Ashtiyeh praises Egypt's support for establishment of independent Palestinian state

CAIRO - 24 July 2019: Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ashtiyeh praised on Wednesday Egypt's supportive stance to end the occupation and establish an independent Palestinian state. He hopes to hold an Egyptian-Palestinian ministerial meeting to follow up the common issues.

"I would also like to laud Egypt's role in defending the cause in all international forums in the United Nations, in the Arab League and in all areas of diplomatic work," the prime minister said.

Furthermore, Ashtiyeh also reviewed the Egyptian effort to achieve Palestinian reconciliation.

During the 30th Arab Summit held earlier this year in Tunisia, President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi said that the Arab-Israeli conflict comes at the top of the challenges faced by the Arab nations, adding that he believes that all Arab countries agree that there is no final way out of it unless a peaceful, comprehensive and just solution is reached to restore the Palestinian rights.

Sisi affirmed that the solution must guarantee the establishment of an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Later in April, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas praised Egyptian efforts at various levels to resolve the Palestinian cause and protect the rights of the Palestinian people during his meeting in Cairo with Sisi, presidential spokesman Bassam Radi said.

During the meeting, Abbas stressed the importance he attaches to the coordination with President Sisi concerning the Palestinian situation and ways to deal with the challenges facing the Palestinian people.

He also reviewed the determinants of the Palestinian situation in light of the recent developments.

For his part, Sisi affirmed Egypt's full support for the Palestinian stance to reach a political settlement, highlighting the need to reach a just and comprehensive solution leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The meeting also reviewed the challenges currently faced by the Palestinian Authority, especially following Israel's deduction of the clearing funds, and the negative repercussions of such issue on the status of the authority.

Sisi affirmed Egypt's keenness to exert efforts with the concerned parties in this regard to prevent further escalation.

The Egyptian efforts to stabilize the Gaza Strip were also discussed during the meeting. Sisi pointed out that the Egyptian moves always aim at maintaining the security and stability of the Palestinian people and improving the humanitarian and economic conditions in the Gaza Strip.