Today, Monday, Minister Hussein AlSheikh met with the New EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process, Mr. Sven Koopmans, in his office in Ramallah.

The meeting covered the recent political events in the region, raising the violations of the Israeli occupation forces in Jerusalem and Al Haram Al Sharif, in Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan, as well as the aggression on Gaza and escalations in the West Bank.

The meeting stressed the need for a political horizon to put an end to the occupation, and the importance of wide de-escalation efforts.

The Head of the General Authority of Civil Affairs and Fatah Central Committee Member, Minister Hussein AlSheikh, met with the Egyptian Foreign Minister Mr. Sameh Shoukry, reaffirming the need to set forth the political horizon necessary for the establishment of the Palestinian state.

During their press conference today, Monday, at the Presidential Headquarters in Ramallah, AlSheikh said that the Egyptian Foreign Minister, received by President Mahmoud Abbas, came bearing a message from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi confirming the withstanding position of the Arab Republic of Egypt and its absolute support for our people’s pursuit to freedom and independence, and the establishment of their independent state with the capital in East Jerusalem.

AlSheikh added: “We deeply thank the Arab Republic of Egypt, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and all Egyptian state institutions that played a vital role and partnered with regional and international parties to stop the Israeli aggression against our people. He continued: “This aggression which has left mass destruction and tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. This aggression against our people in Jerusalem and in the West Bank as well. “

He emphasized that the two parties share the same vision, both confirming that there can be no security, stability, or peace without political prospects of ending the occupation and establishing the Palestinian state with its capital in Jerusalem, in accordance with international legitimacy.

Minister AlSheikh praised the position of the Egyptian President and thanked him, on behalf of President Mahmoud Abbas, for his generous donation of $500 million for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, noting that all the necessary measures will be planned with the regional and international parties of interest, to accelerate the reparation of what the occupation forces had destroyed in the Strip and Jerusalem.

In turn, Shoukry said: “ I carry a message from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to President Mahmoud Abbas, a message of complete solidarity with the Palestinian people and with the Palestinian National Authority, and all that is done in close coordination between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the National Authority and its leader, President Mahmoud Abbas, in order to establish an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
And the Egyptian Foreign Minister added: “This is the common goal of all brotherly Arab countries, to work in full coordination with the Palestinian National Authority to achieve this.”
He continued: “We have recently witnessed unjustified escalation and assault on holy sites and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, as well as the events in Sheikh Jarrah and continuous efforts to change the Palestinian identity of Jerusalem, which led to the escalation of military operations and the suffering endured by the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.”
Shoukry added, “We have made every effort possible to contain this matter with consideration of the Palestinian people, in an effort to exempt them from the pain of military operations. We stress the need to devise the proper political horizon to etablish the Palestinian state. Stability and security for Palestine and the entire region are not feasible without realizing political prospects and plans first.”
He stressed the coordination and consensus between Egypt and the Palestinian Authority in support of all means to establish the state, further confirming Egypt’s support of the Palestinian people, whether in the West Bank or Gaza Strip.
He said: “We will provide humanitarian aid through the Rafah crossing, and we will coordinate with all those who contribute in this regard. We plan to carry out the operations of reconstruction in full coordination with the Palestinian National Authority.”
Shoukry added, “Given the recent developments, we hope to see international action and attention. Recent statements indicate that there is international interest in the issue, and that must be translated to a clear plan to restore the political process, to reach a permanent and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue that guarantees the full rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among which is the establishment of their independent state.”
He affirmed that Egypt will maintain cooperation and coordination with the National Authority to ensure stability and peace, and will work intensively and sincerely to achieve this goal.

President Mahmoud Abbas received today at the Presidential Headquarters in Ramallah the Egyptian security delegation which visited the Gaza Strip yesterday in an effort to reinforce the fragile ceasefire.

During the meeting, the two parties discussed developments related to the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, Jerusalem and the West Bank, as well as coordinating efforts for reconstruction in the Gaza Strip.

