'Palestinian Cause Always a Top Priority for Egypt,' FM Shoukry to Palestine's Abbas

The Palestinian cause will always remain a priority in the Egyptian foreign policy, Egypt's Sameh Shoukry told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during his visit to the de facto Palestinian capital of Ramallah.

In statements to Egypt's state-owned MENA news agency, Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said that Shoukry delivered to the Palestinians a message of solidarity and support from Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.

Shoukry assured Abbas of Egypt's commitment to supporting the right of Palestinians to establish an independent state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

According to Abu Zeid, Shoukry was keen on sharing Egypt's perspective on the outcome of the ministerial gathering in the French peace initiative held earlier in June pushing for a Palestinian-Israeli peace plan.

He also briefed Abbas on the talks that Egypt conducted with international and regional partners on methods of encouraging both sides to resume negotiations.

The Paris conference, where neither Israelis nor Palestinians were invited, aimed to lay the groundwork for a full-fledged peace conference to be held by the end of the year, though many question whether the initiative will make genuine progress.

Palestinians have welcomed the French initiative but Israeli officials have said an international conference would not work, and that only direct talks between the foes can bring peace.

From his side, Abbas informed the Egyptian foreign minister of the results of the latest round of negotiations related to reconciliation between Palestinian factions and the reasons behind their failure.

The Palestinian president praised Egypt's efforts in chairing of an anti-occupation committee in the Arab league and its current membership in the United Nations Security Council.

Shoukry also met with his Palestinian counterpart Riyadh Al-Malki, where both sides agreed on the methods of promoting cooperation and coordination between the two sides to guarantee the accomplishing of mutual interests and provide the necessary support for the Palestinian people in gaining their legitimate rights.

Discussions related to the Palestinian issue have been on the rise since the Egyptian president's call in a May speech to Palestinian and Israeli leaders that peace, prosperity and cooperation will only take place if both parties are able to reach a two-state solution.

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