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Joint Statement of the Foreign Ministers of France, Germany, Egypt and Jordan (The Munich Group)

Joint Statement of the Foreign Ministers of France, Germany, Egypt and Jordan

(The Munich Group)

Cairo, 11 January 2021

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, France, Germany and Jordan, met in Cairo today to pursue their coordination and consultation on means to advance the Middle East Peace Process towards a just, comprehensive and lasting peace. The ministers discussed their recent contacts with their Palestinian and Israeli counterparts and the views of each party. They also took note of the message addressed by the Palestinian Foreign Minister to the host of the meeting H.E. Sameh Shoukry.

1. The Ministers welcomed the opportunity to discuss potential steps to advance the Middle East Peace Process and to create a conducive environment for a resumed dialogue between the Palestinians and the Israelis. They called upon both parties to deepen their cooperation and dialogue on the basis of further and reciprocal commitments, also in light of the Covid -19 pandemic. In this regard they welcomed the Palestinian Authority’s decision to restore cooperation based on Israel’s commitment to past bilateral agreements.

2. Recalling the principles laid out in their joint statement on 24 September 2020 on the occasion of their meeting in Amman, they firmly committed to supporting all efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace in the Middle East based on international law, relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and agreed parameters, as recalled in the Arab Peace Initiative.

3. They emphasized that the resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state solution is an indispensable requirement to comprehensive peace in the region. They further emphasized their commitment to a negotiated two-state solution, ensuring an independent and viable Palestinian state based on June 4, 1967 lines and UN Security Council resolutions, living side by side a secure and recognized Israel.

4. They emphasized the role of the United States in this context and expressed willingness to work with the Unites States towards facilitating negotiations leading to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the region, based on the internationally-recognized parameters, and re-launching a credible peace process between the Palestinians and Israelis.

5. They called on the parties to refrain from any unilateral measures undermining the future of a fair and lasting solution to the conflict. They reiterated in this regard the call of the implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions to immediately and completely cease all settlement activities including in East Jerusalem. They also concurred that the building and expansion of settlements, and confiscation of Palestinian structures and properties are a violation of international law that undermine the viability of the two-state solution. Furthermore, they stressed the importance of the adherence to international humanitarian law in the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967, including East Jerusalem.

6. They stressed the importance of preserving the composition, character and status of the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967 including East Jerusalem. They recalled the importance of upholding the historic and legal status quo of the Holy sites in Jerusalem. In this regard, they recalled the importance of the historic Hashemite custodianship of Jerusalem’s Holy sites.

7. They emphasized the importance of the peace treaties between Arab states and Israel, including the recently signed agreements contributing to the resolution of the Palestinian- Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state solution so that comprehensive and lasting peace is achieved.

8. They urged all parties, including the international Quartet and their potential partners, to exert collective efforts, and to take practical steps to launch and sponsor credible negotiations on all final status issues in the Middle East Peace Process.

9. They welcomed the recent developments in efforts to achieve Palestinian reconciliation, and welcomed the Palestinian authority’s willingness regarding the holding of upcoming elections. They also vowed to support Egypt’s efforts in this regard aiming to end divisions between the Palestinians.

10. They highly valued the indispensable role of UNRWA in providing humanitarian assistance and essential services to the Palestinian refugees. They called upon the international community to honor its commitments to UNRWA, thereby helping the organization overcome the present dire financial deficit.

11. The Ministers agreed on the necessity to pursue monitoring the developments pertinent to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and called for the prompt resumption of the talks as well as the creation of political horizons and the restoration of hope through credible dialogue, with a view to relaunching serious, meaningful, and effective direct negotiations between the two parties.

At the End of the meeting, the ministers agreed to reach out to the Palestinians and the Israelis conveying their common vision on the way forward towards peace.

They also thanked Egypt for its efforts to organize the meeting and decided to hold the next meeting in France.

 

Source: France Diplomacy. https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files/israel-palestinian-terri...