Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry briefed the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas in a phone call over his visit to Israel and his talks with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Shoukry affirmed the Egyptian stance to Abbas, supporting the restoration of peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis. Both sides agreed to continue consulting over the issue.
The Israeli TV Channel 2 News reported that arrangements are being discussed between Egypt and Israel for Netanyahu to visit Egypt. Further information has not yet been revealed.
Shoukry also briefed his Jordanian counterpart Nasser Gouda over the results of his visit to Israel regarding peace talks.
The Palestinian ambassador to Egypt Gamal Shoubaky said that Egypt has a key role in moving the peace process forward within the framework of preparing for an international conference for peace as a part of a French initiative.
“We understand Minister Shoukry’s visit [to Israel] came after his visit to Ramallah and he consulted with us to support the efforts to hold an international peace conference and put reference points for negotiations within the framework of a specific timeline,” said Al Shoubaky.
Al Shoubaky added that the Israeli intransigence and settlement policy have led to the stalling of the peace process.
Shoukry and Netanyahu discussed over two meetings Sunday the results of the ministerial meetings, which took place in Paris last month, as a part of the French initiative to revive the peace process in the Middle East.
Egypt supports both the Palestinian and the Israeli side to restore the peace talks, affirmed Shoukry, pointing that the starting point should be the adherence to international resolutions, according to a statement released by the Foreign Ministry.
The Egyptian minister also emphasised the importance of building trust among both sides, adding that the visit comes in the context of President Al-Sisi’s vision, which he detailed on 17 May, for the establishment of a just and comprehensive peace between the Israeli and Palestinian people, bringing this long conflict to an end.
Netanyahu welcomed the Egyptian president Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s recent initiative for peace in the Middle East.
“I welcome President Al-Sisi’s recent offer of Egyptian leadership in efforts to advance peace with the Palestinians and a broader peace in our region,” said Netanyahu in the joint press conference with Shoukry.
The Israeli prime minister called on the Palestinians to “follow the greatest example of Egypt and Jordan and join us for direct negotiations. This is the only way we can address all the outstanding problems between us and turn the vision of peace based on two states for two peoples into a reality,” he added.
However, Netanyahu refused earlier to participate in an international conference for peace as a part of the French initiative for international intervention.
The Israeli prime minister prefers direct talks with the Palestinians, saying that this is the only way to achieve peace.
The recent French efforts stalled the same way the United States backed negotiations stalled in 2014.
Since the cessation of negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides in April 2014, the situation on the ground has been in constant deterioration regarding humanitarian and economic conditions, Shoukry told Netanyahu.
In addition to the Palestinian case, both sides also discussed bilateral relations including counter- terrorism.
