On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met with his Israeli counterpart, Eli Cohen, underscoring the importance of fostering de-escalation and distancing from heightened tensions in the region.
Ahmed Abu Zeid, the official spokesperson for Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the comprehensive nature of the discussions that transpired between the two diplomats. Key topics encompassed aspects of bilateral relations, potential avenues for collaboration in trade, investment, and energy, especially within the scope of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum.
A significant portion of their discussion centered on the evolving dynamics in the occupied Palestinian territories. Minister Shoukry emphasized the criticality of the Israeli side to lean towards a path of calming tensions rather than escalation. He warned of the perils of spiraling into a vicious cycle of violence, pushing both sides further away from the ultimate goal of peace and the realization of the two-state solution vision.
Furthermore, the spokesperson relayed Shoukry’s belief that only comprehensive and just peace serves as the genuine guarantor for prosperity, stability, and peaceful coexistence in the region. This peace, Shoukry reiterated, hinges upon recognizing Palestinian rights, paving the way for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The Egyptian minister assured his unwavering commitment to galvanize all efforts to encourage all parties to return to the negotiation table in pursuit of this coveted objective.
