Sisi, Abbas agree on two-state solution to end Arab-Israeli conflict

CAIRO – 29 April 2017: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi welcomed his Palestinian counterpart, Mahmoud Abbas, at the Ittihadiya Presidential Palace Saturday for a brief visit, presidential spokesperson Alaa Youssef announced.

During the meeting, a number of regional and international issues of common concern were discussed.

The meeting firmly focused on the latest updates about reviving the decades-long Palestinian-Israeli peace process.


Sisi confirmed Egypt’s firm stance on reaching a “just and comprehensive solution” that guarantees the establishment of an independent state for Palestinians with the pre-1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital.

The pre-1967 border is a demarcation line set in 1949 according to an agreement between Israel and Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria; it was signed after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.

The pre-1967 border served as the Israeli state’s borders from 1949 until 1967 when a war erupted between Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt, Syria and Jordan in which the Israel Defense Forces managed to recover the Old City of Jerusalem from Jordanian control, among other territories.

In February, U.S. President Donald Trump backed away from a decades-long policy supporting a two-state solution in the Middle East.

During a

joint news conference

with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump asked Netanyahu to hold back on settlements for a while, adding that he is open to either a two-state or a one-state solution.

For his part, Abbas affirmed his keenness to continue discussions with Egypt given its main role in the Palestinian case.

The meeting comes ahead of Abbas’ first meeting with Trump, expected to take place in Washington next week.

On May 3 Abbas will conduct a set of high-level meetings with Trump and a number of senior U.S. administration officials seeking solutions for the revival of the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

President Sisi pointed out the “pivotal role” of the U.S. in boosting negotiations between Palestinians and the Israelis to reach a satisfying solution for both parties, Youssef noted in Saturday’s press statement.

Sisi also said restoring Palestinian national unity is deemed vital to “placate and alleviate the current duress of the Palestinians.”

The meeting culminated with the two presidents expressing agreement that a two-state solution is the only solution to achieve stability in the region; a vital factor thought to ensure the safety, security, development and prosperity that Palestinians have long anticipated.