Arab leaders threaten regional unrest in response to Israeli moves

News » Arab-Israeli conflict

Dozens of leaders and senior officials from Arab and Islamic countries warned Sunday that Israeli actions in Jerusalem and the PA could exacerbate regional unrest due to a surge in violence between Israel and the Palestinians. The meeting in Cairo was hosted by the Arab League and attended by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, King Abdullah II of Jordan and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other high-ranking officials.

Speakers at the meeting condemned “unilateral measures” in statements; Israel in Jerusalem and the PA, including house demolitions and settlement expansion. They also condemned visits by Israeli officials to the city's contested holy site, which is sacred to both Jews and Muslims.

Calling Jerusalem the “backbone of the Palestinian cause”, Fattah el-Sisi warned of dire consequences any move by Israel to change the status quo of this holy site, stating that they would “affect” on future negotiations to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In his opinion, such measures will interfere with the long-awaited two-state solution to the conflict, which will leave “difficult and serious options for both sides and the entire Middle East.”

The President of Egypt, whose country was the first of the Arab countries to establish diplomatic relations with Israel, called on the international community to “strengthen the two-state solution and create favorable conditions for the resumption of the peace process.”

King Abdullah II also called on Israel to stop violations and incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque.< br />
“The region cannot live in peace, stability and prosperity without any progress in the Palestinian cause”, – he said.

Abbas, the president of Palestine, said his administration will turn to the United Nations and its agencies and demand a resolution to defend a two-state solution to the conflict.

“The State of Palestine will continue to appeal to international courts and organizations to protect the legitimate rights of our people”,– he said.

Sunday's meeting in Cairo released a closing statement condemning “Israel's systemic policy of distorting and changing the Arab and Islamic culture and identity of Jerusalem.” The communiqué also called for an International Criminal court to continue investigating and prosecuting those responsible for alleged Israeli war crimes and crimes against humanity.

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