Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit has highlighted that the Palestinian cause enjoys special Arab consensus.
Aboul Gheit’s remarks came during a phone call with Tor Wennesland, the new UN Special Coordinator to the Middle East Peace Process.
A statement issued by the Arab League General Secretariat said that Aboul Gheit was keen to brief the UN envoy, who started his duties last month. The Arab League Head focused the briefing on the outcomes of the extraordinary ministerial meeting that was held on 8 February.
The meeting restored momentum to the Palestinian cause as a central axis for joint Arab action in the next stage. Aboul Gheit emphasised that the meeting and its resulting decision reflect the renewal of Arab consensus on the determinants of the peace process and the two-state solution.
The meeting also comes with a view to establish a collective Arab position in support of the state of Palestine.
The statement noted that both Aboul Gheit and Wennesland exchanged views on the developments in both Palestine and Israel, in light of the elections expected in the two countries in the coming months.
The Arab League Head highlighted the importance of the recent Palestinian talks in Cairo, and the agreement they witnessed on the course of the elections.
He noted that this path is fully supported by the Arab League, with the aim of renewing Palestinian legitimacy, and strengthening their position in any future negotiations.
The statement added that Aboul Gheit valued the positions recently expressed by the UN envoy in condemning the Israeli settlement expansion, which limits the possibility of a two-state solution.
It also noted that there are expectations for the launch of a credible negotiation process and a timetable to end the occupation. This would also see an independent Palestinian state established according to June 1967 borders.
