Sisi, European Council president discuss Palestinian issue

CAIRO - 29 January 2020: President of the European Council Charles Michel discussed with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi the developments of the Palestinian cause in light of Washington's vision of a Palestinian-Israeli peace plan, the Egyptian presidency said.

In a phone on Wednesday evening, Michel and Sisi agreed on the need to intensify efforts to achieve peace and settlement to the Palestinian cause, in a way that restores full legitimate rights of the Palestinian people through the establishment of an independent and sovereign state, and supports the security and stability of the Middle East, presidential spokesman Bassam Radi said in a statement.

They also discussed issues of mutual concern between Egypt and the European Union, and reviewed ways to boost cooperation on all levels and to combat illegal immigration and terrorism.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday presented his peace plan on Middle East, giving Israel the right to annex West Bank settlements and to have Jerusalem as its capital, a move that initially angered many Arab countries when announced late in 2017.

The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement issued Tuesday that Egypt appreciates the American efforts to realize a comprehensive and fair peaceful resolution for the Palestinian cause in a way that contributes to the stability and security of the Middle East.

“Egypt values the American administration’s initiative to reach a fair settlement for the Palestinian cause in a way that restores the Palestinian people’s legitimate rights that include the establishment of an independent state with full sovereignty over the occupied lands in accordance with the International legitimacy,” read the statement.

Therefore, Egypt calls on the two relevant parties to undertake a careful and thorough consideration of the US vision to achieve peace and open channels of dialogue, under US auspices, for the resumption of negotiations to present their respective views on reaching an agreement that satisfies the aspirations of both peoples to achieve a comprehensive and just peace and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.