Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Paris on the sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21).
Al-Sisi reiterated the importance Egypt places on the Palestinian cause and its support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, according to a statement released by the presidency.
“President El-Sisi also affirmed that Egypt will continue its relentless efforts to establish a Palestinian state along the 4 June, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. He explained that reaching a just and comprehensive settlement will deliver a new reality in the region and create conditions conducive to realising economic and social development and will further security and stability. This will also eliminate one of the major pretexts that terrorist groups use to recruit more members,” the statement read.
Abbas emphasised that his country values Egypt’s sincere efforts to reach a peaceful settlement to the Palestinian conflict and to defuse tension in the Palestinian territories. Abbas also lauded Egypt’s diplomatic efforts with regional and international powers to provide protection to the Palestinian people and to resume peace negotiations.
Both sides discussed the deteriorating humanitarian and security conditions in the Palestinian territories and escalating tension as a result of violations against religious sanctities and continued settlements. They also discussed Arab efforts to support the Palestinian Authority as well as regional and international efforts to resume negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis.
Al-Sisi also highlighted the importance of the return of the Palestinian Authority to the Gaza Strip to oversee the border crossings in accordance with international resolutions, which will help regulate the opening of the crossings, improve the living conditions, and provide the daily needs of Palestinians in Gaza.
The measures Egypt took to secure its eastern borders are in full coordination with the Palestinian Authority and are not meant to harm Palestinians in Gaza.
Both sides agreed on the importance of halting practices that could lead to increasing tension in the occupied territories. This is in addition to putting an end to settlements, providing the necessary protection for Palestinians, creating conditions conducive to the resumption of peace negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis, and taking all measures to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people.
