Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab
States, concluded his participation in a series of Arab meetings with
European foreign ministers and other officials in Brussels, focused on
the Palestinian-Israeli situation in light of the ongoing Israeli
aggression against the Gaza Strip.
Ambassador Hossam Zaki, Assistant Secretary-General, stated that
the meetings hosted in Brussels on Sunday and Monday aimed to discuss
ways to move forward in implementing a practical political solution
based on the two-state solution. The meetings also addressed all efforts
being made to end the conflict and the subsequent steps that could be
taken.
Ambassador Zaki explained that the Secretary-General stressed
during his discussions with European ministers that Israel’s ongoing
aggression could undermine any chance for peace and extinguish hopes of
achieving a two-state solution, posing significant risks not only for
the Middle East but also for international security. He underscored the
necessity for more European countries to recognise an independent
Palestinian state based on the 4 June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem
as its capital. This recognition would provide the Palestinian people
with the hope that their inherent right to liberation and independence
is respected by Western and other international communities. The
Secretary-General thanked the foreign ministers of Ireland, Norway, and
Spain for their decision to recognise the independent Palestinian state.
Ambassador Zaki noted that the discussions during and on the
sidelines of these meetings revealed an increasing inclination towards
addressing the situation collectively by convening an international
conference to implement the two-state solution. This approach is seen as
the only way to save the region from prolonged and continuous violent
conflict, which heavily impacts the Palestinian people.
The Assistant Secretary-General added that Mr. Aboul Gheit, along
with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and
Bahrain, aimed to persuade European countries to move beyond merely
discussing the feasibility of the two-state solution. They advocated for
taking clear and concrete steps to implement it on the ground,
addressing the root causes of the conflict.