Egypt, UN Call for Avoiding Escalation in Palestinian Territories

Shoukry meets with Wennesland in Cairo: Photo: Egyptian Foreign Ministry
Shoukry meets with Wennesland in Cairo: Photo: Egyptian Foreign Ministry
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Egypt, UN Call for Avoiding Escalation in Palestinian Territories

Shoukry meets with Wennesland in Cairo: Photo: Egyptian Foreign Ministry
Shoukry meets with Wennesland in Cairo: Photo: Egyptian Foreign Ministry

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and United Nations’ Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland have agreed to intensify contacts to avoid any escalation in Jerusalem or the Gaza Strip.

During their meeting, they discussed ways to advance the peace process and end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Egyptian FM briefed Wennesland on Egypt’s stance and efforts to resume the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations based on the relevant international legitimacy resolutions and the international law.

Shoukry also highlighted Egypt’s efforts, along with Jordan, Germany, and France, to resume the negotiations, voicing Cairo’s concerns over an escalation in East Jerusalem.

The minister further called for putting an end to violations of the holy city’s Arab, Islamic and Christian identity.

Wennesland praised Cairo’s great efforts to resume the peace talks and achieve Palestinian reconciliation.

In a separate meeting with Wennesland, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Abul Gheit expressed concern about the recent escalation in Jerusalem, blaming the extreme right-wing rhetoric in Israel for the worsening developments.

He also blamed the Israeli authorities who he said sought to impose new restrictions on the Palestinians in the Old City and Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Abul Gheit called for wisdom and less provocation, especially that this time of year sees the influx of tens of thousands of worshippers to the Temple Mount.

He highlighted the right of Palestinians to reach Al-Aqsa Mosque without obstacles or barriers and warned against incitement by Jewish groups.

Abul Gheit also stressed the importance of continuing international support for the Palestinian Authority at this difficult phase, especially with the serious economic and social consequences of the novel coronavirus pandemic.



Iraq Holds Kurdish Government Legally Responsible for Continued Oil Smuggling

Kurdish protesters block the road in front of trucks carrying oil in the Arbat area near Sulaymaniyah, Iraq February 23, 2025. REUTERS/Ako Rasheed/File Photo
Kurdish protesters block the road in front of trucks carrying oil in the Arbat area near Sulaymaniyah, Iraq February 23, 2025. REUTERS/Ako Rasheed/File Photo
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Iraq Holds Kurdish Government Legally Responsible for Continued Oil Smuggling

Kurdish protesters block the road in front of trucks carrying oil in the Arbat area near Sulaymaniyah, Iraq February 23, 2025. REUTERS/Ako Rasheed/File Photo
Kurdish protesters block the road in front of trucks carrying oil in the Arbat area near Sulaymaniyah, Iraq February 23, 2025. REUTERS/Ako Rasheed/File Photo

Iraq's oil ministry said on Thursday it holds the Kurdish regional government (KRG) legally responsible for the continued smuggling of oil from the Kurdish region outside the country.

The ministry reserves the right to take all legal measures in the matter, it added.

Control over oil and gas has long been a source of tension between Baghdad and Erbil, Reuters reported.

Iraq is under pressure from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to cut output to compensate for having produced more than its agreed volume. OPEC counts oil flows from Kurdistan as part of Iraq's quota.

In a ruling issued in 2022, Iraq's federal court deemed an oil and gas law regulating the oil industry in Iraqi Kurdistan unconstitutional and demanded that Kurdish authorities hand over their crude oil supplies.

The ministry said the KRG’s failure to comply with the law has hurt both oil exports and public revenue, forcing Baghdad to cut output from other fields to meet OPEC quotas.

The ministry added that it had urged the KRG to hand over crude produced from its fields, warning that failure to do so could result in significant financial losses and harm the country’s international reputation and oil commitments.

Negotiations to resume Kurdish oil exports via the Iraq-Türkiye oil pipeline, which once handled about 0.5% of global oil supply, have stalled over payment terms and contract details.