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Egypt Stresses ‘Pressing’ Need to Revive Palestinian-Israeli Negotiations

Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi. (AFP)
Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi. (AFP)
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Egypt Stresses ‘Pressing’ Need to Revive Palestinian-Israeli Negotiations

Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi. (AFP)
Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi. (AFP)

Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi stressed on Tuesday the pressing need to resume negotiations between Palestine and Israel.

Meeting with Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide in Cairo, Sisi said that Egypt is keen to implement the two-state solution, Arab peace initiative and international resolutions.

Presidency spokesperson Bassam Rady announced Sisi and Soreide exchanged views on the latest developments in the Palestinian territories in light of Norway's historic role in negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis, which led to the signing of the Oslo Agreement in 1993.

The minister hailed the role played by Egypt in this regard and Cairo's efforts to restore stability and contain the repercussions of crises in the region.

“Egypt plays an important role both in the Middle East and Africa. It is engaged in international efforts to address global challenges. Norway is working closely with the country to stabilize the situation in Gaza,” Soreide concluded.

She also stressed her country's aspiration to increase economic cooperation between the two states, especially in light of the comprehensive economic reform program implemented by the Egyptian government, reiterating Norway's commitment to be Cairo’s partner in development.

Soreide pointed out that Norwegian companies are interested in working in Egypt and enhancing triangular cooperation between Egypt and Norway in Africa in light of the joint interests in supporting the development of the continent.

The minister later met with Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit where she discussed with him ways to strengthen Arab-Norwegian cooperation and a number of issues of common interest.

Aboul Gheit’s spokesman Ambassador Mahmoud Afifi announced that the meeting witnessed an exchange of views on the latest developments in the Middle East.

Soreide was particularly interested in identifying the secretary-general's view on the current situation in the Palestinian cause and the prospects of a just and lasting settlement on the basis of the two-state solution.

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Trump's Syria Policy Dominates Opening of 'Astana 22' Talks

The foreign ministers of Türkiye, Russia and Iran meet in New York in September. (Turkish Foreign Ministry)
The foreign ministers of Türkiye, Russia and Iran meet in New York in September. (Turkish Foreign Ministry)
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Trump's Syria Policy Dominates Opening of 'Astana 22' Talks

The foreign ministers of Türkiye, Russia and Iran meet in New York in September. (Turkish Foreign Ministry)
The foreign ministers of Türkiye, Russia and Iran meet in New York in September. (Turkish Foreign Ministry)

The 22nd round of the Astana peace talks on Syria kicked off in Kazakhstan’s capital on Monday. The talks, held over two days, brought together Syria’s government, opposition and guarantor states Russia, Iran and Türkiye, with observers from Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and the UN.

The talks, initiated by Russia and supported by Türkiye and Iran, will focus on key issues such as the potential shifts in US policy toward Syria under President-elect Donald Trump, according to Russian presidential envoy to Syria Alexander Lavrentiev.

The talks will also address regional tensions, including the spread of the Gaza conflict into Lebanon, ongoing Israeli airstrikes on Syria and concerns over the risk of the regional conflict expanding further.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov stressed the importance of meeting before the end of the year to set priorities for Syria and the region.

This comes after the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights revealed a “secret” Russian-Syrian agreement to limit the movement of Hezbollah, Iranian forces and Iranian-backed militias in Syria.

As well as the Syrian conflict, the talks will cover issues such as prisoner releases, missing persons, humanitarian conditions, international support for peace efforts, Syria’s reconstruction and the return of refugees.

The current round of talks will focus on the political and military situation around Syria.

Lavrentiev said Russia will do everything possible to prevent the Gaza conflict from spreading to Syria.

Potential changes in US policy toward Syria under Trump are a major topic for discussion among the ceasefire guarantors, he added. Russia will focus on concrete actions and proposals, rather than just statements, especially as expectations grow that Trump will follow through on his pledge to withdraw US troops from Syria.

This move could shift the balance of power and affect the actions of various parties. The withdrawal is a key demand for Russia, Iran and Türkiye, the three guarantor states of the Astana process.