Palestinian foreign minister urges Israel to return to talks

The Palestinian foreign minister has urged Israel to return to talks based on a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, before the transition to a new US administration

Palestinian protesters hurl stones at Israeli troops using slingshots during clashes with Israeli troops following a demonstration against the expropriation of Palestinian land by Israel, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. AFPShow less

The Palestinian foreign minister on Saturday urged Israel to return to talks based on a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, before the transition to a new US administration.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al Malki’s comments came in a joint statement with Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shukry and Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi.

In a news conference after their meeting, Mr Al Malki said that the Palestinian Authority is ready to co-operate with US President-elect Joe Biden, on the basis of achieving a Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital on territory Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast war.

“We are ready for co-operation and dealing with the new US administration, and we are expecting that it would re-draw its ties with the state of Palestine,” he said.

The Palestinian diplomat said co-ordination with Cairo and Amman is a “centre point” that would establish a “starting point” in dealing with the incoming Biden administration. Egypt and Jordan are close US allies.

Palestinian negotiators have suffered numerous setbacks under the Trump administration, and complained about what they say are biased pro-Israel steps from Washington.

Mr Trump has sidelined the Palestinian Authority, recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, moved the US Embassy from Tel Aviv, slashed financial assistance for the Palestinians, and reversed course on the illegitimacy of Israeli settlements on land claimed by the Palestinians.

Israel captured east Jerusalem and the West Bank in the 1967 war. The international community considers both areas to be occupied territory, and the Palestinians seek them as parts of a future independent state.

Israel annexed east Jerusalem and considers it part of its capital – a step that is not internationally recognised.

Israel has built a far-flung network of settlements that house nearly 700,000 Jewish settlers in the West Bank and Jerusalem since their capture in 1967.

The Palestinians want both territories for their future state and view the settlements as a violation of international law and an obstacle to peace – a position with wide international support.

Mr Al Malki also said they have returned to security co-ordination with Israel, after Israeli authorities sent a “message, for the first time, that they are abiding to all agreements” made with the Palestinians.

In May, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced that the PA would cut ties with Israel, including security co-ordination, following Israel’s pledge to annex large parts of the occupied West Bank.

In a statement following their meeting, the three ministers said they would work to rally international support against Israel’s “illegitimate measures” that include settlements’ expansion, demolishing dozens of Palestinian homes and seizing their land.

“These are illegitimate Israeli actions on the ground that affect all chances to reach a comprehensive peace process that can only happen by the two-state solution,” said Mr Safadi, Jordan’s top diplomat, at the news conference.

The ministers said in their statement that Jerusalem’s status should be resolved in the negotiations, calling for Israel “as the occupying power, to stop all violations that target the Arab, Islamic and Christian identity of Jerusalem and its sanctuaries.”