Egypt’s FM urges Israeli government against measures that may escalate tensions with Palestinians
Ahram Online, , Sunday 11 Jul 2021
The top Egyptian diplomat affirmed the need to move urgently towards breaking the current stalemate between the Palestinians and Israel


Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry voiced Egypt’s aspiration that the Israeli government refrain from any measures that may raise tensions with the Palestinians in a meeting on Sunday with his Israeli counterpart Yair Lapid.

Naftali Bennett was sworn in as the new Israeli prime minister last month, leading a new government, only a month after Israel and Palestinian factions in Gaza agreed to an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire that ended 11 days of Israeli aggression on the enclave.

Egypt has since exerted political and diplomatic efforts to consolidate the ceasefire and highlight the need for urgently resuming the peace talks between the Israeli and Palestinian sides.

During their meeting in Brussels, Shoukry told Lapid that he hopes the Israeli government does not take any measures that would undermine the chances of creating a climate for peace and stability, a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry read.

The top Egyptian diplomat affirmed the need to move urgently towards breaking the current stalemate between the Palestinians and Israel, so that a fair and comprehensive peace process between the two sides can be launched.

Shoukry said this negotiating process should be launched on the basis of international references and relevant UN Security Council resolutions and in a way that ensures the establishment of a Palestinian state on the June 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Egyptian FM said this effort is considered one of the main components for strengthening the pillars of security and stability in the region.

Cairo will not hesitate to support all international efforts to reach this goal in coordination with all relevant actors in this regard, Shoukry said.

The Egyptian FM underscored Egypt’s efforts in implementing the reconstruction process in Gaza and providing aid and developmental support to all the Palestinian lands in cooperation with the Palestinian Authority.

Shoukry headed to Brussels on Sunday morning to deliver a message from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to the European Council’s President, Charles Michel.

The top Egyptian diplomat is also scheduled to have bilateral meetings with a number of senior officials at the European Commission to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues of mutual interest.

Shoukry has already met with Slovenian Foreign Minister Anže Logar and his Maltese counterpart, Evarist Bartolo during his visit.

Shoukry and Bartolo discussed regional issues of mutual concern, including the Libyan crisis and the efforts to counter terrorism and illegal emigration.

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