Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi hosted Jordanian King Abdullah II and Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas at the Presidential Palace in Cairo on Thursday. The trio stressed the need to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and strengthen the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal reached in May.
A joint communiqué released after the talks stated that “the three leaders reaffirmed the centrality of the Palestinian cause, stressing that just, comprehensive, and lasting peace, based on the two-state solution, remains a strategic option.” Separately, the Egyptian Presidency said the meeting aimed at “coordinating positions and views” regarding the Palestinian cause.
During the meeting, El-Sisi stressed the need to work towards “achieving all legitimate rights, aspirations and hopes of the Palestinian people” and “showcased Egypt’s vision regarding ways to revive the peace process.” While details of the plan were not available, he told Abbas that Egypt would continue to promote the Palestinian cause in “close coordination with the Palestinian brothers.”
Sisi also underscored the “importance of concerted efforts” to strengthen the “truce between the Palestinians and Israelis.” He said that “completing the reconciliation process among all Palestinian factions and actors” was necessary to achieve this.
The communiqué also mentioned the leaders’ “firm positions” against actions that might cause any unilateral change on the ground concerning “the right of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.” In this regard, the trio affirmed to resume “negotiations in accordance with international legitimacy.”
Abbas welcomed “Egypt’s vigorous efforts and valued endeavours in support of the Palestinian question” and lauded its role in seeking a “just and comprehensive solution” to the Palestinian cause. Abbas added that he was ready to take confidence-building measures towards achieving peace with Israel and vowed to restore calm in the Palestinian territories. “We renew our readiness to work in this stage to prepare the atmosphere by applying confidence-building steps that include achieving comprehensive calm in Palestinian lands,” he said.
A statement released by King Abdullah II’s office said the summit was held “within the framework of coordinating positions ahead of the upcoming session of the United Nations General Assembly,” which will focus on the Palestinian question. Abdullah said, “The meeting in Cairo underlines keenness to provide all means of support for the Palestinians, as well as maintaining efforts to reactivate the peace process.”
Regarding establishing a Palestinian state, Abdullah said only a two-state solution based on the June 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital could lead to a “just” solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Accordingly, he called on Israel “to stop violations and unilateral measures, especially in Al Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif” and to avoid escalation.
For years, the Palestinians have demanded that any talks about a two-state solution should be based on the lines before Israel captured West Bank from Jordan during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. On the other hand, Israel has rejected the demand, saying there should be no pre-conditions for the talks. Peace talks between Israel and Palestine were last held in 2014 and collapsed after both sides refused to make any concessions.
Furthermore, the meeting focused on ways to “promote calm” in the region following the 11-day war between Israel and Hamas in May. El-Sisi noted the importance of promoting calm in the Gaza Strip and ensuring its reconstruction. “The Palestinian people’s aspirations for an independent state will not be realised except through standing united and ending the long division between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip,” he added.
The Egyptian President said the calm in Gaza would ensure that the region is not pulled into another conflict like the short but violent war between Israel and Hamas in May. Fighting between Israel and Hamas erupted amid violent clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians in Jerusalem over restrictions on Palestinian holy sites and the potential eviction of several Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in East Jerusalem. The 11-day conflict saw militants in Gaza launch more than 4,000 rockets at Israel, killing 12 people. Israel responded by launching airstrikes that killed over 200 Palestinians, including over 50 children.
The conflict ended after both sides agreed to an Egypt-brokered ceasefire. Egyptian officials engaged in intense negotiations with officials from Israel and Hamas since the start of the fighting and played a crucial role in brokering a truce.
El-Sisi said the ceasefire could only be maintained if both Israel and Hamas ensure that calm prevails in the region. Apart from urging Israel to allow the entry of aid and material required for reconstruction, El-Sisi stressed the importance of “concerted efforts” by all three sides to ensure that regional stability remains.
The trilateral summit comes as Israel has been attempting to revive peace talks. On Wednesday, Israel approved measures to ease the 14-year-old blockade on Gaza by allowing the entry of construction material and expanding Gaza’s fishing zone by 15 nautical miles. Earlier this week, Abbas met with Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz, the first meeting between the PA and Israel in over a decade. Following the meeting, Israel approved a $150 million loan for the PA.
The gestures from both sides indicate the possibility of negotiations, primarily as Abbas has expressed readiness to start peace talks since United States President Joe Biden took office in January.
Egypt, Jordan, Palestine Leaders Meet in Cairo in Bid to Revive Middle East Peace Process
The meeting focused on ways to “promote calm” in the region following the 11-day war between Israel and Hamas in May.
September 3, 2021
Jordanian King Abdulla II (L), Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi (C), and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (R) SOURCE: EGYPT PRESIDENCY