Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is scheduled to hold talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Cairo Monday, the Egyptian presidency unexpectedly announced, while Palestinian sources said that Jordanian King Abdullah II could also join the meeting.
Sisi invited his Palestinian counterpart to Cairo to discuss the latest developments concerning the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, said a statement issued by the Egyptian presidency.
It said Sisi wants to discuss with Abbas ways to deal with the crisis while preserving the Palestinian people’s rights, including their legitimate right to establish their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The Egyptian-Palestinian summit comes eight days ahead of the visit of US Vice President Mike Pence to the region.
Abbas has already announced his rejection to meet with Pence in protest over US President Donald Trump’s decision to transfer his country’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Trump’s decision last Wednesday has drawn a wave of condemnation from the Arab and Muslim world and from Western countries.
Egypt has rejected Washington’s decision and described it as a violation of UN resolutions.
Sisi telephoned on Sunday both the Jordanian King and Abbas.
The Egyptian President discussed with King Abdullah II developments related to Jerusalem in light of the US decision.
The Jordanian King stressed the importance of supporting the Palestinians in their quest to establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
He also highlighted the need to intensify Arab, Islamic and international efforts to protect the rights of Palestinians, Muslims and Christians in Jerusalem, which is key to achieving peace and stability in the region.
Meanwhile, the Arab League on Sunday warned that attempts to change the legal status of Jerusalem or to "change the Arab identity of the city" are "provocations to the feelings of Muslims and Christians throughout Arab and Islamic worlds and peace-loving peoples around the world.”