The President thanked Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi for the efforts made by Egypt to achieve a ceasefire and rebuild the Gaza Strip, and to return to the political path to end the Israeli occupation of the land of the State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The meeting was attended by Hussein al-Sheikh, Minister of Civil Affairs and member of the ruling Fatah Central Committee, and the head of the General Intelligence Service, Majid Faraj.

FCC Member and the head of the General Authority of Civil Affairs, H.E. Minister Hussein Al-Sheikh, met with the Director for Middle East and North Africa at the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Ambassador Christophe Farnaud, and the French Consul General, Mr. Rene Troccaz, and their accompanying delegation at the headquarters of the General Authority of Civil Affairs today, Thursday, where they discussed the importance of halting the destructive war and of reaching a ceasefire immediately.

They have also discussed the issue of East Jerusalem and the need to preserve the status quo in the Haram al-Sharif and to stop the displacement policy.

H.E. Al-Sheikh emphasized that the political solution based on international legitimacy and the establishment of a Palestinian state on the borders of the 4th of June, with East Jerusalem as its capital, is a guarantee of security, stability and prosperity, and would be seen as “HOPE” for all parties.

The French envoy affirmed his call for an immediate ceasefire and the protection of civilians. And stressed that the political horizon based on international legitimacy is the only hope for a solution to the series of violence, and to reach stability and peace, he also affirmed that France is making regional and international efforts towards stopping this devastating aggression and moving to a political path under international endorsement.

The Fatah Central Committee Member and Head of the General Authority of Civil Affairs, Minister Hussein AlSheikh, along with His Excellency the Director of General Intelligence, MG Majed Faraj, met with the American delegation headed by US envoy Mr. Hady Amr, where they discussed recent events, with a focus on the Israeli aggression against our Palestinian people in the Occupied Territories (Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank).
The Palestinian delegation called on the US Administration to make every effort possible and pressure the Government of the Occupation to immediately stop this aggression, stop displacement, respect sanctities, and put an end to settler terror, warning against the continuation of this aggression by the right-wing government and its settlers, which may kill or destroy any hope of reviving a serious political process and reaching a comprehensive solution that guarantees an end to the occupation and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The meeting also raised several bilateral issues of interest to the two parties.

Hussein al-Sheikh, Minister of Civil Affairs and member of Fatah Central Committee, said today that “the Israeli government has officially informed us that the Israeli position on holding elections in East Jerusalem remains negative.”

He said in a statement, that all that is being rumored by some parties that the Israeli government has agreed to allow the elections, including in East Jerusalem, is “unfounded.”

Sheikh stressed at the same time that “the official party that must receive the official Israeli answer is the Palestinian National Authority.”

Israeli refusal to allow Palestinian legislative elections planned for May 22 to be held in occupied East Jerusalem may lead to either postponing the elections or cancelling them.

This morning, H.E. Minister Hussein AlSheikh met with the British Minister of the Cabinet Office the Rt. Hon Michael Gove. Minister Gove was accompanied by a delegation from the British Consulate, which included the British Consul General Mr. Philip Hall, the Head of the Political Department, Ms. Daisy Organ, along with several political advisers and secretaries.

Minister AlSheikh informed the Rt. Hon Gove on the latest political developments on the Palestinian arena and the region, as well as the upcoming Palestinian elections in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem.

H.E. Minister AlSheikh also briefed His Excellency the Chancellor on the current economic and political affairs, with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic in Palestine. He also expressed thanks and appreciation for the British government and its continuous support through the World Health Organization.

Also present at the meeting, from the the Palestinian side, was Deputy Minister Mr. Ayman Qandil, the Director of the Minister’s Office, Ayah AlMuhisin, and Protocol Officer, Jehad Abualhaj.

President Mahmoud Abbas received today at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi carrying a message from King Abdullah II.

