عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Egypt Seeks Int’l Support for Palestinian-Israeli Talks

Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel meeting with a Hamas delegation in Gaza last Sunday (AP)
Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel meeting with a Hamas delegation in Gaza last Sunday (AP)
TT
TT

Egypt Seeks Int’l Support for Palestinian-Israeli Talks

Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel meeting with a Hamas delegation in Gaza last Sunday (AP)
Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel meeting with a Hamas delegation in Gaza last Sunday (AP)

Egypt is increasing its efforts to launch serious and urgent negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis and started to mobilize international support for the talks through consultations with the foreign ministers of Jordan, Canada, and Malaysia.

The latest consultations addressed the possible resumption of the negotiations based on the two-state solution, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Egypt, which is seeking to ensure a permanent ceasefire in Palestine, has sent prominent officials, chaired by the head of the General Intelligence, Abbas Kamel, to Ramallah, Gaza, and Tel Aviv.

Kamel also discussed a prisoner exchange deal and advancing the Palestinian national reconciliation.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi maintaining the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The two ministers also addressed the reconstruction process in the enclave and affirmed the importance of continuing their efforts to support the national Palestinian authority and improve the living conditions of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza in cooperation with international partners.

Talks also covered efforts to relaunch serious negotiations to achieve a just peace on the basis of the two-state solution in accordance with international law and the Arab Peace Initiative.

Earlier, Shoukry received his Israeli counterpart, Gabi Ashkenazi, who called for urgently launching serious and constructive negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis.

Egypt's foreign ministry spokesman, Ambassador Ahmed Hafez, said Shoukry stressed the need to consolidate the ceasefire by stopping all practices that lead to tension and an escalation of confrontations.

Shoukry also received a phone call from his Canadian counterpart, Marc Garneau, who was briefed on the Egyptian stance, mainly in Palestine.

The Egyptian official emphasized the need to move urgently to launch serious negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, "especially since the recent weeks have undoubtedly proven that the Palestinian cause can no longer be ignored and left unresolved.”

Later, Shoukry held a video conference with his Malaysian counterpart, Hishamuddin Hussain, to exchange views on ways to strengthen cooperation relations between the two countries.

The meeting also touched on developments in Palestine and efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East.

Shoukry referred to Egypt’s moves to stop the escalation and achieve the desired calm in the Gaza Strip, as well as the current efforts to build on the ceasefire.

He also addressed the efforts made to urgently re-launch negotiations, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state according to the 1967 border, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

Fishers at a Lebanese Port Hope Ceasefire with Israel Means Normal Life is Returning

Most of the 700 fishers who work on the 270 boats at the Tyre port have not sailed out of concern since the Israeli army in October barred any boats from an area 50 kilometers from the order. (AP)
Most of the 700 fishers who work on the 270 boats at the Tyre port have not sailed out of concern since the Israeli army in October barred any boats from an area 50 kilometers from the order. (AP)
TT
TT

Fishers at a Lebanese Port Hope Ceasefire with Israel Means Normal Life is Returning

Most of the 700 fishers who work on the 270 boats at the Tyre port have not sailed out of concern since the Israeli army in October barred any boats from an area 50 kilometers from the order. (AP)
Most of the 700 fishers who work on the 270 boats at the Tyre port have not sailed out of concern since the Israeli army in October barred any boats from an area 50 kilometers from the order. (AP)

The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah brought hope for normality back to many in southern Lebanon on Friday, including fishermen who have long launched their single-engine wooden boats into the Mediterranean at dawn.
During the last two months of its year fighting Hezbollah, Israel imposed a siege on southern Lebanon that kept hundreds of fishers at this ancient Phoenician port on shore, upending their lives and the industry.
While less important than destruction and displacement, the port siege cut many people off from the key ingredients for traditional Lebanese dishes like sayadiyeh — fish and rice boiled in fish sauce — or fried and grilled fish eaten with dips such as hummus and tabbouleh or fattoush salads.
The loss of fish damaged a deep association with home, but now the possibility of renewed Lebanese fishing on the country's southern coast is helping fuel hope for a brighter future.
On Friday, a few boats went out close to the shore as fishers in the port worked on the nets of small boats painted white, blue or red.
Hussein Sukmani, 55, said Friday that he was considering going to sea in coming days but was waiting to see how things unfold.
He hasn't dared set sail since the Israel-Hezbollah war dramatically intensified on Sept. 23. “They were days of fear and horror,” he said. "They were the most difficult days of our lives.”
A week ago, a drone strike killed two young fishers in the city as they prepared their nets on the coast, and some fishermen said Friday that the Lebanese army told them that if they headed out it would be at their own risk .
Among those who sailed near the coast on Friday was Walid Darwish, who returned to the port with two plastic boxes filled with mullet.
“Today is the first time that we sail,” Darwish said, adding that fishers had missed the prime season in October and November.
“We lost it,” he said.
The Israeli army barred any boats from an area 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the border in October and has not said whether the warning is still in effect.
Sukmani said that most of the 700 fishers who work on the 270 boats at the port have not sailed out of concern since then.
The area around the port is a predominantly Christian neighborhood that has been spared much of the airstrikes on other parts of Tyre that leveled buildings in this city.
In peaceful times, the port is a major tourist attraction, beloved by Lebanese and foreigners who come for the views, the restaurants and the beaches.
On Friday, Mohammed Hammoud walked along the coast of Tyre carrying his fishing rod.
“It is enough that someone is able to stand in this beautiful area,” he said, pointing to the white sands. “Fishing is everything for me,” added Hammoud, who went to fish several times in the area north of the city of Sidon that was not part of the siege.
In the old market of Tyre, Gilbert Spiridon watched from inside his shop as people came to buy freshly brought fish. Before the war, it took hours to sell all his fish to people from around Lebanon.
“All I wish is that the war has ended and we are back on track to the old good days,” he said.