointed out Egypt’s openness to Africa and its care to promote its relations with African countries, in addition to supporting its efforts in achieving sustainable development.

U.S. President Donald Trump informed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on December 5 that he intends to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, Abbas's spokesman said.

The statement did not say whether Trump elaborated on the timing of such a move.

"President Mahmoud Abbas received a telephone call from U.S. President Donald Trump in which he notified the President [Abbas] of his intention to move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem," spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said in a statement.