Shoukry, Wennesland Discuss Latest Developments in Palestinian Cause

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry during his meeting with the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, in Cairo on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry during his meeting with the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, in Cairo on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Shoukry, Wennesland Discuss Latest Developments in Palestinian Cause

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry during his meeting with the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, in Cairo on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry during his meeting with the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, in Cairo on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held talks with the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland in Cairo on Wednesday.

Shoukry underscored Cairo’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and efforts to achieve peace in the region.

In late May, Cairo underscored the importance of halting all measures and actions that target the Arab Islamic and Christian identity of Jerusalem and its sanctities, and aim at changing the historical and legal status quo of the city.

Shoukry warned then that the escalation affects the stability of the Palestinian territories.

This came during his meeting with the Secretary-General of the Fatah Central Committee, Jibril Rajoub.

The FM reiterated that the continued expansion of settlement activity, whether through building new settlements or expanding existing ones, the confiscation of lands and the displacement of Palestinians, undermine the chances of reaching a two-state solution and the prospect for establishing a comprehensive and just peace in the region.

He further confirmed Egypt’s firm position on supporting the Palestinian cause and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

He underlined the need to hold talks to revive the Israeli-Palestinian dialogue and reach a political solution that would end the Israeli occupation of Palestine along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

In February, Cairo renewed its commitment to support Gaza’ reconstruction efforts. s

Its Permanent Representative to the UN Osama Abdelkhalek told the relevant UN committee that the Palestinian people should exercise their inalienable rights.

He affirmed that his country invested $500 million in projects to reconstruct the Gaza Strip, noting that Egyptian companies have started implementing these projects.



Blinken Says More than a Third of Israeli Forces in Lebanon Have Withdrawn

A member of the Spanish UNIFIL peacekeepers forces stands in front of the rubble of destroyed buildings during a patrol in the southern Lebanese village of Borj al-Mlouk, near the border with Israel, on January 7, 2025, amid a fragile truce between Israel and Hezbollah. (AFP)
A member of the Spanish UNIFIL peacekeepers forces stands in front of the rubble of destroyed buildings during a patrol in the southern Lebanese village of Borj al-Mlouk, near the border with Israel, on January 7, 2025, amid a fragile truce between Israel and Hezbollah. (AFP)
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Blinken Says More than a Third of Israeli Forces in Lebanon Have Withdrawn

A member of the Spanish UNIFIL peacekeepers forces stands in front of the rubble of destroyed buildings during a patrol in the southern Lebanese village of Borj al-Mlouk, near the border with Israel, on January 7, 2025, amid a fragile truce between Israel and Hezbollah. (AFP)
A member of the Spanish UNIFIL peacekeepers forces stands in front of the rubble of destroyed buildings during a patrol in the southern Lebanese village of Borj al-Mlouk, near the border with Israel, on January 7, 2025, amid a fragile truce between Israel and Hezbollah. (AFP)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday said that more than a third of Israeli forces in Lebanon have withdrawn since the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

Blinken, speaking to reporters in Paris, said that while challenges remain, the oversight mechanism put together by the United States and France to address concerns about ceasefire violations is working and functioning well.