On May 9th 2018, a meeting was held at the headquarters of the Council, which included Mr. Ibrahim El-Dewary, an expert in Palestinian and Israeli studies, with the Minister Delegate from the Chinese Embassy in Cairo, Ms. Liu Yong, to discuss current developments in the Palestinian arena.
During the meeting, a number of points were emphasized:
• That the solution of the Palestinian issue is important to maintain Egyptian and Arab national security and stability of the region.
• That the two-state solution is the only solution to the Palestinian crisis and to achieve peace by establishing a Palestinian state alongside the Israeli state.
• That the imposition of any solution from any party will return negatively to the overall situation on the ground and will cause aggravation, and reluctant to deal with the “century” American to disregard the rights of the Palestinian people in an independent sovereign state is an unacceptable solution, and this rejection included in the final statement of the Arab summit in Dammam.
• Egypt supports the resumption of negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides and makes efforts to resolve the Palestinian divide.
• Mr. Ibrahim presented the current situation in the region in connection with the peace process. He stated the following:
• The political negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides have been suspended since April 2014 until now.
• There are many crises in the region, which have become a priority at the expense of the Palestinian cause.
• Egypt’s efforts to achieve reconciliation are facing many obstacles. Despite the Egyptian attempts and the travel of security delegations to meet leaders from both sides, they have not produced any decisive results so far.
• The repercussions of the American decision to transfer the US Embassy to Jerusalem and recognize the city as the capital of the State of Israel.
• The difficulties of the economic situation in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there and Cairo’s efforts to support the Palestinian brothers in the Gaza Strip through the opening of the Rafah crossing for the passage of individuals and assistance.
• That what happens on the border, from protests every Friday, under the so-called “marches of return,” aimed at giving a message that the Palestinians adhere to their right to return.
• The meeting of the Palestinian National Council, held last April, was boycotted by Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
• Trump declaration of withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear agreement, and the implications of that and the confrontation between Iran and Israel on Syrian territory.
• El-Dewary expressed his pessimism that any negotiations with Israel’s extreme right-wing government will not lead to any positive results.
