In his speech at the 32nd Arab Leaders Summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Friday, President El-Sisi said “It is evident to anyone with insight that preserving the nation-state and supporting its institutions is an absolute necessity for the livelihood and future of peoples and their capabilities.” 

The Egyptian president added that it was never acceptable for the hopes of the Arab nations to remain hostage to chaos and external interventions, which only exacerbate instability and hinder efforts to resolve crises amid challenging circumstances facing the region.

He stressed that relying on Arab collective efforts, self-capabilities and integration among the Arab countries is key to formulate decisive solutions to our issues.

The Egyptian President said the concept of joint Arab action should also extend to dealing with global crises and coordinating our efforts to reform the global economic governance system.

“At the heart of this system are financial institutions and international development banks, which should be more responsive to the challenges of the developing world.”

He said adding that it was essential to consider that the state of international polarization now threatens the "globalization" system, which was once celebrated by the world.

“It necessitates eliminating double standards in the application of international law,” he added. 

Comprehensive peace in ME

"We have followed with sadness and pain how some of the Arab crises have escalated over the past period, particularly the irresponsible escalation by Israel in the Palestinian territories, most recently in the Gaza Strip," the Egyptian president said.

"While Egypt reiterates its continued efforts to stabilize the calm, we warn that the continued management of the conflict, militarily and security, will have serious consequences for the Palestinian and Israeli peoples alike."

"It may be appropriate to reaffirm today our commitment to the strategic option of achieving comprehensive and just peace through the Arab Peace Initiative on the basis of the resolutions of international legitimacy and demanding that Israel ends the occupation and the establishment of a Palestinian State along the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital," El-Sisi stressed.

Sudan, Libya, Yemen

The Egyptian president also urged a quick resolution to the crisis in Sudan, Libya and Yemen.

"A new crisis in Sudan is foreshadowing - if we do not cooperate to contain it - a prolonged conflict and catastrophic consequences for Sudan and the region," the president said.

He added that the continuation of crises in Libya and Yemen requires the activation of joint Arab action to resolve those issues, in a manner that is more pressing than ever.  

Welcoming Syria back

The Egyptian president also welcomed the return of Syria into the Arab League as a step toward finding a settlement to the crisis in the country and ending the suffering of its people.

He stressed that the return of Syria to the Arab fold “marks a practical  activation of an Arab role in finding a resolution to the Syrian crisis according to international references, including Security Council resolution 2254.”

"Egypt will support in all sincerity and honesty all real efforts to push forward joint Arab action," El-Sisi added.

"Joint Arab work is the ideal way to safeguard our interests and provide collective security for our peoples," he said.