Safadi, Palestine FM review outcomes of extraordinary Arab League ministerial session

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and his Palestinian counterpart Riyad Maliki on Tuesday discussed means to follow up on the positive outcomes of the extraordinary ministerial session of the Arab League Council that was held on Monday.

The session, which was held at a joint invitation from the Kingdom and Egypt to discuss the Arab situation and support the Palestinian cause, also stressed the centrality of the Palestinian issue, where Arab states unanimously agreed on the unaltered stances of realising comprehensive and permanent peace, according to a ministry statement.

The two ministers highlighted the importance of building on the current political momentum and international endeavours to mobilise international support to launch “serious and effective” negotiations to reach a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution that leads to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Safadi and Maliki also reiterated the significance of the Arab League’s unanimous decision that highlighted the unified Arab stance towards the Palestinian issue, which delivers a message to the world that the two-state solution based on international legitimacy resolutions is the only means to end the conflict.

They also added that the decision said that all the illegitimate Israeli procedures that undermine the two-state solution are a threat to opportunities to reach a just peace, calling for launching “effective” endeavours to halt these Israeli acts.

In implementation of the directives of His Majesty King Abdullah and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the two sides confirmed the continuation of coordination and consultation with Egypt and all other countries to stand up for the rights of Palestinians.

Maliki praised the Kingdom’s efforts, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah, in helping the Palestinians meet their legitimate rights and commended His Majesty’s efforts, as custodian of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, in defending the city and maintaining its Islamic and Christian Arab identity, as well as preserving the status quo.