After the meeting, the head of the Civil Affairs Authority and member of Fatah Central Committee, Hussein al-Sheikh, said that Safadi came carrying a message from King Abdullah II confirming the depth of the historical relationship and coordination at the highest level between the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the State of Palestine, and it dealt with the political developments in the region and some issues related to bilateral relations, stressing common historical issues and relations, and continuing coordination at the highest level.

He affirmed the harmony in the positions of the two sides in all files, whether it was the recent political developments in the region or Jordan’s full and firm support for Palestinian political right to establish the state on the June 4, 1967, borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, which constitute a red line for Palestine and Jordan, as well as the King and the Kingdom’s support for the Palestinian elections and the choice of the leadership to continue in the democratic choice, and its request from the international community to facilitate the electoral process and overcome all difficulties in order to achieve it.

The Jordanian Foreign Minister said that today’s meeting comes as a continuation of the contacts and consultation between King Abdullah II and President Mahmoud Abbas, and to deliver a message about the joint efforts Jordan and other countries are undertaking in order to take real steps capable of breaking the deadlock and creating a political horizon that allows for the restoration of serious and effective negotiations to achieve the common and main goal, and the strategic interest of the region and the world, which is reaching a just peace, which can only be achieved if the Palestinian people obtain their full legitimate rights, foremost is their right to an independent and sovereign state with occupied Jerusalem as its capital on the June 4, 1967, borders and according to all agreed terms of reference.

Safadi stressed that there are different circumstances regionally and internationally, especially with the new US administration, and the positive steps it took that require us to interact with it positively and to press towards looking for the next move that must take place.

He stressed the need to find the international action capable of stopping the unilateral Israeli steps that undermine the two-state solution, specifically building and expanding settlements and seizing people’s homes and evicting them from their homes as is the case in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in occupied Jerusalem, which the Kingdom is making efforts in coordination with the brothers and the international community to preserve the right of these people to remain in their homes.

“We have provided all the documents that we have, which can help the Palestinian residents to preserve their full rights,” said Safadi in reference to documents related to ownership of the homes in Sheikh Jarrah.

On the issue of elections, Safadi affirmed that Jordan stands with all its capabilities to help achieve a successful electoral process, stressing that the elections are a necessary and important step taken by the Palestinian leadership, and we are working to remove all obstacles they face.

He reiterated the centrality of the Palestinian issue to Jordan, which was and will remain fundamental, indicating that Jordan will remain the supporter and the closest to the Palestinians in order to fulfill their legitimate rights, saying, “Jerusalem is a red line for Jordan, the king and our people, as it is a red line for the state of Palestine.”

Safadi expressed Jordan’s rejection of all Israeli measures and attempts to change the Arab, Islamic, and Christian identity of occupied Jerusalem, and for any attempt to change the historical status of the holy sites in Jerusalem.

“We will confront any effort that tries to undermine the existing historical and legal status of the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. Our goal is one and our vision is common. Jordan and Palestine were and will remain the closest to each other, and the Jordanian effort will be focused on supporting the Palestinians and ensuring that they achieve their legitimate rights, especially the right to freedom and the independent state because that is a condition for achieving security, stability and regional peace that we all seek,” said the Jordanian foreign minister.

The Head of the General Authority of Civil Affairs, Minister Hussein AlSheikh, said this evening, Sunday: “We will formally demand the Israeli government to allow the Palestinian prisoners in its prisons and detention centers to exercise their right to vote and participate in the Palestinian elections, as they are guaranteed by the Palestinian law, under the supervision of the Palestinian Central Elections Committee. The system has the right to run.”

The Head of the General Authority for Civil Affairs and Fatah Central Committee member, Minister Hussein AlSheikh, met with the Consul General of France, Mr. Rene Troccaz, today Tuesday. Also present at the meeting was Political Advisor, Lydia Tabtab.

The meeting discussed the latest political developments in the Palestinian arena, and the region, with special emphasis on the upcoming general Palestinian elections.

Mr. Troccaz welcomed the ongoing preparations and efforts for holding the elections and stressed France’s readiness to support the electoral process where needed.