Arabs’ peace overture still represents their unified stand — Safadi

AMMAN — Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi on Wednesday discussed with his Omani peer, Yusuf Bin Alawi, the Mideast peace push as Muscat has recently stepped-up its engagement in the issue.

The Omani foreign minister was on a brief visit to the Kingdom, coming from Ramallah where he met the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, a ministry statement said.

The two ministers “stressed keenness to strengthen cooperation and brotherly ties between the two countries, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah and Sultan Qaboos Bin Said”.

The two ministers reviewed the latest developments related to the Palestinian issue, where Bin Alawi briefed Safadi on Oman’s activities in this context, including the talks with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week in Muscat and Bin Alawi’s meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Both sides stressed the importance of steping-up efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state solution, which guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within pre-June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Safadi warned of the continued absence of prospects for justice for the Palestinian people. He stressed that ending the Israeli occupation and securing all the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people are the only way to resolve the conflict and achieve security, stability and comprehensive peace in the region.

He stressed that the envision solution should come in line with international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, which, he said, represents a unified Arab position and a comprehensive approach to peace.

The two ministers also discussed a number of regional issues, foremost of which are efforts to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis.

The Omani minister met Abbas and delivered a letter about Netanyahu’s “surprise visit” to the Gulf sultanate last week, official Palestinian media said, as quoted by Agence France-Presse. 

Bin Alawi gave Abbas the letter from Oman’s Sultan Qaboos, official Palestinian news agency WAFA said.

It gave no further details on their discussions in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank.

The Palestinians have been concerned by Israel’s bid for rapprochement with Gulf countries.

Frozen peace efforts and Israel’s continued occupation of Palestinian territory have been obstacles to Israeli attempts to win official recognition from countries in the region.

But there has long been talk of under-the-radar contacts, particularly regarding Iran, which is the enemy both of Israel and Gulf states.

Netanyahu’s October 25 visit to Oman, which was not announced beforehand, was a major coup for the Israeli premier.

Abbas had also visited Oman in the days before Netanyahu’s trip.

Israel has achieved other milestones in its regional efforts in the days after the premier’s Oman visit.

Israeli Sports Minister Miri Regev toured the UAE’s famed Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Israel’s communications minister delivered a speech in Dubai and the Israeli national anthem played at a judo competition in Abu Dhabi.