Arab foreign ministers affirmed today their adherence to peace as a strategic choice to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.
The commitment came during the Arab League Council’s 154th session at the level of Arab foreign ministers, which was chaired by Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Riyad Malki and held via video conference.
The Arab foreign ministers also affirmed adherence to the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative which stipulates that comprehensive peace and the normalization of relations with Israel must be preceded by ending the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian and Arab lands occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, and recognizing the state of Palestine and the rights of the Palestinian people.
The ministers also affirmed reactivating the Arab Peace Initiative as well as their rejection of the US-Israeli plan, known as the “deal of the century”, since it does not meet the minimum rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people, and contravenes the references of the peace process based on international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.
The foreign ministers affirmed their support for the peace plan proposed by President Mahmoud Abbas to the Security Council on February 11, 2020.
The ministers stressed that annexing any parts by Israel of the Palestinian lands occupied in 1967, including the Jordan Valley, the northern Dead Sea and the lands on which Israeli settlements are built, constitutes a new war crime.
The foreign ministers reaffirmed the legitimacy of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, headed by President Mahmoud Abbas, appreciating his efforts in the field of Palestinian national reconciliation.
They called on Palestinian factions to speed up the completion of national reconciliation in accordance with the Cairo Agreement signed in May 2011, urging for enabling the Palestinian government to fully assume its responsibilities in the Gaza Strip.
The ministers also called for holding general elections as soon as possible, commending the relentless efforts made by Egypt to achieve Palestinian national reconciliation.
