President Mahmoud Abbas, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El -Sisi, and King Abdullah II of Jordan held today a three-way summit in the New El-Alamein City in Egypt. The three leaders discussed the latest developments in the Palestinian cause, ways to confront the Israeli government’s program and practices and stop its unilateral measures. They also tackled efforts to break the stalemate in the peace process to reach a just and comprehensive solution based on the two-state solution, international legitimacy, touching on coordinating positions to mobilize international support to end the suffering of the Palestinian people, reach their legitimate national rights in freedom and independence, and establish their state with East Jerusalem as its capital. After the summit, the three leaders affirmed that resolving the Palestinian cause and achieving a fair and comprehensive peace is a strategic choice. The three leaders stressed that solving the Palestinian cause is a regional and international necessity, and an issue of international security and peace, according to the final statement of the meeting. The leaders stressed the priority given by the three countries to the legal, international, and Arab references to settle the Palestinian cause, mainly ending the Israeli occupation of the lands of the Palestinian state within a clear timetable, with the Palestinian people restoring their entire legitimate rights, including their right to self-determination, the right to establish their independent and sovereign state on the lines of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in addition to resolving the issue of Palestinian refugees in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions and achieving the two-state solution in accordance with the approved references. They stressed that the only way to achieve peace is to implement the resolutions of the United Nations and the Security Council and to enable the Palestinian people to obtain their rights. President El-Sisi and King Abdullah II affirmed their full support for President Abbas’s efforts to continue to defend the interests of the Palestinian people at all levels in order to restore their rights and secure international protection, stressing support to Palestine in its efforts to secure services and protect the basic rights of citizens in light of the difficult circumstances and challenges, repeated aggression and the unfortunate events taking place in the occupied Palestinian territories, including Jerusalem amid the increasing regional and international challenges. The leaders stressed the necessity of Israel to implement its obligations and pledges in accordance with international law, international humanitarian law, and previous international agreements and understandings, including those concluded with the Palestinian side, as well as the previous multiple obligations, including the outcomes of the Aqaba and Sharm El -Sheikh meetings. The leaders urged Israel to assume its responsibilities, stop its attacks and calm the situation on the ground to pave the way for reviving peace negotiations. They also stressed the need for Israel to respect its obligations, as the existing occupying power in the Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and stop its storming of the occupied West Bank cities, which undermines the ability of the Palestinian government and security to carry out their duties. The three leaders as well affirmed that Israel must lift the blockade on the Gaza Strip and stop other practices that fuel tension and violence and threaten to ignite the situation, stressing the importance of releasing Palestinian funds held by Israel without legal basis. The leaders condemned the continuation and escalation of the illegal Israeli practices that undermine all the rights of the Palestinian people, violate the rules of international law, and undermine the two-state solution, which lead to igniting violence and spreading chaos. They expressed the importance of stopping all settlement activities, the seizure of Palestinian lands, the forced displacement of the Palestinian people from their homes, and attempts to change the character and identity of Jerusalem, which represents a flagrant violation of international law, international legal resolutions and the resolutions of the UN Security Council, demanding Israel to stop the terrorism practiced by settlers and extremist currents as well as putting them accountable. The leaders also condemned the violation of the legal and historical status of Jerusalem and its sanctities, demanding Israel stop the storming of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque. President Abbas and President El-Sisi stressed the importance of the historical Hashemite custodianship over Islamic and Christian sanctities in Jerusalem, and its role in preserving its Arab-Islamic and Christian identity. The leaders emphasized that the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, in its full area of 144 dunums, is a place of worship purely for Muslims and that the Department of Endowment of Jerusalem and the Affairs of the Blessed Al -Aqsa Mosque of the Jordanian Ministry of Endowments is the party with the exclusive jurisdiction in the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The leaders expressed their intention to continue their efforts with the main international powers and the parties interested in peace to revive a serious peace process, based on the rules of international law, the references of the peace process, and within a mechanism and a clear and specific timetable. They called on the international community to support these efforts to achieve the just and comprehensive peace that the region and all its peoples deserve. The leaders stressed their adherence to the Arab Peace Initiative with all its elements, which are based on international law and constants and represent the most comprehensive proposal to achieve fair peace and meet the aspirations of all the peoples of the region for a stable future that prevails in coexistence, development and cooperation between all peoples and countries. President Abbas and King Abdullah II stressed the importance of El-Sisi and Egypt in uniting the Palestinian ranks and ending the division, which is considered an interest and necessity for the Palestinian people, stressing the need to build on the meeting of the general secretaries of the Palestinian factions, which was hosted by Egypt in July. The three leaders also emphasized the importance of the international community continuing to support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees “UNRWA”, highlighting the need to stand by the agency and support it in its current financial crisis, in order to provide the financial support it needs to continue to provide vital services to Palestinian refugees according to its international mandate till the refugees are enabled to enjoy the right to return according to the UN Resolution No. 194. They agreed to continue intensive consultation and coordination within the framework of the three-way coordination formula at all levels in order to formulate frameworks to activate international efforts aimed at achieving the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
Source: En – Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA