Egyptian Foreign Minister Discusses "Serious" Developments in the West Bank with Palestinian Vice President

Cairo, Aug 23 (KUNA) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty discussed with Palestinian Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh on Sunday the “serious” developments in the West Bank. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the discussion took place during a phone call in which Minister Abdelatty condemned the expansion of Israeli occupation activities in its settlement endeavors, the escalating violence by settlers, as well as violations in East Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque. In this regard, the Egyptian foreign minister emphasized the firm rejection of the settlement project in Area E1, which poses a threat to the partition of the West Bank, the encirclement and isolation of East Jerusalem, and the undermining of prospects for establishing an independent Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital. The statement noted that the call also addressed ongoing efforts to complete the first-phase obligations of U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan, in accordance with the roadmap, and to move to the second phase, which includes ensuring the flow of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and enabling the (National Committee for the Administration of Gaza) to carry out its duties from within the Strip. In the same context, both sides stressed the importance of preserving the territorial integrity of Palestinian lands in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and enabling the Palestinian Authority to fulfill its responsibilities. For his part, the Palestinian vice president appreciated, according to the statement, Egypt’s supportive role for the Palestinian cause and the efforts Egypt is making to support the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, affirming the continuation of coordination and consultation in the coming period. (End) A.S.M./S.M.A.